The drive to Uncle Edward’s home was only forty-five minutes from the city, and Richard took his time, enjoying the morning drive in an effort to clear his head. He had a close relationship with his uncle, even closer than the one he had with his father.
Edward Merrick was Richard’s mother’s older brother. Richard’s mother, Laura, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after Benjamin was born. Richard's early memories of her were happy ones, even if fuzzy in detail. But his strongest memories were of her constant sickness and doctor appointments—nights in the hospital, seeing her weak and hooked up to machines.
A nanny was brought in to watch the boys full-time. She was the mother Benjamin remembered, but young Richard knew she wasn’t his mother and resented her presence. Somehow, he e
