Let’s clean it together.” Chloe relaxed so visibly that I had to turn away for a moment.

One afternoon Gwen sent a handwritten apology through our lawyers.

For the first time, it did not begin with an explanation of her intentions.

She acknowledged that forcing Chloe to wash dishes, telling her she did not belong, and frightening her about the adoption letter had been wrong.

She said she would respect our boundaries.

I placed the letter in a folder without showing Chloe.

It was possible Gwen was beginning to understand; it was also possible that consequences had simply changed her words.