He stood where he’d stood a hundred times, by the refrigerator, looking at the magnets Wyatt and he had brought back from school trips.

I placed photocopies of the binder on the table and explained what we knew, and what we did not.

Austin studied the receipt.

“Was I sold?”

I wanted to say no because no child should carry a question like that.

Instead I said, “You were a baby.

You had no say in any decision.

Whatever money changed hands, it doesn’t define you.”