QUOTE : Dave hands me the bread. Josh takes some chicken onto his plate.<br /><br />The silence is homicidal.<br /><br />Emily finishes her wine and Dave pours her more. For such a small thing, Emily can really pack it away.<br /><br />“Winnie has worms,” I tell the table, and spread some butter on my bread. “Took her to the vet earlier. I was so worried I was going to have to treat it with some ointment in her butt, but—nope—just a pill.”<br /><br />I take a sip of wine and grin at them. Josh puts his fork down and cups his forehead. But in a few beats they all break into laughter, and Emily looks over at me with my favorite kind of fondness.<br /><br />“She doesn’t really have worms. I was just kidding.”<br /><br />I am nothing if not a decent icebreaker.