“My adoption file has nothing to do with your company’s assets, Patrick.”

“It simplifies the final decree,” he said, leaning across the table.

“Judge Lawson doesn’t like long hearings about old foster care paperwork.”

“Who wanted that clause put in?”

“My corporate counsel,” Patrick said, his tone getting sharper.

“It shields the firm from needless subpoenas.”

I ran my thumb along the dark ink of the paragraph.

“If I sign this, I can never ask the state for my original birth certificate,” I said to him.