My Daughter Begged Me Not to Get Off the Bus—Minutes Later, My Boyfriend Sent a Photo of My Deed Beside a Contract I Had Never Signed

I put down the envelope I was holding.

“He isn’t allowed to come into our home.

If he contacts us or appears, the adults will handle it using the plan we’ve made.”

“What if he says sorry?”

“That doesn’t mean he gets to come back.”

She considered the answer.

“What if he brings flowers?”

“Not even flowers.”