I was momentarily dumbstruck. One of the things that had kept me awake most of the night was anticipation of the conversation we needed to have today about Boston returning to his trainers in California. It wasn't an option, and that wasn't going to be an easy conversation. That's what I thought last night anyway.

"Oh, um, Tuesday afternoon."

"Is it going to be another three-week stay like last time? You remember last time? I know you didn't have to go to babysit me..."

"Raven! I wanted to go, and it wasn't to babysit you!"

Raven turned around to face me, and I could tell she was struggling to look...