No one wanted to be linked to the scene that had just played out.

George checked his gold watch one final time and started walking to his leased sedan.

He didn’t wait for his wife or his daughter.

Patricia rushed after him, her heels sinking into the soft ground.

“George, we’ve got to talk to them,” Patricia said.

He muttered an answer I couldn’t hear and kept going.

Vanessa was left standing by herself in the middle of the lawn.

She looked at the guests who were still there, all of them carefully avoiding her eyes.