"I'm not going on a date with Chad Thurman."A deafening silence descended on the dining room. Mother's face assumed a thoughtful expression. No doubt she was already stringing persuasive and weighty logical arguments in her head in favor of the date. To Mother "no" was simply a "yes" that hadn't had a chance to hear her out.Next to Mother, Aunt Ksenia looked aghast. No surprise there. Aunt Ksenia was all about duty to the family. There was no support to be had in her corner.Behind Ksenia's chair, Cousin Boris checked his mother's face and carefully arranged his own into a mask of patronizing disapproval. If he ever did manage to formulate his own thought, it would likely knock him senseless.Alena glanced across the table. Her older sister Liz looked troubled; her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Her husband Vik must've found the situation highly amusing, because the corners of his mouth crept upward in a half-realized smile. Alena mentally steeled herself and looked to Father leaning against the wall.
