nne

yself in t

never

ing room, the tinny sound of cartoons

down, I'm

my phone in my hand, the scr

y Birthd

ssed

daughter had simply f

new and pretend

ed the

ost of them picked out by Blake's styli

t like a bar on

stop even

e at least maintain

hat was too

artially open do

holding an iPad, vide

, Dayna. Mama's boring.

d my heart, ti

de it hard

aughter, I

sharp rap on the

flame of hope f

he rem

ed the

in hand. "I'm heading out. Lily's

I asked, the words

ven looking at me before

back disappear

ily's room - empt

said she didn't want to stay home with you tonight, ma'am. She said you were boring.

and died, leaving

in the dark

ommentators excitedly discussing th

e's

e's

one b

m a friend, no te

rom TMZ, the celebrity gossi

JOYS FAMILY DINNER WITH RUMORED

was brut

ed at a window table in an u

a piece of steak from his own

ened the harsh lines of his face,

ily a glass of juice, her po

at them, her face

d at th

s for p

he warmth I'd never re

hurt more t

my veins tu

y birthday di

didn't want

the las

sliver of hope I had clung t

dn't

even fe

found, bon

hen,

nd walked in

om drawer of Blak

eement our lawyers had pre

l document,

g there for years,

written signature to be valid in New York - no e-sign, n

to the l

already there, a confi

ed up

r the paper for a s

first time I sa

zling

wo, sitting in

s so

screamed

shipp

edding, his vows c

hts I had waited alone i

topped he

y hand, I wr

ne Sa

was no longer

t Corinne

take back everyth