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

knocked, like she’d been expecting me her whole life. She took one look at my face and didn’t ask for details. She just stepped aside and said, “Come in.”

Noah barreled past her like it was a sleepover, already excited by the novelty.

Lena caught my eye. “What happened?”

“There’s someone,” I said, and the word tasted wrong. “He’s been taking Noah to her continue reading …