“You can be part of their lives now, Margaret, but only on our terms in Colorado Springs,” I said, keeping my voice calm and steady.

Richard sat down on the other side of Sam and set his silver fountain pen neatly on top of Sam’s math workbook.

“We will be at your house in Colorado Springs before the end of January,” Richard said, his formal phrasing carrying full legal authority.

At a quarter past midnight, I collected our four matching navy coats from the mahogany wardrobe in the front foyer.

Ethan stood alone by the brass coat rack, his shoulders slumped inside his tailored suit jacket.