Chapter 18: The Pen

Dalton came to my mother's door at seven on Saturday morning with a grocery bag in one hand and a manila folder in the other.

My mother let him in without a word and pointed him at the vinyl chair.

"The sink's fine," she said. "Sit."

He sat.

I came down the stairs in her old cardigan with my hair in a knot and stopped on the last step.

He looked exhausted and unshaven, and he stood up the moment he saw me.

"Is Archie all right?" I said.

It was the first thing out of my mouth, and he heard it.

"He's at Belinda's sister's house in Naperville," Dalton said. "She called me at midnight. He asked if he could still have his dinosaur."

"What did you say?"

"I said yes. I said it was his."

"And the sister?"

"She's furious at Belinda. She said she'll keep him until the lawyers sort it out."

"Good."

I sat down across from him.

My mother poured coffee for both of us and carried her own to the back porch, where she could pretend not to listen.

"I need you to hear something," I said.

"All right."

"None of this is his fault. He's four. He didn't lie to anyone, and he's not a trophy for you or for her."

"I know."

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