He hugged her tight and rubbed her back. “I’m not angry at you,” he said, “I just didn’t know Becky had to leave.”

“She came in early this morning to tell me and say goodbye,” Abby said. “She seemed sad.”

Just then Freddie came tumbling into the room dragging the cereal box in his teeth and the quiet morning became something else entirely.

Barry’ head hurt. He knew he had drunk far too much last night in the effort to calm himself and he was now paying ...