She looked up and caught John’s eye and smiled, a little tentatively, a little slowly, but what that might mean, he had no idea. What he did know with complete surety was that he didn’t want to be here, and that she didn’t, either. John went forward and kissed Caroline on the cheek without saying anything at all, and then he took Miss Junie by the hands and kissed her, too.

She regarded him for a moment with her solemn, gray-blue gaze and then put her hands on his face, gently, as though he were one of her grandsons and in need of comfort. “My poor baby,” she crooned. “You poor, poor man. I am so sorry, I truly am. Lucy, darling, come on over here and give me a kiss. I want you to sit right next to me, will you? I’ll need your support through this.”

It was Harriet who started it, by simple virtue of the fact that she was always the sister to say out loud what the others were thinking. No sooner had the ten of them sat down at the elaborately set table than Harriet popped up again. “I don’t care,” she said to Pearl in a harsh whisper. And then, tugging at the jacket of her suit, she cleared her throat. “We all know why we’re here. I say forget the food and let’s get the talk over with. Caroline, John, tell us what’s going on before I lose my mind and start throwing things. Mama, don’t look at me that way. I know it’s not ladylike, but really.” And Harriet sat down again, picked up her wineglass, and put it down hastily when she realized it was still empty.

Caroline caught John’s gaze and shook her head slightly. Her eyes were bright and her color high, and John was struck by how pretty she looked.

“Go ahead, Caroline Mae,” said Father Bruce, touching her elbow. “It’s best to be direct in matters like these.”

“Yes, dear,” said Miss Junie. “Go ahead.”

“Thank you,” Caroline said, floating along on a cushion of flawless manners. John wondered if she realized that there was a muscle twitching in her cheek. She said: “I want you all to know that I am sorry for my behavior this past week. I realize I have caused you considerable worry and trouble.”