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. …

casual and failing. “We miss Tahoe. Mom says we’re too busy for spring break, but Raymond wanted me to ask if the lake is still cold enough to make your coffee freeze if you leave it outside.”

That had happened once when he was six, and he had treated it as magic.

I called back from the deck and kept my voice steady.

“It’s definitely still cold enough continue reading …