The adults laughed.
Even Denise.
Especially Denise.
I realized it was the first time I had heard her laugh naturally that day.
The conference room contained a long table, ten padded chairs, a whiteboard, and a bowl of individually wrapped peppermints nobody touched.
Ethan sat beside me.
Denise sat across from us.
My parents took the far end.
Jonathan remained near the door.
“You don’t have to stay,” Denise told him.
“I know.”
She nodded.
He stayed.
I placed both hands on the table.
“Start with the guardianship papers.”
Mom looked at Dad.
Dad looked at Denise.
Denise answered.
“I signed them six weeks after I left.”
“You signed away custody?”
“Not exactly. They were consent papers for you to become Ethan’s legal guardian. A lawyer helped me prepare them.”
“What lawyer?”
“A legal aid office in Columbus.”
“And where are they?”
Dad rubbed his forehead.
“They were in my desk.”
