At 2 P.M., I Walked Into My Parents’ Backyard Expecting To Pick Up My 8-

few hours, Dad. We have an urgent meeting. We’ll pick her up by 5:00 p.m.”

There was a pause, then a sigh.

“All right, Liberty. Bring her over.”

In the background, I heard my mom’s voice jump in, overly sweet.

“We’ll take great care of her. Don’t worry about work.”

Those words echoed later in ways I never imagined.

We dropped Amelia off at their house late continue reading …