Emotion gave his voice a tremor. Dad wasn’t one to get choked up, so I was instantly on alert. “Is Mom okay?” I asked, suddenly realizing how odd it was that she hadn’t been present for my return. Dad’s answering smile was wrought with sadness. It reached a fist between my ribs and squeezed my battered heart. “You know how hard today is for her, but she’ll be good as new tomorrow. Like I said, it helps to have you here.” He turned toward the hall to the master bedroom, leaving me slack-jawed and reeling. Today. Dear God, I’d lost track of the days.
Grabbing my cell phone, I touched the screen and saw the date glaring shamefully at me. October 13th—the anniversary of Ivy’s death. How could I have overlooked it? Mom always locked herself in her room and spent the day crying. I’d been avoid
