Read the excerpt from a short story. I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait. Which words from the excerpt convey the tone? “thanked” and “retreated” “assailed” and “reentered” “placing” and “scalloped” “clutching” and “suppressed”