Caught off guard, I glanced at Emily, who rolled her eyes, whispering, "Dad... Come on..."
Before I could conjure a response, Emily's mother returned to the room, shaking jelly in hand.
She overheard the conversation and raised an eyebrow at James. "Come on, James. It's inappropriate to ask things like that."
James shrugged. "What? Our daughter is a beautiful girl."
I smiled and added, "She's definitely beautiful."
With that, the topic shifted to sports. Despite the enmity between the mafias, they allowed sports and competitions. The Knox organized these events and ensured the athletes' safety when traveling between territories.
Time passed quickly, and before I knew it, it was late. Emily's parents began gathering their things.
We stayed a bit longer, chatting with Pia and her grandparents, before preparing to leave.
As we were about to go, Pia approached and hugged us both. "Come visit again!" she said warmly.