Heather set a paper cup of apple juice in front of three-year-old Ben, who tugged at his sister’s sleeve before reaching for a blue plastic truck.

“More juice,” Ben said, rolling the toy truck across the table.

Colin, her estranged husband, pulled out a heavy wooden chair and sat down slowly, fiddling with his thick gold ring.

“I only wear the ring when we meet about the kids,” Colin said quietly, looking down at his knuckles.

Maddie held her purple flower drawing carefully by the edge, showed it to her brother, then laid it flat next to my plate.

“The county childcare subsidy application went through yesterday afternoon,” Heather said, pressing her lips together.