I looked at the photograph for a long time, then went outside where my three children were playing under strings of paper lanterns.

I did not envy that article.

But I did wonder, for the first time in a long while, exactly who had decided which children counted as a family’s future.

PART 10: An Invitation Without a Name

Two weeks after the wedding announcement, Nadia called me at work.

“We have an unusual development,” she said.

“Callum’s new attorney wants a meeting about the history of the parentage notices.”

I stopped marking up a site plan.