“I know what the rules are, Morris, but they don’t apply if the birth mother is unsafe. If they’re involved in—you know—drug dealing. Or if the father of the child isn’t domestically violent ex-con who’s broken all the conditions of his parole. Have you forgotten why we removed Will in the first place?”

“No.” Morris sets down his cup, licks his teeth. “Okay, you’re probably right. In extreme cases, we can still argue that—”

“This is an extreme case. Don’t let Ruth guilt you into anything.”

“Sully’s pushing pretty hard is all. He’s advocating.”

“Well, don’t let him!” It infuriates me that Sully moved Ruth in, that he’s the one supporting her. I have to admit I didn’t see that coming, but I should have. He loves to be the knight in shining armor, and Ruth is the real damsel in distress. I’ve tried texting Sully, but he only replies to one message in ten. Sorry, can’t talk now. I’m busy with work. It’s fine. Ruth can have him. I have what I need now.

Morris shifts uncomfortably peeling a sock from the side of his thigh. “Are you sleeping, Alex? You look tired. And can I ask, why have you moved your bedroom out here? Is everything with you and Chase okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” I jiggle and bounce from foot to foot. Why won’t Will nap? He’s had his formula.

“Alex, if your living situation changes at all, that’s a paperwork issue. Family Services will need to know about it. We’d need to approve the new residence.”

“I’m not moving out. Why the hell would I do that?” I roll my eyes mid-sway but Morris doesn’t see it.

“The family conference is scheduled for next week,” he goes on. “It might be a bit of a tricky one.”

I stop swaying. “Why do you say that?”

“Well, there were no drugs located during the police sweep of this apartment. Eli Beck won’t give any indication whatsoever as to the nature of his current relationship with your sister. Which means we can’t prove his intention to co-parent. If anything, he seems rather surprised by the pregnancy at all.”

“They’re together,” I say, sitting down and bouncing Will on my knee. He starts to cry. “Eli’s here, isn’t he? I mean, he’s in police custody here in our town. They’re together and he’s violent.”

“That’s the other thing.” Morris shifts uncomfortably against the cushions. “He’s certainly here, but I’ve got wind that Beck might be pressing countercharges. Something about an attack in this apartment. Of course, it probably has no basis, and we’ll try to throw it out, but—”

“But what?” I prod at Will’s mouth, trying to make him stop fussing.

“It might be our word against his.”