The rest of the family cracked out bottles of wine to celebrate Samantha’s new engagement to Luther Vicker’s son yet the tension in the tea room hung like a suffocating fog as Xander and Samantha waited with her parents, the clock ticking with agonizing slowness.Michael had asked for a moment with Samantha and Xander to discuss their marriage away from the prying eyes and ears of their extended family which was how they’d ended up here, with no one actually talking or even looking anyone else in the eye.
Michael sat in his armchair, his eyes narrowed and thoughtful. Elena paced near the window, stealing glances at Xander every so often, her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Sam’s hand trembled slightly, though she masked it by gripping the hem of her dress.
Minutes earlier,
