Heather's parents Mike and Dawn arrived a few minutes into the small talk where everybody was asking about Claire and Alex. It was a good thing too because Alex had completely run out of things to say.
He answered questions as honestly as possible with minimal detail. No, he was not currently in school. He was in the process (technically) of trying to find a job. He had grown up in Boston and recently moved to Lexington.
What else could he say about himself that wouldn't be a dead giveaway to his past? Their timely arrival had spared him from having to find out.
Heather set things up so everyone formed a line to help themselves to the majority of the food but the pies were reserved for later. There were folding tables set up in the room adjacent to the dining room so everyone would be able to sit and eat.