A short while later, Luca and I are sitting on the edge of the back porch, sipping coffee and listening to the sounds of the world waking up around us. It's still only about seven in the morning, but it feels like we've been awake forever. Still, it's nice to have a moment of quiet, just to ourselves.

"So," I say casually, "that's my family."

He laughs, and for a second I'm lost in the sound. Lost in him.

"They're a little crazy, I know." I smile down ...