Marlene’s case is separate.”

I looked toward her.

She was speaking quietly with her attorney.

For a moment, I wanted to stand and ask why she’d closed the nursery door.

Why she’d encouraged Daniel to stop me from intervening.

Why she’d told the responding officers I had fallen.

I wanted her to look at me and admit that she’d been wrong.

But the proceeding wasn’t an opportunity for me to demand the answers I wanted.