dinner was enjoyable though slightly overwhelming with so many people giving him late birthday wishes. He knew that it was just a formality most likely, but he appreciated it despite it being overwhelming with so many people at the table.
Clive was still absent, most likely staying with his wife in the hospital. Jeff had also disappeared after he had dropped of Samuel's stuff in his room. He supposed that it was because Jeff hadn't been given permission to eat dinner with the main family. If he didn't think it might've been out of line, he'd have offered to have him sit and eat with them as a thank you for the extra trouble he had gone to.
A few weeks away hadn't really changed much. The food was still as good as he remembered it, though he had a preference for the lesser high class meals that his mother made.