Child support per state guidelines.

Any contact between the father and the child to be supervised, pending the criminal inquiry.”

Charles’s attorney asked for a stay.

The judge didn’t look up.

“Denied.”

The gavel came down.

The clerk walked the order around the table, and I put my hand flat on the paper before the sound had finished.

The ICU door opened under my hand, and the signed order was still folded in my coat pocket.