“I should have asked her directly how she was doing.”

“We all should have.”

The first mediation session finally took place in an attorney’s office on a rainy Friday.

Evelyn attended with counsel.

Mariana sat beside Lena, and I sat beside David.

Chloe attended separately for the portion addressing her belongings and the proposed management arrangement.

The mediator explained that the conversation was an opportunity to seek agreement, not a trial and not a place for personal attacks.

My mother began with a speech about sacrifice.