Mom nodded. What little energy she had left seemed to drain as she pulled out a chair. As she fell down into it, I couldn't help but think back to when dad still lived with us. I was like nine when they split up, and didn't remember that much, but I knew mom had been happier. She smiled lots. She wasn't always tired and we would do lots of things as a family.

Dad had dated lots of different women when they had split. I remember there being a lot of arguments because mom hadn't wanted us to stay with him if he was going to have us around a...