The Worst Thing I've Done by Ursula Hegi

 

It's always been the three of them.  Annie, Mason and Jake.  They grew up together and when they were adults, Annie and Mason married.  On their wedding day, Annie's father and pregnant mother were killed in a car accident, although the baby was saved.  That made them four as Annie and Mason became parents to Opal, Annie's sister.  

Although Mason is charismatic and fun as well as a great father, he has a dark side.  He must come first always and he has always been jealous of Jake and his relationship with Annie.  Although it's just a friendship, they all know that the marriage could have been Annie and Jake as easily as it was Annie and Mason.  Mason pushes and pushes at this truth until he pushes the two into a catastrophic mistake that has long reaching consequences.

This is a story of friendship and love, of betrayal and jealousy.  It is also a story of loneliness and separation and healing after the worst things one can imagine have happened.   The characters are interesting and Annie's love for her sister/daughter is deep as she tries to heal Opal's fears of abandonment.  This book is recommended for readers of family relationships.