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Duncan’s old favorites for dinner
     last night. He’d greeted each dish enthusiastically, and then pushed the food around,
     hardly tasting it. When she’d asked him if anything was wrong, he’d insisted that
     everything was perfect, but she’d known that he was simply trying to reassure her.
     It was not that he’d seemed anxious or depressed. He’d seemed … distant.
    The doorbell sounded and Nina jumped. She had been expecting the doorman to buzz her.
     He must have recognized them. Patrick and Gemma had been there before. She took a
     deep breath and looked in the mirror. She looked fine, she reminded herself. Her long
     black hair was pulled up into a ponytail and she was wearing a fitted peacock blue
     shirt over black pants. She looked casual enough for a family dinner, but a little
     bit elegant, too. It was, after all, a special night. There were circles under her
     eyes, but she’d covered them artfully with makeup, and added a bold red to her lips
     and cheeks. Ready, she thought.
    Just as she started for the door, the phone rang. Her father looked at her questioningly.
    “Why don’t you get the door, Dad?” she suggested gently.
    Duncan took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.”
    Nina went into the living room and picked up the phone. “Hello.”
    “Nina.”
    It was Gemma’s soft voice. Nina’s heart froze. “Where are you?”
    “Nina, I hate to have to tell you this, but I’m afraid we’re not going to be able
     to come.”
    Nina was silent, but the receiver trembled in her hand.
    “An old colleague of my mother’s is in Philly at a conference and he’s heading back
     to South America tomorrow. If I want totalk to him for the book, I have to to go down there tonight.”
    “Why can’t you go in the morning?” Nina demanded.
    “Because he wants to do it tonight. He’s leaving early. Look, it was a last-minute
     thing. I didn’t even know he was in the States. I’m really sorry about this …”
    “But I have everything ready. What am I going to tell Dad … ?” Nina asked. “You promised.”
    Gemma was silent for a moment. “I said I was sorry.”
    “What about Patrick and the boys?” Nina cried. “Couldn’t he bring them?”
    “Patrick has put his foot down. He doesn’t want the boys anywhere near your father,”
     Gemma admitted.
    “That’s the real reason you’re not coming,” Nina said ruefully.
    “No, Nina,” Gemma said patiently. “I’m just about to get in the car and drive to Philly.”
    Sometimes Nina found her sister-in-law’s implacability exasperating. She took a deep
     breath and tried to compose herself. “All right. Never mind …”
    “I am very sorry, Nina,” Gemma said.
    “And I suppose Jimmy won’t come by himself …”
    “He called last night to say he couldn’t make it. Something about having to run a
     meeting tonight for his sponsor,” said Gemma.
    “Oh sure,” said Nina.
    “I’m sure your father will understand,” said Gemma.
    “Oh, he’ll understand all right,” said Nina.
    “Boys … stop that,” Gemma said sharply. “Nina, I’ve got to go. Please give our … my
     apologies to your dad.”
    “I will,” said Nina. She put the receiver back in the cradle and fell back against
     the chair. From where she sat, she could see the dining area, with its table crowded
     with plates and glasses, the candles already lit. She wanted to cry, or to scream,
     butpart of her knew that she had set herself up for this. What kind of foolish optimism
     had ever made her think that there would be a happy family reunion?
    Duncan came into the room looking worried. “Honey,” he said, “what’s the matter?”
    Nina looked up at him. There was no use in trying to pretend. “That was Gemma,” she
     said. “They’re not coming.”
    Duncan nodded and looked away. He pursed his lips slightly, but didn’t say anything.
    “I’m so sorry, Dad. Gemma has to go meet some guy in Philly who knew her mother. Did
     I tell you she was