“The district attached a formal written warning for filing a malicious false child protection report,” I said.

“It comes with a mandatory administrative penalty notice sent straight to the county records office.”

My mother reached out with two fingers and took hold of the envelope.

“After everything I’ve given you over thirty-two years,” my mother said, glancing at the porch railings behind me as if a neighbor might be standing on the sidewalk.

“You’re an ungrateful, spiteful girl.”

Caroline took another step back into the dark hallway, pulling her car keys out of her coat pocket.