My Daughter Said “we Need A Break” Two Days Before Christmas

like the ones on Renee’s old wall. It was real. A little messy. A little complicated. But real.

Josie ran up to me, her hands full of dirt, and held up a fat, wiggling earthworm.

“Look, Nana!” she shouted, her voice bright with joy. “Barnaby will love this!”

She wasn’t disappearing anymore. She was taking up space. She was loud and happy and gloriously continue reading …