Excerpt from Edie Richter is Not Alone by Rebecca Handler, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Mom decided to sell Dad's auto-parts shop and, through a series of compelling lies, convinced Dad to sign some papers and that was that. It was purchased by a national chain of mechanics that did mostly oil changes and smog checks.

When I was growing up, Dad's longtime employee Igor used to spend a lot of time at our house. He was a gay Croatian who loved Neil Diamond and wore head-to-toe denim. He'd bring over saltwater taffy and say, All right, ladies, what's happening? He and tiny Abby would dance in the living room or we would all watch reruns. Sometimes in the middle of a show, he'd sigh wistfully and tell me what a great man my dad was. He'd say, He takes care of people, Edie.

When Mom sold the business, she asked Igor if he'd be interested in living with them and helping care for Dad. He said he'd be honored. He moved into my old room and became Dad's babysitter, always next to him, discreetly fixing things Dad would break like coffee mugs or conversations. He'd quietly apologize when Dad yelled at the pharmacist.

Mom started working part-time at a children's clothing store, thanks to a referral from Tanya from Walking Group. Mom hadn't worked in thirty years. She'd sigh with thinly veiled pride and fake grumble, They need me to come in this weekend. They're swimming in ponchos. Your dad would understand.

Whether he would or wouldn't understand wasn't important anymore. Mom liked to feel needed, and they were swimming in ponchos.

Excerpted from Edie Richter is Not Alone by Rebecca Handler. Copyright © 2021 by Rebecca Handler. Excerpted by permission of The Unnamed Press. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.