“For what?” I asked.

“They are going to try to get to you directly,” Robert said.

“They know they can’t pressure me.”

“But they know you care about the kids’ future, and they will use that.”

“I won’t let them,” I said.

“Patricia can be very persuasive when her son’s freedom is on the line,” Robert warned.

“She will try to bypass me entirely to get to you.”

“If she calls you, do not answer.”

“If she shows up, do not let her in,” he said.

“I understand,” I said.

“Get some sleep,” Robert said, his voice softening slightly.

“We have a long day tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Robert,” I said.

I lowered the phone and placed it face down on the table.

The silence returned to the kitchen, heavier than before.

I stared at the black screen of my phone, waiting for it to light up again.

I knew Robert was right about Patricia.

She had spent Daniel’s entire life cleaning up his messes.

When he crashed his first car in college, she paid the other driver to keep the police away.