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. …

”

She traced the grain of the deck railing with one finger.

“Even though it broke the family?”

The lake lifted and darkened in the wind.

“It exposed what was already breaking,” I said. “That’s not the same thing.”

She was quiet for a long time.

Then, very softly, she said, “Mom always acted like the worst thing in the world was being embarrassed.”

I turned continue reading …