Excuse yourself from the table

Conversation comes to a lull again, and you feel a need to relieve yourself. Politely excusing yourself from the table, you stand and navigate to the washroom.

Upon your return, you discover that all have risen from dinner and dispersed around the house. Most of them are congregated in the living room adjacent to the dining room, still standing and conversing, though you see neither Karen nor Barbara.

Robert catches your eye and beckons you over. "Listen, the snow outside has gotten worse and is getting worse yet. You should know that you're welcome to stay the night here - we can make up a bed somewhere, maybe the couch in the basement. Even if you leave right now the driving could be hard going, but it's your call, of course."

You thank him for the consideration. You head to a window with a view of the street, push aside a curtain, and see that there is at least an inch of fresh snow drifted in spots on your car. You can hear the shrill whistle of the wind faintly through the glass. You appear to have plenty of time to mingle. Letting the curtain fall back into place, you head back to the living room.

"I will definitely take you up on that offer," you announce to Robert and the room. He grins. "It's the only logical choice, really," he replies, nodding. He gestures for you to follow, and you do.

Walking up the nearby stairs, he opens a narrow door in the upstairs hallway revealing a linen closet, and begins speaking again as he pulls out sheets and blankets. "No rush to go the sleep, obviously, but when you are ready, the only open room at this point is the den." Closing the closet door, he gestures around himself in a circle. "With all the visitors, we have Barbara in Jen's room, Gina and David in Ashley's old room with Ashley down in the basement now, and Jen in the office. Oh - I should say - the closest bathroom for you tonight will be the one you've used downstairs, but if you want to brush your teeth we have a handful of unopened toothbrushes up here," he says, jerking a thumb behind him.

Walking back down the stairs, he rounds the corner and opens a French glass sliding door to what must be the den. Stepping in, he drops the sheets and blankets in a corner. "You'll be in here, and you might need to kick out any layabouts up late watching TV or a movie." He steps back and slides the door shut again. "Let's head back to the living room."