My father had not snapped.

He had planned to put his hands on me, if I refused, and had decided in advance that it was an acceptable cost of getting what he wanted.

I think I will spend the rest of my life being more frightened of the planning than of the hands.

Chapter 4 — Declan

To understand any of it, you have to go back three weeks, to the worst phone call of my life.

My husband, Declan Gallagher, had been driving home along the highway outside Syracuse when another vehicle crossed into him.