Joe so wanted to go with Pearl, to reassure her his family wasn't at all like the one she had just run away from; kind, welcoming, and decent; but he respected her wish and remained seated. Instead he stared pointedly at his parents across the table, which suddenly didn't seem large enough at the moment. A tortured, awkward silence filled the kitchen. Why the hell couldn't they be a normal family?

"See what ye've dun? Happy?" he asked, his voice thick with the rebelliousness of youth.