By 8:40 p.m., the kids were eating chicken fingers and applesauce in a quiet room near the rental office while the child welfare worker made calls.
Caleb fell asleep with his cheek against the one-eared rabbit.
Ava and Sophie curled against each other on two vinyl chairs.
Noah would not let go of his backpack.
Maddie sat beside me and stared at the floor.
“Are you going to jail?” she asked.
“No,” I said.
“Is Mom?”
I did not lie to her.
I said, “I don’t know what happens next. But grown-ups are going to have to answer questions.”
She nodded like that was both terrifying and relieving.
The next morning, Lauren’s Hawaii pictures appeared nowhere.
No smiling airport selfie.
No beach post.
No cocktail with a sunset behind it.
For once in her life, my sister understood that posting the performance could become evidence of the crime.
Travis tried to claim he thought I had agreed.
Then the officer asked why he had blocked my number before boarding.
Lauren tried to claim the authorization had been discussed.
Then the email proved she had told me after the children were already standing outside.
The initials were reviewed.
They were not mine.
The footage showed the drop-off.
The rental clerk gave a statement.
Maddie told the truth.
Noah told enough.
And my mother, when asked whether she had known I agreed to take the children for ten days, finally admitted Lauren had only told her I was helping.
Helping.
