Gerald frowned when he saw the dinner table. His parents had come over for dinner, and though the table was set with care, the mood was super awkward. Gerald had already braced himself for the inevitable conversation about Ellen and Mason. It had been the main topic of discussion in the family for a while. Tonight was no different.
His father sat at the head of the table, a glass of wine in hand, while his mother carefully picked at her salad, her brows furrowed in concern. Gerald could sense the unease radiating from them, though they tried to mask it behind casual conversation about work and daily life. He knew better. His parents were still a little on edge from what had been happening, but Gerald had managed to calm them down somewhat, convincing them that everything was being handled.
As they ate through the courses, the conversation naturally drifted back to what Gerald had been expecting all along.