Every fork stopped against every plate.

Behind me I could feel the heat coming off Daniel.

Patricia’s jaw opened and shut. A vacuum settled over the table, and for ten seconds the only sound was the jazz overhead.

Her eyes went around the table looking for her usual lifeline. She expected someone to laugh nervously, to smooth it over, to convert this into one of her “silly misunderstandings” she could wave away.

Nobody laughed.

Claire’s hands went slack and the silk coat slid off her lap onto the floor. Mark, Daniel’s younger brother, set down his glass. The cousins stared at Mia’s face.