The Final Appraisal at the Lake House Before the Family Reckoning

started speaking louder than you.”

His face changed.

For the first time all weekend, he looked lost instead of angry.

“I was fourteen,” he said.

“Yes.”

“I hit my thumb with the hammer.”

“And blamed the hammer.”

He almost smiled.

Then he looked down.

“I don’t know how things got like this.”

I said nothing.

Because men like my son often ask that question when they continue reading …