My cell phone buzzed twice in my coat pocket while I stood on the courthouse steps.

I took it out and looked at the bright screen, where Julian’s name glowed across the glass in white letters.

I swiped across the glass and held the phone to my ear.

“Mom,” Julian said, his voice low, quiet, and shaky.

“Could you come over to the house?”

“I’m standing outside the county building, Julian,” I said, holding my heavy coat tight around my shoulders.

“Please,” he said.