Mira’s father had been gone for years, across the country, mostly a rumor.

After the case made the news, he signed away his rights rather than have his name near it.

Chapter 24 — Honored

At the final custody hearing, the judge looked at me over her glasses and asked if I understood that raising Mira was a permanent, lifelong thing.

“Ms.

Fontaine,” she said, “you understand this is not temporary.