At a small Chicago clinic, an Alaska nurse called about my daughter and said, “Your son-in-law hasn’t been here.” I booked the first flight north without crying, and by dawn, his Bahamas honeymoon was no longer the worst thing I’d found. – News

and freckled, followed me around for three weeks before finally asking, “Are you staying or are you temporary?”

I crouched beside him and said, “I’m planning to stay.”

He nodded once, satisfied.

“Good. Temporary people make the room feel wobbly.”

That sentence stayed with me.

Temporary people make the room feel wobbly.

Emily had been steady for those kids.continue reading …