“Read it over while the water heats,” my mother said, sliding the silver pen across the table until it lay on top of the front page.

I sat down at the table and pulled the papers closer.

The first line was printed in bold capitals, announcing a full mutual release of claims and personal liability.

I turned to the second page, where the legal language was typed in thick, single-spaced blocks.

It said that Rachel Bennett agreed to withdraw every pending police statement, child protective services report, and medical complaint about the incident.

It went on to say that Rachel Bennett acknowledged the incident was an accidental kitchen mishap caused by spilled maple syrup on the floor.