Family can be complicated, and sometimes, the people we trust the most surprise us in the worst ways. That’s exactly what happened when my aunt convinced my sweet grandmother, Marilyn, to fund a “family vacation,” only to abandon her in a roach-infested motel. What came next was something Aunt Lori never saw coming. Grandma, Marilyn, is the kind of person everyone loves. She’s the first to bake cookies for the neighbors, the one who always remembers birthdays, and the woman who insists on slipping a $20 bill into my purse—even

She Named Her Baby Martin—Just Like Mine. I Thought It Was a Coincidence. I Was So Wrong. When my sister Emily named her newborn baby Martin, I just laughed it off. I thought, What a weird coincidence! “My son’s name is Martin too,” I told her. She gave me a weird smile and said, “It’s a strong name. I liked your pick.” At the time, I didn’t think much of it. But weeks later, after our mom suddenly passed away and her will was read out loud, I realized something

Seventeen-year-old Maeve was supposed to have a quiet ride home with her mom that night, but instead, her world shattered. The car crash left her mother dead and Maeve haunted by the memories of what happened. Now, Maeve has to live with her dad, a man she barely knows, a stepmom who seems to try too hard, and a baby brother she can’t bring herself to love. The questions pile up: Will she keep running from her past, or will she finally confront the truth and figure out where she