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
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