*Son*

"My wife" He paused. "Valentina."

The moment the words left his mouth, the sound of clinking silverware and gulping and maybe a few breathing came to a dead stop.

Everyone, every single person at that table, except the man slowly looked up, their heads turning in near unison, their eyes fixed on him like they needed to physically see his lips move again to confirm what they just heard.

I tried not to squirm under their stares, but it was hard. The room felt smaller, tighter, and ...