I was choosing a court’s enforcement over any hope of a settlement.

“He honestly thought I’d just give in,” I said.

“He thought locking the doors would make me bring her home and beg him to fix things.”

“Men who hide their debts usually assume everyone else is as scared of public exposure as they are,” Claire said.

I looked at the yellow billing notices I’d taken from his truck.

He had chosen to keep his failing business secret instead of sparing his daughter pain.

He had gambled on a ruptured gallbladder to avoid exposing a defaulted scaffolding lease.