And you made it so he had to.”

She nodded, tears streaming down her face, and let the deputy lead her away.

I climbed into my truck and sat there with both hands on the steering wheel for a long time.

PART 4

The morning after the custody hearing, I found out how much of a child’s fear can hide inside a completely normal breakfast.

Finn sat across the table from me in a clean sweatshirt while I made toast.

I set a plate down in front of him, and right away his eyes went to the clock above the refrigerator.