“I brought her into this house.

I took off for North Dakota every two weeks and told myself everything was fine because that was easier than facing the truth.”

He sank his face into both hands, his shoulders curling forward until his elbows rested heavily on the table.

“I let him down, Mom.

I was looking at what I wanted instead of looking at my son.”

I didn’t give him empty comfort, and I didn’t tell him it was all right.