That was when I understood the apartment had started becoming home.

Not because the legal problem disappeared.

Because the legal problem no longer got first claim on every minute.

PART 7 — THE STORY EMILY GOT TO TELL

One of my greatest fears was that Emily would become nothing but the girl at the center of a case.

That everyone would ask.

What happened?

What did your father do?

What did your grandmother say?

Why didn’t you tell your mother earlier?