When I was finally alone, I took out the photograph of that first ultrasound and placed it beside the three hospital identification cards.

I remembered standing in Callum’s driveway with an envelope in my hand.

I remembered Lorraine telling me that I had had my chance.

They were wrong about what a chance looked like.

It wasn’t a perfect mansion or a man promising to provide everything.

It was three fragile lives whose futures deserved more care than anybody’s pride.

Nadia sent the birth information to Callum’s attorney, together with a renewed request to discuss parentage and support.

We received confirmation that the packet had been delivered.