"Wow, they really have grown up, haven't they?" Ray said with sincerity.  It was nice to see someone like Mariana with such a successful family, especially considering the other half other elder two boys parentage and the painful circumstances of her life with him. 
"I look forward to seeing him here next year," Ray smiled.
If things had been different, maybe Ray would have had some kids by now.  Sure, and a white picket fence and a tacky sun lounge.  Somehow he felt like there was no version of him where that was ever a possibility.

[color=9e005d]”So, that’s how the Guerra household is doing. And what about your lives? What have you been getting up to? I haven’t seen you,” she said to Ray, ”In what? Five years? More? What’re you doing to kill the time?”[/color]

[i]Hmmm...drinking, shooting up, going to council appointed rehab and just generally hating every square inch of myself!  Hahahah, you know how it is, right?  Of course you don't...[/i]
"Oh you know, just keeping myself busy mostly.  Doing odd jobs here and there when the council needs me and just generally trying to find a place in the world."  The pleasant smile he put on his face was more than likely not terribly convincing, but it was better than the ugly truth hiding in his shoulders and behind his eyes.
Somehow though, it didn't feel so disingenuous as he was talking to her.  There was an almost palpable matronly aura about Mariana and it generally made people around her feel at ease.  She somehow managed to have an effect on Roderic, which in itself was incredible.  It made him seem like a totally different person and not...not The Devil Himself.
He suddenly became even more grateful that she was here.