He had let his mother treat access to Madison’s body and baby as a family privilege.
The facts did not shout.
They simply stood there.
Six weeks after Noah was born, Madison and Ethan sat across from each other in mediation, with two attorneys and a mediator between them.
Ethan looked older.
His beard was uneven, and the dark circles under his eyes made him seem less polished than Madison remembered.
He stood when she entered.
“Madison.”
She nodded and sat down.
The mediator talked about parenting time, communication rules, financial responsibilities, and the best interests of the child.
Not punishment.
Not victory.
Noah.
When it was Ethan’s turn to speak, he looked at the table first.
“I know I missed his birth.”
Nobody rescued him from the silence.
