I smiled.

“That sounds like a better place.”

“For both of us,” she replied.

PART 16: The Hearing

The first court hearing did not resemble the confrontations people imagine when they hear the word justice.

There were forms, schedules, attorneys taking turns, and long stretches of waiting.

The family judge focused on temporary arrangements for Piper, access to our home, financial support, and safeguards while the facts of the incident were still being investigated.

Naomi explained that I had suffered a serious injury and needed time to recover.