next week. She' d be

fight. "Look, Sarah, about Lily' s birthday... I'

side of the conversation, her eyes wide with a flicker of hop

extinguish that tiny spark.

ly explained the financial realities of the out-of-state treatment

to me. She' d never trusted Mark with money, or much else. A small, old lake cabin. My only hidden asset. I' d tu

ough my tired eyes. Anything for a few more dollars. Anything to avoid selling the cabin unle

ment center. A big order: a huge, elaborate birthday cake, a three-tiered monstros

was thumping with music and shouting chil

he middle of it

on his head. Brenda was beside him, beaming, her hand resting

rthday party for Liam. The day

al" he' d promised.