Harper believed she would soon replace me publicly.

In a message sent to a friend two weeks before the birthday dinner, she wrote: Once he finally tells Corinne, I’ll be done pretending to be the harmless best friend.

The same thread included a complaint about Piper: The kid is always with her.

It’s impossible to get five minutes of his attention.

I read those words sitting beside a hospital window while rain traced pale lines through the glass.

My attorney offered to put the papers away.