Only vaguely could he imagine being drawn into reading this study.

Detached researchers could only hunt and peck.  Rarely would they cross over wretched waters to the essential questions.

Would a marriage be more likely to dissolve if a child’s death was sudden and violent?  Was it more likely to survive a long, debilitating illness?  Or was death simply death, no more, no less?

Caroline’s father had no interest in learning any of this.  His son was gone.  The grief he bore was smothering and left him drained of everything.