Temporary emergency custody was granted away from Brian and Marissa. The trust moved under independent review. The investigation continued.

I won’t pretend the next weeks were simple.

Lily woke from naps asking whether she had done something wrong. Mason kept food in his hoodie pocket for three days before I realized he was afraid meals could be taken away.

The first night they stayed at my house, I left the hallway light on. Mason asked if closets locked from the outside.

I took every closet door latch in my house apart the next morning. Not because a therapist told me to. Because my grandson needed to see a screwdriver in my hand and know I believed him.

Lily’s pink pajamas went into a bag at first, because the hospital had asked us not to wash them. Later, when they were released, I asked her what she wanted done with them.