It took a bit of coaxing to lure Ethpeal and Ivan out of their bedroom where they hissed an argument back and forth at each other. When they did emerge to join us, Miriam sat perched uncomfortably on the couch. Frank chose to lounge back with his foot on his knee, Sunny beside him. From the expressions on Ethpeal's and Ivan's faces, I wasn't sure who won their bedroom fight or even whose side they were on.

Ethpeal had calmed somewhat, the rigid fury she'd emanated chilled to a ...