My father stood up at the lake house dinner and raised his glass in fr…

few months. She did not rush silences, which made her one of the safest people I knew.

I brought my mother’s letter to our next session.

When I read the sentence about being sensitive, Dr. Heck asked, “How old were you the first time someone in your family called you that?”

“Seven,” I said. “Maybe eight.”

“And what did it mean?”

I stared at the rug between continue reading …