Toby nodded slowly, taking it in.

Outside the courtroom doors, Martha pulled us both into a long hug, crying into my hair.

“It’s over,” I said, breathing in the cold winter air.

“No, sweetheart.” Martha smiled through her tears. “The hardest part is over. Now you two get to start.”

Part 9 — A New Beginning

Life didn’t turn into a fairy tale overnight. I still worked hard, bills still came, and the radiators still clanked on cold nights.

But the fear had lifted. We no longer had to worry that Russell would turn our money troubles into a weapon to take my son away.