She studied the steering wheel. Finally, she shook her head. “No one said anything to me. Not Isbell. None of the crew on the show. I was busy with you guys. And he was at work all the time.” She turned to us. “I thought he was happy. When we met, he said he wasn’t happy in his marriage. I thought I made him happy. He was a good dad. And a good husband, when he was home. No matter what else he did, he was those things. And they count.”

Kate made a rude noise. “Good husbands don’t go around harassing women. Good dads don’t act like disgusting pigs, and they don’t ruin their families.”

My mom looked at her steadily. “No, they don’t. But that’s not all there is to your father.”

“I really miss him,” I said. “How he was.”

My mom reached back for me. “Me too. And I know you both miss our old life.”

“Not me,” said Kate. “I like keeping it real with the no money and the no prospects. And I love having a power shamer for a dad. I think this whole thing is character building. What doesn’t kill you makes you a better Instagram poet.”

“Kids,” said my mom. “I wish things were different, but they’re not. The best thing you will ever learn is to deal with what is versus what you wish was. This isn’t our fault. But we have to cope with it. We live in Stony Butte for the time being and we are building a life there.” My mom’s yoga training means she likes to keep things positive. Normally, I tune her out when she gets too yoga-ish, but on this night I was listening. Wide open.

“What about Dad?” I said.

“I honestly don’t know. He has a lot of consequences to deal with. But he will always be your father.” She thought for a second, like she was trying to remember all the things you should say to your kids when your husband turns out to have been someone who you wish you’d never met. “And none of this is your fault.”

“Oh, thank god,” said Kate. “Or I might develop an eating disorder.”

My mom jerked her head to my sister. “That’s not funny, Kate. I’m deeply worried about your relationship with food.”

Kate held up her hands. “Sorry. Dark humor is sort of my brand. Lavender and Cavendish keep telling me that not eating might make me feel like I’m back in control, but all I’m doing is giving up my power by becoming literally smaller. I don’t want to do that, so I’ve decided to take up power lifting.”