Daniel retreated, as I knew he would, to his mother’s house, and it was there, over the following days, that the real chaos of that family began to erupt, though I only learned the details later.

Theresa, still furious at me, still incapable of imagining that she might be the author of her own troubles, announced grandly to the assembled family: “We don’t need Mariana anyway.

Lauren is always telling us how well her investments are doing.”

And every head at the table turned toward the favorite daughter-in-law, the one with the class, the one who knew how to live well, the one who had giggled at my empty plate.

And Lauren, I am told, instantly went pale.