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

Ethan remained nearby and available.

The adults coordinated arrangements directly rather than sending messages through Lily.

I told her where we would be, where her father would be, and that nobody expected her to answer calls from Derek.

“Did I make us leave?” she asked.

“No,” I said.

“I made the decision.

You told me something important.”

She looked at the unfamiliar bed.