My mother-in-law pointed at the door during New Year’s dinner and snapped, **“If you don’t like my rules, get out!”** – Welcome

the bay window.

And pictured only what I now knew.

My family together at Christmas.

My absence explained as a choice I’d made.

Dad raising his glass.

Everyone congratulating my parents on the future they planned to have inside a house I was buying them.

They hadn’t merely celebrated Christmas without me.

They had toasted my gift while I was still planning continue reading …