Whatever happened to the ledger, the children still needed lunch packed tomorrow.

PART 8: THE FIRST REAL INTRODUCTION

It was Savannah who proposed that I meet Maya and Caleb.

She did so after several conversations with a family counselor, and only after explaining that the meeting would be short and could end whenever the children wanted.

“No surprises,” she said on the phone.

“No bodyguards in the driveway.

And don’t tell them you’re their father.

We’re working toward that conversation carefully.”