“Curtis really took the wind out of you, didn’t he, boy?”

“I’ll get it back.”

Neither said anything for a moment. They could hear the scrape of chairs and the bump of heavy bowls and plates on the dining room table.

“Von Clausewitz said that war is politics by other means.” Thomas smiled softly and took a drink. “I’ve always felt he got it backward.”

Connor had returned from work less than an hour ago. He’d been detached to a suspected arson and still smelled of soot and smoke. A four-alarm fire, he said, passing the potatoes to Joe, two dead. And obviously for the insurance which added up to a few hundred more than the owners could have gotten in a legitimate sale. The Polish, he said with a roll of his eyes.

“You have to be more careful,” his mother said. “You’re not just living for yourself anymore.”

Danny saw Nora blush at that, saw Connor throw her a wink and a smile.

“I know, Ma. I know. I will. I promise.”

Danny looked at his father, sitting to his right at the head of the table. His father met his eyes and his were flat.

“Did I miss an announcement?” Danny said.

“Oh, sh—” Connor looked at their mother. “Shoot,” he said and looked at Nora, then back at Danny. “She said yes, Dan. Nora. She said yes.”

Nora lifted her head and her eyes met Danny’s. They were charged with a pride and vanity that he found repulsive.

It was her smile that was weak.

Danny took a sip of the drink he’d carried with him out of his father’s office. He cut into his slice of ham. He felt the eyes of the whole table on him. He was expected to say something. Connor watched him, waiting with an open mouth. His mother looked at him curiously. Joe’s fork froze above his plate.

Danny put down his fork and knife. He plastered a smile on his face that felt big and bright. Hell, it felt huge. He saw Joe relax and his mother’s eyes lose their confusion. He willed the smile into his eyes, felt them widen in their sockets. He raised his glass.

“That’s just great!” He raised his glass higher. “Congratulations to the both of you. I’m so happy for you.”

Connor laughed and raised his own glass.

“To Connor and Nora!” Danny boomed.

“To Connor and Nora!” The rest of the family raised their glasses and met them in the center of the table.

It was between dinner and dessert that Nora found him as he was coming back out of his father’s study with another refill of scotch.

“I tried to tell you,” she said. “I called the rooming house three times yesterday.”

“I didn’t get home till after six.”

“Oh.”

He clapped one hand on her shoulder. “No, it’s great. It’s terrific. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

She rubbed her shoulder. “I’m glad.”

“When’s the date?”

“We thought March seventeenth.”