After the Bruises

In a small lakeside town in Iowa where everyone smiles and no one asks questions, Tessa has perfected the art of staying small, moving carefully, speaking softly, and hiding bruises beneath long sleaves. Her life revolves around keeping the peace for her two daughters, living by instincts shaped by tension and restraint.
Some days, survival looks like making coffee the right way.
Some days, it looks like holding her breath until the house goes still again.
But then there are moments-unexpec...