For most of their marriage, Ruth managed the household while her husband, Frank, worked and handled a few familiar responsibilities.
Ruth paid the bills, scheduled appointments, reminded Frank to take his medications, and helped him navigate social situations that made him uncomfortable. When plans changed unexpectedly, she calmed him. When he became suspicious that someone had moved his belongings, she helped him find them. If Frank made an inappropriate comment, Ruth quietly redirected the conversation.
Their adult children knew their father could be anxious, rigid, and difficult, but they didn’t realize how much their mother was doing behind the scenes.
Then Ruth became ill.