Daniel stood on the wide white porch steps, staring at the signed deed.

He went down to his car without saying anything more, and the court-ordered visitation schedule went into effect twenty-four hours later.

At two o’clock Friday afternoon, the blue station wagon rolled into the gravel drive on Willow Creek Lane.

The back doors flew open before the engine had fully stopped.

Caleb dropped his canvas overnight bag right in the dust and bounded up the porch steps three at a time.

“Grandma, there’s a silver lizard under the hose spigot!” he yelled.