This was the central lie of their family: the idea that they were a unit. In reality, they were three separate planets orbiting a dead star. Arthur Hawthorne had been a giant of a man, a tyrant of literature who had ruled his household with a quiet, crushing intellect. He had pitted the brothers against each other constantly.
For many survivors, the effects of childhood incest do not fade with age but may resurface during major life transitions, such as aging or the birth of grandchildren. Case Studies on Elder Survivors: old mature incest
The table went still. The wind howled outside, rattling the windowpanes. This was the central lie of their family:
The silence in the Hawthorne house was not empty; it was heavy. It sat in the corners of the dining room like dust, disturbed only by the rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock and the clinking of silverware against fine china. He had pitted the brothers against each other constantly