Chapter 22

On Christmas Eve, my mother arrived with an overnight bag and asked where I wanted it. "Bedroom," I said. "The bed's made." She looked toward the sofa. "I'm not putting you out of your own room for four nights." "You're not. We can share. You used to let me climb into yours whenever I couldn't sleep." "You kicked." "I've improved." She raised an eyebrow and carried her bag down the hall. I had taken the days off in June. By December, the time away from work was settled and the refrigerator...