Brandon disliked the cost of formula, the interrupted nights, the pediatric appointments.

He spoke about his own role as providing, as though all the hours I spent keeping our daughter healthy were a favor I owed him.

My father had seen something of this before he died.

One afternoon, after Brandon made a cutting joke about my old car, Samuel Callahan had asked me whether I felt free to say no in my own marriage.

I had laughed and told him not to be dramatic.