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. …

”

In court, those are not answers. In families, we pretend they are.

“All right,” I said.

He cleared his throat.

“I just didn’t want Thanksgiving to become… some big thing.”

“It’s already a thing, Vincent.”

Silence again. This time I could feel him bracing for accusation, perhaps hoping for it. Accusation would have allowed him to retreat into familiar grievance.continue reading …