The end of the month came up quickly, and Amy and I drove to the airport to pick up our parents and Amy's brother. Traffic had us running behind, and they called me to say they were waiting at the curb before I made it to the airport. I'd barely stopped the SUV before Susan had the passenger door open and was hugging the hell out of her daughter.

I popped the back hatch and got out, embracing my Mom as Brent and Luke put the luggage in the back. We crammed into my car and got back out on the road, heading south for the Coronado Bay Bridge and...