On another page, Sloane had been identified as Noah’s mother.
My name did not appear anywhere in the family profile.
Mrs.
Ellison had asked me not to confront Graham before the interview.
She wanted to hear how he explained the documents when questioned in person.
So I came early, handed her the folder, and waited in the observation room behind the glass.
Graham picked up the temporary order and scanned it as though he had never seen it.
“This is administrative,” he said.
“A paperwork issue.”
“You signed the declaration stating that every answer was accurate,” Mrs.
Ellison said.
“My attorney handles these things.”
“The signature is yours.”
He dropped the page onto the table.
“You don’t understand the circumstances.
Noah’s mother has been erratic.
I was trying to protect him from more conflict.”
Noah tightened his arms around me.
I looked at Graham.
“You told me the interview had been postponed.”
“That was because I knew you would do exactly this.”
“Walk into a room where another woman called herself our son’s mother?”
Sloane exhaled sharply.
“This isn’t helping Noah.”
“No,” I said.
“It isn’t.”
For the first time, her eyes dropped.
Mrs.
Ellison turned to Noah.
“Would you like to sit beside your mother?”
He nodded.
Graham tried to object.
“He’s fine where he is.”
Noah moved before Graham finished speaking.
He took the chair beside mine and pulled the bundle of letters close to him.
Mrs.
Ellison watched the movement carefully.
“Noah, I’m going to ask a few questions.
You are not in trouble, and there is no correct answer.
Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know your mother would be here today?”
“No.”
“What were you told?”
Noah glanced at his father.
Graham leaned forward.
“You don’t have to answer that.”
Mrs.
Ellison’s expression hardened.
“He may answer if he chooses.”
Noah rubbed his thumb over the ribbon around the letters.
“Dad said Mom was too upset to come,” he whispered.
“He said she might make a scene and ruin my chance.”
I kept my face still, although the words landed like stones.
Mrs.
Ellison asked, “And what were you told about Ms.
