MY SON-IN-LAW CALLED MY DAUGHTER “BUTTERBALL” AND TOLD HER SHE WASN’T ALLOWED TO HAVE DESSERT AT OUR FAMILY DINNER — HE HAD NO IDEA I WAS ABOUT TO MAKE HIM REGRET IT.

beautiful, but exhausted.

Not the normal tiredness that comes with raising a child.

Something heavier seemed to sit behind her eyes.

“Hi, Mom,” she said.

I hugged her longer than usual. “Hi, sweetheart.”

For a brief moment, she held onto me tightly.

Then she pulled away and gave me that careful smile again.

Greg entered last, looking down at his phone and continue reading …