They walked toward the children together.

Gwen looked once at the house behind them.

Years earlier, she had mistaken a large house for security.

Douglas had taught her that a person could live inside beautiful walls and still have no real control over her life.

Then she had mistaken complete self-reliance for strength.

Gideon helped her understand that independence and partnership did not have to cancel each other out.

A healthy home was not the place where you could never leave.