Marcus picked up his pen and drew a firm line across the top of his pad.

“If I enter an appearance, Charles can’t contact Toby unless I’m physically in the room,” Marcus said.

“Draft the motion now, and I’ll sign the verified parental authorization,” I said.

He handed me the three-page petition, and I signed my name at the bottom of the last page before handing it back across the desk.

“I’ll have this stamped by the clerk before the courthouse closes,” Marcus said.

I left the legal aid office and drove straight across town to St.