What we had was more orderly than the past: contact conditions, protected administration, documented corrections, and a clear place for unresolved matters to continue.

Walter’s letter stayed apart from the court papers.

I no longer wanted it only to prove Richard wrong.

I wanted it to remain a grandfather’s words for the child whose future he had chosen to support.

PART 8 — A Party She Could Choose

The new key came after the arrangements were in place.

We had found a home Emily and I could use without needing Richard to agree each time we opened the door.

I had checked the practical things: school travel, ordinary expenses, a place for her books, and a hook low enough that she could hang her own backpack.