They Asked for Thirty Lemon Desserts While My Newborn Fought to Breathe

Page three had a red stick-on arrow pointing to a blank line marked for the petitioner.

“Sign your full legal name on the line,” Detective Miller said.

“First, middle, and last.”

I set the clipboard on my knees and pressed the tip of the blue ballpoint against the paper.

My fingers were stiff, but I wrote my name without hesitating.

The blue ink dried almost instantly under the bright afternoon sun.

I turned the page to sign the duplicate copy for the county sheriff.

“This temporary order takes effect the second I file it with the clerk,” Detective Miller said.