“You look so handsome,” Azzurra cooed, eyes bright as she fawned over the toddler in his little suit a miniature gentleman, all neat lapels and earnest grin.

“Thwank you, Zuzu. You lwook beauwtuful too,” Cesario replied in his sing-song, delighted by her hair and the light touch of makeup. Azzurra rarely dressed up like this, but whenever she did, Cesario melted into compliments, and she loved him for it.

“Well, thank you, handsome,” she winked. Cesario tried to copy the ...