I am stunned. Speechless. What? I mean… what the ever-loving frack? Did my mom actually just say what I thought she did?

“My father… was…” The words catch in my throat as it absorbs into my brain. Mom, lower lip trembling, looks down at the ground, which is one of her tells that she is getting teary-eyed. She doesn’t know that I know this quirk about her, but I’m too stunned to hide the fact that I noticed this time.

All my mom can do over and over is nod her ...