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THE FIRST NIGHT WAS A DISASTER

Anyone who tells you love conquers everything has never tried putting five frightened children to bed in a strange house.

Mason refused to unpack.

Grace cried because the sheets smelled wrong.

Theo wanted his old cup.

Evie screamed when I closed her bedroom door.

June woke every forty minutes.

At 10:30, Mason asked:

“When are they coming to get us?”

“Who?”

“The other families.”

My heart broke.

“They’re not coming tonight.”

“Tomorrow?”

“No.”

“How long are we staying?”

I could have lied.

Forever.

That would have sounded comforting.

Instead:

“Ninety days for sure.”

His expression hardened.

He understood temporary better than most adults.

“And then?”

“The judge decides what happens next.”

He looked toward the hallway.

“Together?”

I nodded.

“That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Mason stared at me.

Then said:

“People say stuff.”

“What stuff?”

“That we’ll stay together.”

I swallowed.

“I know.”

“You don’t know.”

He was right.

So I changed my answer.

“No.”

“I don’t.”

He walked into the bedroom and closed the door.

That night I slept forty-three minutes.

Total.