he door closed felt

s if the children might suddenly come rushing back through it. The apartment smelled fai

wly and forced

ce already felt different. Disturbed. Like something had

y going into his mouth. He hadn't spoken since coming home. Elena slept with her cheek pressed agai

na more than t

and paused outside Ethan's

she calle

espo

ntly and pushe

, blocks laid out in rigid row

beside hi

p. "You said we

art cl

way," she replied carefully.

e same," Ethan

d. "Did somet

illed. "He watches

ghtened inst

"He opens the door and looks

er eyes for a

id slowly, choosing each w

ked at her. "Is h

anded like a c

said firm

pressed. "And when people

ently. "No one is taki

, as if looking for wea

he nodd

dn't look

, Lina woke to t

an unknow

tomac

h mechanical efficiency, hugging them a little longer tha

t me," he sa

ouched.

ed and

until the bu

she call the

"This is Daniel Kline, legal cou

r eyes. "What

ed. "Preferably before thi

y are," Lina

ftly. "That depen

" Lina said. "And I'm

're currently under review by Child and Fam

on the phone. "Threa

n. Ms. Moore believes you and she could co

if I

pa

oceed with addi

ngs?" Lina

s about emotional alienation. Pa

aped against

ng up now,

replied calmly. "

ne wen

t her phone,

er apartment unanno

the door

t show up," sh

replied. "B

d aside, le

More tired than s

his afternoon," Adrian said. "

ttle and sharp. "

ion," he continued. "That you're fo

h caught. "T

n said. "But sh

red at h

n hes

admitted. "A na

immediate. "You let

" Adrian said quickly.

ou," Lina snapp

dn't

e want?" Lina

ze. "Shared guard

seemed

custody," Lina sa

reed. "And it gi

pacing. "She's n

wants to be recognized as

erly. "So now I'm

ow I see it,"

law might,"

ween them, heavy

r option," Adri

ped pacin

lowly. "We f

to him, stu

ontinued. "Shared residence

're suggesting I

stability," Adrian said. "A

use me," Lina

"I want to prote

Lina demanded. "Wha

't answer i

t I thought

, Lina cou

's words. Noah's f

laptop and sear

ilanthropy.

n she f

se from thr

urrogacy cla

breath

done thi

ing, Lina rec

Mari

We need

instinct, Li

ate me if

cted whether you

sist, the more this w

ing you a

me. A

the screen, h

ay

a t

hone

ge from

e's offering-don't agree

osed he

yped a rep

re: Time

re she could seco

city, Mar

o that meeting, she had just stepped in