I picked up my car keys. I would drive by their house just to drop off the gifts. I wouldn’t even go inside. What harm could that do?

Twenty minutes later, I pulled up to their two-story colonial. The house was quiet. I was about to leave the gifts on the porch when I heard Christine’s voice drifting through the open window.

“No, Mom, don’t worry about her showing up.” Christine’s laugh was cold. “I made sure David told her to stay away. She’s not invited this year.” A pause. “Or any year, if I have my way.