Then I remembered Leo calling a failed pancake a dog and Sadie deciding the dinosaur could be both things.

A faint smile came before I expected it.

I picked up the photograph before leaving and put it safely inside the folder I had brought.

At home, it would join the family records instead of remaining outdoors to fade.

There were still overdue matters to handle.

There were appointments before the baby came, financial arrangements to complete, and professional questions about guardianship that had not reached a final answer.

I did not mistake the regular visits for a completed placement.