ce was

e, constantly trying to make

ted to bother me, thin

toiletries i

c soaps and lotions, there was a

in a discount stor

lous about what s

ole bottle of gifted lotio

and dismissively. "The retreat place had run ou

lausible, bu

e our an

place we'd saved up for, a plac

all gift in my bag, expecti

watching TV, still i

I asked, trying to

a blank express

etely forgot! The Peterson

She' d started referrin

r annivers

nt must have sh

gift arrived for me. A new hi

e said, beaming. "I know I messe

autiful,

o expe

his, not without dipping into savings we'

s is... too

ssing me. "You deserve it.

. Where did the

he insisted on cookin

up for everyth

o, a seafood stew.

a large bowl.

ant

of cil

that, I have a mild sensitivity to it. It makes my mou

a kne

de sure to leave it out of my food, or

watching me, a bright, ex

it?" s

away. "Olivia, it'

, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thi

genuinely

other crack i

rgotten anniversary. The ex

hings,

lain away,

med a pattern of carel

, a cold knot

t about Mrs. Pe

eriously wrong