d grown up in, the place where his mother, Susan, had planted every single rose bush that lined the d

stolen her voice and the use of her legs, leaving her a prisoner in her own

door before we could ring the bell

he said. It was

Sunday," David replied, ste

A little too quickly. "The new

fresh flowers, but of a cloying, sweet perfume. On the entryway table, where a framed photo of

ring a nurse's uniform that seemed a size too small, clinging to her body in a way that was anything but

her voice sugary sweet. "I'm Olivia. It

tly. Her skin was soft, her nails perfectly

ing to stand a little too close to her.

yes scanning the living r

a gentle but firm barrier. "The doctor said she needs as much uni

ession I had never seen on his face before. It was a soft, doting look, one a man usually reserves for a lover. He followed her every movem

said, trying to keep my voi

via. The doctor's orders are clear. You're not

He and I had never been close, but this

and tight with anger. "I don't need a str

're just worried. Why don't I make us all some tea? We can sit and chat

o back to the kitchen, she gave Robert a quick, almost imperceptible look. It

tantly. "Yes, tea is a good ide

id with anger, his jaw tight. I felt a cold knot of dread forming in my gut. This woman, Olivia, was not just a

ile never faltering. She served R

e you and David own those lovely little restaurants. The Fresh Fork, right

they felt like a probe, an assessment. Sh

ther-in-law's chair, at the way my father-in-law looked at

caregiving. This

-