VOLUME FOUR: A PALM TREE FOR CHRISTMAS

Heather wrapped a china bowl in newspaper, packed it into a box, and looked around the living room. Once, beautifully decorated and filled with laughter now the dusty room contained only memories and boxes. Boxes of all shapes and sizes--some open, some closed, some stacked, some packed, some empty—all in disarray.

Over Labor Day weekend, when most families would be having a final cookout or pool party to end the summer before starting ...