My siblings mocked me as a “crazy old woman” for adopting a newborn—until they saw the birth certificate and broke down in tears.

always been sharp around the edges. She loved hard, but she spoke like love was a set of instructions and everyone else had misplaced the manual.

My other sister, Selene, was softer in public and colder in private.

My brother, Orson, preferred to avoid family storms until they blew over, then show up afterward with a joke and a casserole.

Together, they continue reading …