My husband stood, placed a calm hand on my shoulder, and addressed his father kindly. “Dad, we’re honored you enjoy spending time here, but we didn’t plan a two-week stay.” His voice was steady, respectful.

“This is our home, and we treasure hosting family for celebrations like today. But staying longer is something we talk about first.” My mother-in-law looked surprised, and a few family members paused mid-bite, absorbing his words.