What mattered was that my children had access to what they needed and that I could make decisions without begging Callum for grocery money.

At last, Nadia forwarded a curious letter from Callum’s counsel.

It said he had been advised there were “claims of live births” and wanted an independent confirmation before discussing paternity.

I stared at the phrase.

Claims of live births.

My children had names, hospital records, and tiny socks that disappeared in the laundry, yet his legal team described their existence as a claim.

“Send whatever verification is appropriate,” I told Nadia.