Before I could react, Andrew had already slapped Ryan.
He looked at his wit's end, almost aggrieved himself.
"Ryan, will you just listen to me for once! Our family is already a mess."
I saw it clearly.
He wasn't speaking up for me; he was afraid that if I left, he'd have to split his attention to care for Ryan.
Ryan pointed accusingly at me, tears in his eyes. "She's the one making a scene! Didn't she say she wants a divorce? Let her go!"
Here we were, a family, and yet I felt like an outsider, awkward and out of place.
The awkwardness was quickly shattered.
Maeve showed up with a steaming bowl of fish soup.
"Ryan," she called sweetly, her smile gentle and radiant. "Look what I brought for you!"
Ryan immediately brightened, his mood lifting.
"It smells amazing! Maeve is the best
