Danny could feel Max go rigid and it was pretty obvious the man wasn't hugging him back. A lump formed in his throat and he had to try very hard not to cry and throw a child-like tantrum because it was a little unclear whether Max hated him or not.
With his throat feeling uncomfortably tight, Danny did as his mother asked and pulled away. "I'll go stir the gravy," he whispered, not looking at either of them while he escaped to the kitchen.
"Well," Max sighed and moved to hug his sister, "that went marvelously."