When My Child Mentioned “Aunt Phoebe,” Everything Fell Apart

and it was just nice to talk to someone who understood.”

“And then?” I asked.

The silence was an answer.

“And then you started bringing our son to her apartment,” I said, voice rising, “so you could keep lying to me without paying a babysitter.”

“That’s not fair,” he said.

I laughed once—sharp and ugly. “You let our six-year-old take pictures with your continue reading …