The protagonist of this particular episode was her eldest, Claire. At forty-two, Claire had perfected the art of brittle cheerfulness. She arrived carrying a store-bought apple pie—a silent rebellion against Eleanor’s insistence on homemade everything. Her younger brother, Leo, was already there, scrolling through his phone, while their sister, Maya, helped their mother in the kitchen, the clatter of pots a percussive backdrop to unspoken grievances.

In cases of incest, legal systems often have specific statutes that define the crime and the penalties. For example, in the United States, incest is typically a felony and can lead to imprisonment. The exact definition and penalties can vary by state.

A long-held secret is unearthed: an affair, a hidden child, a financial crime, or a past trauma. The secret acts as a bomb in the center of the family table.