“She wants the court to take the kids away from us tomorrow morning,” I said.

Mariana didn’t answer for five seconds, and I could hear the hum of the pediatric unit’s monitor behind her.

“Come back to the hospital right now,” she whispered.

“I have to call Robert first,” I said.

I hung up and called Robert Vance, my senior floor installer on the pharmacy job on Thomas Road.

He answered on the first ring, a concrete grinder roaring in the background.

“Robert, shut that motor off for a second,” I said.