The divorce had left financial damage.

Sadie sometimes struggled with anxiety before medical appointments.

On difficult days we argued over homework, screen time, and whose turn it was to wash dishes.

But none of those disagreements made me afraid of the next one.

For the first time, that felt like what family was supposed to be.

PART 23

A small thing happened at my new job that I nearly didn’t notice until the drive home.

My supervisor, Elena, asked whether I could take on an additional client account.