And I wanted the final agreement to be one I could read years later without feeling that I had purchased peace by hiding the truth.

One evening, while making sweet potato puree, I caught myself singing a song my father used to hum in the kitchen.

Hazel banged her spoon against the tray and joined in with sounds that were not words yet.

I realized that the life I was building no longer depended on the outcome of tomorrow’s hearing.

PART 15

I did eventually meet Brandon in a neutral conference room, with our attorneys present.

He had requested the meeting to discuss a revised parenting schedule, though I suspected he wanted to speak to me directly.