CNU-My daughter-in-law said Christmas would be easier if I stayed away, and my son did not even raise his eyes to defend me. So I stayed home, alone, exactly as requested. …

“I don’t even know what that would mean anymore. I just…” He swallowed. “Take care of them. Please.”

The them needed no clarification.

“I will,” I said.

He nodded once, eyes fixed on the table.

“Dad?”

“Yes.”

“Did she really say troublesome?”

The question was so absurdly small against the size of everything else that for a second I nearly laughed. But then continue reading …