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“I can’t say I understand how you feel, but if you’re happy, that’s what matters. Oh, and take care of yourself! No child of mine is going to have their looks insulted.”
Madam Cohen leaned forward with a nearly menacing smirk.
“Now, go change into these ‘men’s clothes’ you have. I need to judge how you look. You'd better be handsome, or we’re not related anymore.”
Ziva was about to get up when he heard sniffling. Both he and Madam Cohen turned to see Stelara crying. Ziva immediately hugged her, and Madam Cohen asked what was wrong. Stelara did her best to speak between sobs.
“It’s just... I was so worried and... and... I thought it might not be okay! My family... they already hate people like us, but... but if you did too, it would be... terrible! I don’t want Ziva to lose... lose his mom because of... because of me!”
It took Stelara a few minutes to calm down, during which Ziva and Madam Cohen processed what she had just said. Once Stelara unlatched from Ziva, he walked upstairs to change his clothes. When he got to his room, Púca was sleeping on his bed. After petting the cat’s head, Ziva chose a new outfit. Downstairs, Stelara and Madam Cohen were talking.
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