We sat with those discoveries without rushing to forgive every earlier failure.

“What matters now,” Ethan said, “is that we talk directly.”

“Yes.”

“And she doesn’t have to carry it.”

We looked toward the other room.

Lily was asking Mom where she kept the coloring pencils.

For a minute, she sounded like a child visiting her grandmother after school.

I wanted to preserve that minute without requiring her to remain cheerful for our benefit.