"Uh… Handsome Uncle, aren't you afraid of spicy food?"
Capone paused slightly, then instead of answering, he asked, "What about you? Do you like spicy food?"
Laura wrinkled her delicate little brows. "I don't like it at all! My mouth felt like it was on fire—like I was gonna start breathing flames! *And* Mom says spicy food can hurt a kid's stomach!"
Capone chuckled. "Perfect. Uncle isn't good with spicy food either."
"Then… then didn't you think the tiramisu tasted weird these past few days? I thought you weren't afraid of anything!"
Capone seemed to realize something. He looked at her and said, "Uncle will tell you a secret. But you have to promise not to tell anyone, okay?"
Laura nodded eagerly, her little head bobbing up and down. "Okay, okay! I won't tell anyone! Let's pinky swear! If I tell, I'm a puppy!"
She stretched out her tiny, chubby pinky. Capone hooked his finger around hers, giving it a little shake before pressing his thumb over it to seal the promise.
