Elaine opened her mouth to argue, but George placed a hand on her arm and quietly shook his head.
For the first time that evening, he looked embarrassed. Around the table, relatives lowered their eyes, ashamed they had stayed silent.
Ryan looked at the untouched birthday cake and sighed. “This dinner is over,” he said.
He picked up the cake and carried it into the kitchen while the kids followed behind him without hesitation-
