A spool of blue thread

“A mother is as happy is her least happy child”. That's what Abby tells some one. And her son Denny is not happy at all. Hasn't been happy for a very very long time.

He doesn't have a career. He did not finish his college. He keeps changing jobs. And the worst part is he doesn't share any of his problems with his parents. He doesn’t tell them anything. 

He doesn't write to them. He rarely visits them. And he calls once in a blue moon. Neither Abby nor Red Whitshank- her husband, have his phone number. 

But her other children - Stem, Jeanie and Amanda are doing quite well in their lives. Stem works with his father in their construction company. So does Jeanie. Jeanie and Amanda are married well.

When Abby and Red got old and feeble, and Abby forgets things and wanders off some times, Red is hard of hearing, children are worried. They discuss among themselves and Stem moves in with them. With his wife Nora and children. 

Which parent would want to accept the fact that they are too old to care for themselves? Red and Abby protest, but children don't budge. 

And then one day Denny descends and blames them for not calling him. Because you see, he is the real Whitshank. Not Stem.

Stem - his real name is Douglas, was the orphan son of one of Red's workers. Douglas is brought to their home when his father had to undergo appendicitis. But his father dies, and the Whitshanks try to search for his next of kin, in vain. Stem's mother has run away long back and no one has contact with her. And his  baby sitter has no clue about any other of their relatives. 

So two year old Stem stays with Red and Abby. He starts calling them Dad and Mom. He becomes their unofficial son. They don’t officially adopt him though. 

Stem is sweet natured, caring and loves working in Red's company. And Denny resents this fact. Could that have caused his rebellious behaviour and aloof behaviour ever since his  teenage? 

The book is well written. But somehow the story feels incomplete. What is the reason behind Denny's sadness? Why does the silent, sweet Stem hit Denny suddenly over a trivial argument? 

But I liked the book overall. Yet another Anne whose writing I felt was fabulous. (First one was Ann Patchett of Bel Canto fame).