As they walked into the kitchen, Laura was about to launch into a recitation of all the playoff games where the Knicks had kicked the Lakers, but when she realized they’d walked into a war zone, she forgot all about it.

•   •   •

Surprisingly, Asher seemed to be the most irritated person in the room. Sarah was leaning on the kitchen counter, as her mother often did, and though her expression was calm, clearly she was attempting to give as good as she got.

“I come over all the time,” she was saying, “and I don’t know where you get off bitching at me, seeing as you literally left the country four years ago and didn’t visit once.”

“He was working,” said Maggie, her voice tight with the effort of sounding loose. “It’s not like Tokyo is around the corner.”

“Unlike, say, Beverly Hills,” said Asher. It was clear from his face that this argument was hitting a big, fat nerve.

Bob looked at Laura, whose eyes had widened slightly. Both of them wanted to slowly back out the way they’d come. Failing that, Bob wondered if he could lower his head and glide through the kitchen unnoticed, while Laura wondered if anyone would see her if she dropped to her belly and crawled to the hallway. Instead they froze in place and pretended to be somewhere else.

“So was I, working,” said Sarah, wounded. “You always take his side.” She threw up her hands. “I don’t know why I expected anything different.” She snapped at her brother, “Clearly your Japanese colleagues failed to pass on any of their famous civility.”

Asher scoffed. “This isn’t about me, Sarah, it isn’t even about you, although you probably think it is.” He looked at Maggie. “Mom, when was the last time Sarah came over?”

Maggie looked at Polly. “So, Polly, would you like a cup of tea?”

Polly, who’d been watching the argument since it had kicked off a few minutes earlier, telling herself she was studying body language rather than stickybeaking another family’s drama, answered immediately. “I would love a cup of tea, Maggie, thanks.” She got to her feet and went to the cupboard. “Shall I get some cookies?”

Sarah turned to look at her mother. “Wow, Mom, it’s like having your kids around, except these guys are actually helpful.” She turned to look at Polly. “Even if they do dress like cartoon characters.”

Bob looked at Polly, who was slowly turning back from the cupboard, and he started walking through the kitchen, keeping his head down. Laura was right behind him, but Maggie wasn’t having it.

“Bob, Laura,” she said, “I’m making tea, would you like some?”

“Which cartoon character?” asked Polly mildly.

“I don’t know,” said Sarah bitchily. “Someone minor. A sidekick.”

“Uh . . .” said Bob.