“That’s an answer only a mom would give.”

“It’s the most accurate one I have.”

She leaned over and kissed my cheek, then carried the photograph upstairs to decide where it belonged in her room.

PART 28

Our twenty-first anniversary arrived quietly.

For years we had celebrated with expensive dinners and gifts.

This year I asked Gregory to take a walk with me by the harbor instead.

We passed fishing boats and families pushing strollers.