“The balance of family duty, as he knew from vast experience, lay in simply showing up. Just being there through it all, whether your presence was wanted or not. Nobody with family – any decent family anyway – suffered alone. It simply wasn’t allowed. Your family sat there with you in your misery, propping you up, renting DVDs, serving snacks and making bad jokes until you were ready to venture out again on your own wobbly legs, blinking against the sunlight. Bel.”
