I was happy that dad was back home. Even though he looked so exhausted and tired of life. There was hope... that things would get better.

When mom came home from work, we cooked dinner together and ate it at the dining room table. Dad talked about how he didn't like the diet food, but I was sure it was still more palatable than what he was getting at the hospital.

Then we made cocoa, in which everyone got their share of marshmallows (that is, except for dad) and we sat in the living room on the couch until evening.

During the crazy week that Bill spent in the hospital,...