Chapter Four
The key to internal peace and external uneasiness is learning to think for oneself.
–Dr. Abigail Rosen, The F Word: Femininity in the New Century
Before taking Mitch’s advice and calling Abby, advice which had sounded reasonable and necessary and easy, Carol had decided to reread Abby’s book. Bad move. She’d spent the three weeks since in chronic hesitation that had kept her from putting finger to phone. And now, with October in full swing, Abby certainly didn’t even remember who she was. If Carol actually managed to call, there’d be all awkward pauses and explanations, and Abby would either end up feeling pressured to be nice or hanging up—Carol couldn’t decide which was worse.
Besides, who was she to force a friendship on this woman? No one. A deeply flawed mother unable
