Laura had walked out on the family that made it possible, and she could not, whatever she did next, take that hour away from us.

We had earned it, all six of my girls and I, across fifteen hard years, and we spent it well.

I have noticed that people who have known real hardship tend to hold their good moments differently than people who have not, more carefully, more consciously, with a kind of deliberate attention that comes from knowing how easily such moments can be lost.

My daughters and I had learned that.