I didn’t know which changes Carter had made or whether they were related to the investigation, so I showed the notices to my attorney rather than leaping to conclusions.

Nina helped me arrange access to money for essentials and understand which accounts needed review.

Even small errands took planning.

My part-time job offered flexibility, and my supervisor told me to do what was necessary for Harper.

I cried in the break room after that conversation, overwhelmed by the simple fact that help could be offered without humiliation.

One afternoon, Harper asked whether we were going back to our old house.

We were sitting on Grandma’s porch, listening to wind move through the shrubs.