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

table, I sat beside him and tried to ask questions without turning them into grenades.

“Hey, buddy. Can I ask you something about Aunt Phoebe?”

Noah’s crayon paused. His eyes went wary. “Am I in trouble?”

“No, baby. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Did Dad ever tell you not to talk about her?”

Noah’s shoulders lifted in a shrug that looked too heavy for continue reading …