By the time I graduated, the divorce was final. Citing irreconcilable differences, Mama filed for divorce and Daddy took a shellacking in the settlement – taking out a new mortgage on the house to pay Mama more than her fair share of its value. Daddy did it without complaint, telling me, "What's a house payment compared to coming home every night to a wonderful and loving woman like you, Pooh?"

In late June, Daddy and I took a trip to North Carolina to visit Asheville and the famous mansion there. Daddy called it our honeymoon trip and to my pleased surprise, he actually meant it to be just that. Maybe...