Landen looked at us, and for the first time, his confidence disappeared completely. Cedric buried his face against my shoulder, hiding from the strangers.

I walked past the garbage bags, past Laurel, past Howard, and past Naomi — who had finally taken off my robe and wrapped herself in a heavy coat someone had brought from the guest room.

At the front door I stopped and turned around. Landen stared at me. “Where are you taking him, Elisa?”

I adjusted Cedric in my arms, holding him tighter. “To my sister’s house for the afternoon, exactly as Emilia already documented. You don’t get to make decisions about him by packing a backpack while he sleeps.”

Emilia stepped beside me and opened the door. “Temporary parenting arrangements will be handled properly through the court,” she said. “Not in a kitchen ambush.”

I walked outside into the cool morning air with my son. The sun had risen above the tall oak trees, and for the first time that morning, I felt like I could actually breathe.