I dried my hands and hugged her.

“If we find the answer, whatever it is, you’ll still have every chapter we’ve written together.”

She smiled against my shoulder.

“I know.

That’s why I can ask.”

PART 10

The agency responded two weeks later.

Its director, Mara Chen, said some older files could be reviewed by an adult adoptee using a formal records request, while identifying information from other parties might require consent or a court process.