Arianne had been standing by the window when Nate gave her the look. Franz saw it from across the table—the particular way Nate communicated when he didn't want to say the thing aloud in front of the twins. Arianne nodded.
"We need to talk," Nate said. He said it to the table, not to any one person. But everyone at that table understood who he meant.
Gilbert stood. He'd been sitting on the floor with Leo and Lily, but he rose with the ease of someone who'd learned to pivot. He wiped his hands on his trousers. Julian set down his wine glass and rose from the armchair by the fireplace, his expression moving from ease to focus.
Sam was at the dining table, her glass half-empty. She looked up at Arianne's voice and set it down without being asked.
Arianne looked at Sam. "The twins."
Sam nodded. She crossed to Lily and said, "Show me the elephant photos. I heard there were elephants."
