“Yes,” I said finally.

Sadie stared at me, surprised.

Perhaps she hadn’t known I was afraid, too.

Elise said the hospital was obligated to report reasonable concerns about a child’s welfare to the appropriate agency.

She did not present it as a verdict.

She explained that social workers would document what Sadie said and coordinate with clinicians, and that any outside investigation would have its own process.

Curtis tried to call me three times while we talked.