"I don't know, sis. The man was never afraid to speak his mind before. If he approved, we would have known it."

"Carlito," Gianna said sternly. "Believe it." There was a plea. "On purpose, just believe that he spoke true."

"Doesn't matter. Mom would never approve."

"That's exactly why it does matter. Since we started this, we knew nobody would accept it. When we got caught, Mom and Dad were shocked and disappointed and ashamed. But to think that somewhere deep in Dad's mind he understands us, that he thinks, even subconsciously, that what we did was okay, then maybe we don't have to feel so guilty about it. And...