Bill had wanted to leave. He had wanted to take a long walk. There was an uncomfortable tension in his body, and he wanted to walk it out of his system. He certainly did not want to talk. Not to his wife. Not to his son. But Lottie hadn't let him take a walk. Joseph would be home any minute and they would face him together.

He stood in the corner of the room, brooding, his arms crossed, legs a little apart, a direful shadow over his face. Around him was all the energy of a growing storm just before the first release of lightening. It was very close to breaking. When Joseph entered the room, his eyes locked on him and did move away.