and grief raging inside me. "I'm sorry, honey. I don't mean to be

and getting me a glass of water. He was so easy to love, so easy to fool. The t

David had tried to put her off, but she was a force of nature

she declared, reachi

. "Sarah's not up for visitors

one I remembered so well. It was a look tha

dmother. I just saw my other grandbaby, little Alex.

he look that said Lisa was the easy, agreeable daughter-in-law, while I was the sensitive, complic

to my baby directly, had clear

flat. I couldn't keep the bitterness out entirely.

l, at least he's healthy. A stro

y. I knew she would go straight back to Lisa's room and complain about me. Let

th Alex. The endless, piercing screams. The way he would claw at my chest when I t

s. Miller's "he

ding him wr

be more fir

ever cries like this. Maybe you

ece of her sympathy was a knife she twisted in

fe. I had to get us away from them. Away from this town, away from the constant compari

evening, when we were alone

he asked, st

live here anymore. I wa

ife in this small town, close to his fa

eated. "But our ho

ouse. I want Emily to grow up with more opportunities. Better schoo

pull of family loyalty against his

hispered. "I need th

er, then back at me. I held his

kay, Sarah. Okay. If that's what will make yo

y I felt lightheaded. We were gett

many sleepless nights. She would be dealing with a baby who couldn't be soothed, who seemed to be in a constan

aints and offer hollow reassurances. I would be gone. And she would be all alone with the consequ