KallMeKris

I hope you change your mind, unquote.

But Simon would never reply, and he would stay home, and his chair at the table would sit empty.

But the remaining four guests arrived that Saturday, Dawn and Gail, Heather and

and Ian, and for the Wilkinsons especially, the invitation had carried real weight.

They were very happy to be invited, and Ian had taken it as a hopeful signal, a sense that maybe our relationship with Aaron was going to improve," unquote.

because the family was still close, but the separation had caused some friction in the family.

So everybody was just happy to be getting together.

So before they sat down to eat, Erin took her guests on a tour of the house.

And then once lunch was ready, Heather and Gail offered to bring the food out.

So Erin would plate the portions and all the women would bring out the food together.

Then they would bow their heads and say grace before the first bite.

And the conversation over the meal was light.

Family talk, easy laughter, no one was in any sort of rush.

The Wilkinsons ate their meal and Gail got through about half her portion before pushing the plate over to Don to finish.

And between his own plate and hers, Don ate close to a serving and a half.

And there was the teasing around the table about, quote, husbands helping their wives out by eating extra food, unquote.

So the lunch was going really well.

And then dessert was already waiting, and it was a cake Gail had baked and a fruit platter Heather had prepared.

And the group managed a little of each, but after the Wellingtons, there wasn't much appetite to go around.

But once the plates were cleared, the mood of the afternoon changed, and Erin told the group she discovered a lump on her elbow.