“So, big brother, you and Silla, does mom know?” This is exactly what I had brought her in here for, but for some reason couldn’t quite find the words now that I had her alone, which is new for me, so I was grateful and relieved that she brought it up first.

“Yes and no.”

“Always, Mr. Cryptic. I guess you mean that yes, you two are a thing, and no, mom doesn’t know.”

It’s hard not to smile at my baby sister when she’s being her precocious self, and I ...