The house was bursting with food by the time we got there as Pa was setting the dinner table with the maids. Vaughn, Mayor Everette, and Gideon had already arrived. 

When we entered the house, Pa rushed over to Damien as usual and pulled him to the dining room. He had been hovering over Damien since the adoption papers were validated and Damien was now a Malkiel. 

“Pa, sorry, but I have to take a shower. The smell of the Valletta jail cell is still on my ...