Emma

The five of us scurry around the kitchen, preparing to eat. Barry fills water glasses for each place setting, Kate lays a napkin and utensils at each seat, and Tag places salad plates on top of our dinner plates. Bonnie and I carry the salad bowl, rice, and shrimp étouffée to the center of the table.

“Wow. This looks delicious,” Kate claps, already seated in her place.

When all of our bottoms hit our chairs, Barry insists on us holding hands around the table as ...