The Final Appraisal at the Lake House Before the Family Reckoning

a basket of laundry.

“Did you arrange that?”

Ruth paused.

“No.”

“Were you involved?”

“No.”

Diane stepped in.

“Mark, don’t be ridiculous.”

Then she looked at Ruth.

“But the question is reasonable.”

I felt something rise in my chest.

Not anger exactly.

A tired, burning clarity.

“Both of you,” I said, “will stop speaking to Ruth as if she is a stain on the rug.”

Diane continue reading …