“That job paid thirteen dollars an hour, honey, but we’ll make this money stretch,” Helen said.

In the little back bedroom, baby Walter lay on his back in the wooden crib, holding on to the fringe of his blue knit baby blanket.

The soft sound of his breathing filled the dark gap between the dresser and the wall.

Helen moved up next to the crib and drew the shade down an inch to keep out the yellow pine pollen blowing against the window.

“Yesterday afternoon Spencer’s lawyer filed another formal petition saying you kept Walter senior cut off from his real family.”