He arrived looking like a man who had not slept, dark circles under his eyes, none of the old smooth ease anywhere on him.

“I’m withdrawing the custody petition,” he said quietly, laying his hands flat on the conference table.

“Why the change of heart?” I asked.

“Because yesterday,” he said, staring at his own hands, “Theo asked me whether you would leave him too, if he ever told another secret.

He’s five, Natalie, and he’s already learned to be afraid of telling the truth to the people who love him.

We did that.