At nine thirty sharp the bailiff called the room to order.

Judge Robert Miller took the bench, settled his reading glasses, and shuffled the thin stack of manila folders in front of him.

Jaclyn’s lawyer got to his feet right away.

He spoke in smooth, quiet tones, describing Jaclyn as a twenty-six-year-old receptionist who had done her best to run a household through long oil rotations.

“My client made an unfortunate judgment call during a social gathering,” the lawyer told the judge.

“She separated the child briefly to head off a behavioral disruption while guests were present.”