Helen Peterson died at 6:47 PM on a Saturday evening, three days after the massive stroke that destroyed most of her brain function, surrounded by family who had maintained constant vigil despite doctors' warnings that she would never regain consciousness.

Rose had barely left the ICU during those seventy-two hours, sleeping in uncomfortable chairs and refusing to go home for more than brief showers, her grief compounded by decades of guilt over the twin secret they'd kept together since ...