I walked over with her tiny, flamingo-patterned swimsuit in my hands, my smile feeling suddenly fragile. “Sweetheart,” I said, crouching down to her level, “do you want to go change? The water’s perfect today.”
The pool party was supposed to be a simple tapestry of joy—just family, the benevolent warmth of the summer sun, the sizzle of burgers on the grill, and the sound of my grandkids’ laughter echoing off the water. I’d spent the morning meticulously arranging the scene, a stage set for happy memories. I’d scrubbed the…
