Seeing his wife getting more and more agitated, Felix Sutton placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Helen, I know you're worried about Addie," he reminded her calmly. "But you'll scare her if you get this worked up."
Then, his eyes behind his lenses focused on Addie Sutton, and his tone softened. "Addie, we are a family. If you run into trouble in the future, you can tell your mother and me. Don't keep it all bottled up inside, and don't do anything foolish, okay?"
Hearing this, Addie Sutton's lips moved. She asked softly, "Would it do any good if I told you?"
Felix Sutton's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure rising within him.
He adjusted his glasses, maintaining his gentle tone. "Of course it would. Like I said, we are a family."
"We're not." Addie Sutton's voice was quiet, but it carried an unshakable resolve.
"What did you say?" Felix Sutton seemed to doubt his own ears, unable to believe her response.
