Maisie screamed from the bedroom:

“Toby took the blue marker again!”

Gideon smiled.

“That is apparently our cue.”

PART 18 — DOUGLAS LEARNS TO EXPLAIN HIMSELF

A formal parenting schedule was established.

Gwen never tried to remove Douglas from the children’s lives.

But she stopped protecting him from the consequences of his own choices.

If he missed a Saturday visit, she did not tell Toby:

“Daddy had an emergency.”