Chapter 13: Locked Out

I tapped "Forgot password."

The reset code went to an email address I'd never seen.

Ollie sat down next to me and took the phone out of my hand, very gently.

"Don't," he said. "You'll lock it for a day."

"It's already locked."

"Then you'll lock it for two."

Benji was asleep at the other end of the couch with Plates over his face.

I watched a stegosaurus rise and fall and didn't type anything else.

Lisette posted at seven the next morning.

I knew because my phone started buzzing on the nightstand and didn't stop.

It was a slideshow of old clips.

Benji at one, asleep in a laundry basket. Benji at two, in a cardboard rocket.

Soft piano played under it. It wasn't mine.

The caption was in my voice.

She knew my voice. She'd been writing it for four years.

"Some of you saw yesterday's live. I owe you honesty. I was exhausted and scared, and I said things I didn't mean."

"Crumb's dad and I are starting our co-parenting journey, and Crumb will keep sharing his world with you, because you're his family too."

"Please be gentle with us."

Under it, eleven thousand comments.

This is what healthy looks like.

So mature. Protect this family.

Can't wait for the first daddy-son video!!

I read that last one three times.

Then I put the phone face down and made Benji's oatmeal.

By nine, the brands started.

The children's clothing line went first.

Per our agreement with Grimball Creative, we're pausing the partnership while the account works through this transition.

A baby-food company. A stroller company. A sunscreen company.

Every email said Grimball Creative.

Not one said my name.

At 11:40 the last one came, from Grimball Creative's own accounts address.

Payments to Talent are suspended pending resolution of Talent's breach.

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