3. Morning of Pretend Smiles
At breakfast, I asked quietly, “Olivia, what happened to your hand?”
She hesitated. “Ah… I bumped into the door, Mom. It’s nothing.”
Daniel came in, wrapped his arm around her, and smiled too widely. “See, Mom? My wife’s just clumsy.”
Olivia smiled back, but her eyes were full of fear. I knew that look. It used to be mine.
