“Helping my daughter does not replace her. It means our family supports one another. A larger house, Mr. Carroway, does not guarantee a kinder home. You keep pointing at what my daughter cannot buy. You have not once spoken about what this boy is afraid to lose.”

It was a beautiful, defiant defense, and I saw Judge Harlan’s expression soften a little.

But as Carroway summarized the late rent, the job loss, and the devastating photograph, the mountain of manufactured evidence seemed insurmountable.

Judge Harlan sighed and shuffled his papers. He looked tired.

He looked like a man who had made up his mind to give Grant exactly what he wanted.

“Well,” the judge said heavily. “If there are no further witnesses or evidence to present…”