Family boundaries and celebrations: Why exclusion from a dinner plan led to a difficult decision regarding a birthday event

the Spanish Steps, fresh flowers in every room, and a bottle of Sean’s favorite Merlot breathing on the sideboard. But the moment we entered, Sean’s phone buzzed. He stepped onto the terrace, speaking in hushed tones.

“Work?” I asked when he returned.

“Just some investment issues,” he replied, refusing to meet my eyes. “Let’s get ready for dinner.”

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