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. …

at once.

“Really?”

“Of course,” I said. “We could cut a tree from the lot up the road, build a fire, do it properly.”

Raymond started grinning. Vincent opened his mouth. Linda put down her fork with a delicate click that sounded louder than it should have.

The room changed.

Even now, if I close my eyes, I can see exactly how it happened. Susan’s smile holding continue reading …