Synopsis

A subtle tension had settled over the group as they prepared for Xanthe's sixteenth birthday celebration. The air, usually light with laughter, now carried a weight of unspoken feelings. Ben’s quiet jealousy over Angus’s gift to Xanthe was a palpable strain, though Xanthe gently reassured him, expressing her gratitude for both presents – Angus’s and those from the Kennedys. Despite her efforts, the underlying discord threatened to cast a shadow over the festivities.