Chapter 1
The dining room buzzed with the usual family chatter as we all sat around the big wooden table piled with plates of roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and steamed vegetables that mom had spent the afternoon slaving over in the kitchen.
Dad was at the end, cutting into his meat with that same old knife he always used, telling some story about his day at the office that involved a mix up with shipping orders, his voice booming loud enough to fill the room.
Mom sat next to him, nodding along and laughing at the right parts, her fork scraping against her plate as she served herself more gravy.
And then there was Miss Thompson, my English teacher from high school who had graduated me just last year but still came over sometimes for these awkward check in dinners because mom worrie
