“I know everything has changed, Gretchen, but what will never change is Austin’s absolute right to live under the roof of the parents who chose him,” I said firmly.

Gretchen pressed her thin lips together and turned her head away in disgusted silence as she rocked the baby.

At that very second, Peter’s phone buzzed loudly against the quartz counter, and the screen lit up with the preview of a new text.

The message was from Great-Aunt Joanie, and the short preview line was plain for all of us standing around the kitchen island to see.

Will Saturday at ten in the morning still work for you, Peter?