My husband files for divorce, and my 6-year old son asks the judge: ‘May I show you something that Mom doesn’t know about, Your Honor?’ The judge nodded. When the video started, the entire courtroom froze in silence.

Then I put the phone down.

The answer was for Noah, not for Julian’s absolution.

PART 19

When the financial hearing began, the courtroom contained no child-sized chairs.

I was grateful.

Noah was at school working on a science poster about rain cycles.

He did not need to know which account had received which transfer or why two adults were disputing the value of a home he had once drawn with a yellow sun above it.

Martin explained his work slowly.