“What’s in the box?” I asked.

“My original 1990 petition for emergency protective custody against Frank,” Claire said, touching the top corner of the legal papers.

She picked up the yellowed envelope and passed it to me across the table.

I slipped my index finger under the old paper flap and drew out a green birthday card with a cartoon turtle on the front.

Inside was a crisp five-dollar bill from 1991 and three lines written in faded blue ink.

Happy fifth birthday, my sweet girl.