"Don't ask me," Marietta said, shaking her head. "From what I know, my nonno supported all the mothers and all his kids, and never had a problem. It's kind of a ridiculous life to be born into, you know? I mean, you must, you said 'Hennessy' the way my cousins and I say 'Corlioni'--with the understanding that it means something."

She shrugged. "But yeah, that's about right. Mrs. Corlioni, Nonno's wife, had four, with the rest mostly in pairs except for my mom and my Uncle Gino and Aunts Elisabetta and Cristina. Those three have the same biomom. Technically they have two actual moms, though."