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.

escape people used when they wanted to avoid facing the harm they had caused. Sally spoke quietly, but her voice was steady. “You did mean it, Greg.”

He looked at her. “Sal, come on.”

She reacted to the nickname with a small flinch.

That tiny reaction made me resent him even more than the slap itself.

“No,” she said. “Don’t do that. Don’t soften your voice continue reading …