“Hospital administration has reassigned your room accordingly.

And your children’s medical decisions are currently under review, pending custody and financial clarification.”

Something cold closed around my heart.

“Is he trying to take my children?”

“Mr.

Locke’s attorneys have temporarily restricted parental authorization pending a formal custody evaluation,” the man recited, sliding a printed notice onto my tray table as though it were a lunch menu.

“Until financial liability is resolved, direct visitation for non-insured primary guardians is under review.”

I looked down at that printed page, at the cold machinery of it, at my husband’s signature glowing on the tablet still in the man’s hand — and something happened to me that I did not expect.