I came home early to find 20 guests dining while my wife and daughter scrubbed dishes with burned hands—then my daughter revealed what was hidden inside a locked drawer

and carried a small bag of strawberry hard candies — Olivia’s favorite. She stayed on the public sidewalk, well away from the school grounds. The restraining order kept her from coming closer.

For a moment our eyes met. No red dress. No crowd of admiring friends. No table full of food. She looked smaller. Older. Alone. I felt sadness. But I’d finally continue reading …