[Just a day or two ago, Bulba had insisted the same thing. It felt like it had come from the wrong person, and Marie had a difficult time accepting the good-natured comment coming from him.

When Vinnie said it, Marie... well, he sobbed. Quietly this time, but thankfully it lacked the pathetic, desperate quality of the previous one. He was comforted. For the first time in a long while, Marie wasn't angry with his brother.]

I missed you.

[He wasn't just talking about while Vinnie was away...]