WINTER

The reassurance seemed to calm her. Relief washed over me when after a while, my mother made no mention of Kallias or Crystal again. We continued walking side by side and the air between us lightened. Conversation flowed more easily now as we reminisced about the sweet memories with Father here.

Then, as we paused beside a small spring where the water gleamed under a stray shaft of light, Mom turned fully toward me.

“Speaking of your dad,” she began softly, “Since you ...