I smiled at her approval and sat there quietly, thinking about the certainty in Elias’s answer. I’d never felt so passionate about anything. Elias spoke with such fire, like he believed every word he said. He was certain he could make a difference. I couldn’t even tell my mom I didn’t want to take a job I knew I’d hate, and had no clue if my other plan was any better.

It was a privilege to do the work I did, yet I had never felt the passion with which Elias spoke. Never felt like I was an important part of it.

I noticed a pause in the conversation and Saba’s voice wrenched me out of my thoughts. “Desta, where did you go? I asked you a question.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, what did you say?” I sounded more than a little distracted.

She gave me a worried look. Elias did too. “Elias said you’re planning to hike up to Entoto tomorrow. That sounds like fun.”

That perked me up because another day with Elias sounded like everything I needed right now. “Yes, I’m looking forward to it.”

Elias squeezed my thigh under the table and turned to Saba, one of those perfect eyebrows raised. “So how was Desta as a kid? Was he always so excitable?”

I protested, trying to look put out. “Excitable? What am I, a puppy?”

He was having too much fucking fun torturing me. “No, no. It’s just you seem to get so happy about new things. It’s very cute.” He made the word cute longer than it needed to be and gave me a mischievous look.

Saba looked between us, her face in an expression which had me bracing to be utterly embarrassed. “He was always such an emotionally open child. Even as a teen when most kids are so prickly. I’d go to New York for a visit, and after a whole year, I’d be unsure if he’d be interested in this old friend of his mom. But the minute he saw me, he’d run right into my arms and tell me how much he missed me, and how beautiful I looked.”

Her eyes were so soft I actually felt a lump in my throat. “Desta always could share what he was feeling without shame. That is one of the many things that make him such a special man.”

I rolled my eyes at her, knowing she’d get a kick out of it, and she laughed, pointing at me. “See what I mean!”

Elias beamed at her and looked primed to ask more questions, but before he could, I put my hands up, desperately needing out of this conversation. “Time out. Please, let’s finish eating.” I waved my hand over the table. “We can’t waste all this delicious food.”