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“What are your intentions?”

“We haven’t got further than deciding we like each other. It’s not just us.”

“Are you worried about the cross-cultural stuff?” Bea asked. Inter-cultural marriages could be tricky, especially when children were involved.

“I’m worried about my sons, about Maha’s hopes and dreams. Neither of us are children. Hell, I won’t see forty again, and I’m babbling.”

“I’ll spill my drink,” Bea whispered. “What’s the signal?”

“Hell, we haven’t even worked out a signal.” Antonio’s frown cleared. “But I was joking. I hope I was joking.”

“In families like ours, intentions are never a joke.”

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Turned out Antoniodidn’t need a signal. The first course passed without even vaguely skating near tricky territory.

“C’mon, Antonio,” Casildo teased. “You must have some idea of where they went for their honeymoon.”

“Anna just got all gooey-eyed when anyone asked her.”

“Anna? Gooey-eyed? That’s our warrior princess you’re talking about.” Casildo scoffed, resting his knee against hers under the table.

“Where do you think they’ve gone?” Farah asked, with a secret smile.

“I know that smile.” Maha pointed at her mother. “Who blabbed, Hunt or Anna?”

“No one blabbed. I just have second sight,” Farah said demurely. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just get the next course.”

“Sneaky.” Casildo rose to help his mother with the dishes.

“No pumping your mother while you’re in the kitchen,” Raed called to their retreating backs, before turning back to Antonio. “I’m guessing you’ve known Anna a long time?”

“She joined the company more than a decade ago. She’s incredible.”

“We think she’s incredible, but you probably know a different side of her,” Raed continued.

Maha exchanged a look with her, and Bea guessed Maha already knew this story.

“My wife was diagnosed with cancer not long after Anna arrived. For a while there, I was AWOL. Anna didn’t take over, but she marshalled the troops. She and a handful of others made sure I had a business to return to.”

“We’re happy for her and Hunter, happy she’s part of our family.”

In the lull created by Raed’s words, Casildo pushed a trolley with plates and serving dishes into the room, and the next few minutes disappeared with plates being passed around and loaded.

“Maha said you have children,” Farah picked up the conversation.

“Two. Boys,” Antonio grinned. “Teenagers now, and I can’t believe the time went so fast.”

“In the blink of an eye.” Raed looked from his son to his daughter to his wife. “I can’t believe I’m a grandfather.”

“Believe it, Farah said. “We’ve got them for the weekend.”

Bea relaxed, kicking Casildo gently under the table to catch his eye, silently sending the messageYou exaggerated. Your parents are pussycats.

“So, Beatriz—”

Casildo grinned.