Danilo
"There ain't nothing better than the countryside," Daniele flared his nostrils as he deeply breathed in, let out a heavy exhale and smacked his lips. "I don't know how we gon' cope in Miami. There just buildings and water. Bacon needs land to roam."
I looked down to the large black and pink pig who was surprisingly fit despite his size. Bobby and Benny waddled right next to him constantly stopping to eat an insect or stretch out their wings before we continued on.
"I think Miami a good change for us," I shrugged, then looked up to the sky. The sun was setting creating the beautiful orange, purple and pink ombré I could stare at for hours. I had seen all kinds of sunsets but nothing was better than the one on the ranch. "We need to live a little. Bacon, Benny and Bobby will be taken care off plus we'll be coming home every now and then."
Benecio smacked his lips together, "Pa ain't happy about it though. You know he don't like the family being apart."
Daniele shrugged, "he gave us his blessing." He threw his heavy muscular arm over Benecios shoulders. "It's going to be us. The three musketeers chasing booty and partying."
I shook my head, "Benecio is there to go to school. He shouldn't be chasing booty or partying. Just fields and books."
Benecio rolled his eyes and dismissively waved me off, "you talk like you a saint. You haven't been home for -"
"Well I am now," I cut him off with a forced grin. "Let's not talk about my shortcomings and failures. Let's only look forward to the future."
By the time we got home the smell of roasted dinner was wafting through house making all our stomachs rumble. I took off Bacon's leash who was fast to run to the kitchen and I took Benny and Bobby out by the pool before one of the help served them freshly caught fish.
"Out of all the pets in the world," Pai groaned as Bacon eagerly snorted running around the kitchen island.
From the outside my childhood home looked unsuspecting. With a wood paneling look that made it feel like a giant fancy cabin you wouldn't think much until you stepped inside. The single floor layout stretched on for what felt like miles with wooden floors, white walls with wooden paneling and family photos on every single wall.
It was cozy and warm with the native design Pa loved but had the luxury of hinted golds and fancy artwork from Pai. It was a mixed match but blended perfectly together. At every corner were book shelves for Pai's always growing collection and of course technology played a major role in the house without being too overwhelming.
The kitchen had butcher block countertops whilst the cupboards were a mix of white and cream doors. There was a beer fountain to the corner which served Pa more than anyone else and his Bar slash man cave in the basement was on steroids.
There was not a feminine thing about our home; especially with the deer antlers from when we went hunting, and I loved it.
I tightly hugged Pai as he dished out, "The best Pai in the world."
He looked at me with suspicion, his thick eyebrows twisting and his hazel eyes accusatory, "what do you want?"
I let out a laugh, "I'm going to miss home that's all."
He pressed his lips into a thin line and even though his tattoos made him look uncaring he was a big softy inside. I could see his eyes water before he grunted. "I told you not to go."
I let out a sigh and rested my head on his shoulder. That included a little leaning since I was just as tall as him and body just as big. It was an awkward position but it reminded me of when I was young. "I should have listened but it's a character building phase."
He let out a sigh then kissed my forehead, "I'm not disappointed in you."
"I know Pai," I softly smiled before helping him carry the bowls and dishes to the dining room.
When we were all seated, each having a bottle of beer but Benecio because we were in America and didn't want to get arrested. We all held hands as Pai said a prayer over our food before we dug in.
My attention however was swiftly captured by the new member of our family. I was twenty six, Daniele twenty five and Benecio nineteen. Pa and Pai were having an empty nest summer and three months before the due date we found out we were having yet again another little brother!
My mind was blown. Who had a baby in their late forties and early fifties?! Only Pa and Pai. Even with our shock when Bunky Benito was born with a full set of blonde hair breaking the cycle of ombré. Me being completely raven haired, Daniele a chocolate brunette like Pa, Benecio being a mix of chocolate and blonde then Bunky being completely blonde.
It was like the Brazilian/Puerto Rican genes of Pai slowly started to dissolve and the final product was a baby from Texas.
He was now three years old and I believed he had me wrapped around his little tiny finger.
"No phones on the tables," Pa reprimanded as Benecio stared at the screen of his phone as if it were the devil itself.
We all turned to look at him except Bunky who was passing pieces of chicken to Bacon. I was not even sure if a pig was supposed to eat chicken now that I thought of it.
Benecio looked up to us and without a word he passed me his phone. I looked at it with a raised eyebrow as I took it in. There sat Molly at what looked like a restaurant and wrapped in another man's arms who kissed her as if they were the only two people around.
Pai was looking over my shoulder and we both looked at each other with large eyes.
"So this is what heartbreak feels like," Benecio whispered before he abruptly stood up from the table and marched out the dining room.