The first supervised visit took place in April, in a family room at the courthouse, with a caseworker and a box of board games.

I stood outside the glass.

Finn walked in and stopped three feet away from his mother.

Neither of them moved.

Then he said something I couldn’t make out.

Brandi pressed both hands over her mouth.

Later, the caseworker told me what he had said.

I don’t know if I’m ready to hug you yet.