“That was the clerk’s office,” Sarah said. “Preston Carroway just filed an emergency motion.”

“For what?” I asked, my chest tightening.

“He’s claiming you are unfit,” Sarah said, “and he’s asking for immediate, temporary sole custody of Nolan, effective today.”

My hands began to shake, and I had to press them flat against Sarah’s wooden desk to keep them still.

“He can’t do that,” I said, my voice cracking. “He can’t just take Nolan.”

Sarah was already typing furiously on her computer, her fingernails clicking against the keys like small claws.

“He can try,” she said, not looking up. “In Tennessee, an emergency petition can be granted ex parte if they show immediate risk of harm.”

“What risk?” I asked, a cold sweat breaking out on the back of my neck. “I’ve done nothing but protect my son.”

“Carroway will use the police incident from last week,” Sarah said, finally stopping her typing to look at me. “He will claim the home environment is unstable.”

She picked up her desk phone again and dialed a number from memory.