Daniel closed his eyes.
Margaret looked at the page again.
“I asked Edith what support would be available if we adopted you. Counseling. School services. Anything.”
Claire whispered, “She wrote it like you were saying I was too much.”
“Yes.”
They continued.
Three weeks later, the file recorded a move.
Reason: placement disruption.
Margaret’s face went white.
“I did not disrupt the placement.”
Claire stared at the page.
“Was there a signature?”
“No.”
Daniel leaned in.
“What would normally happen?”
Margaret shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
The next page was more revealing.
A note stated that “foster mother unavailable for scheduled transition meeting due to work obligations.”
Margaret slammed her palm on the table.
“I was never told about a transition meeting.”
Claire jumped.
Margaret’s anger startled even herself.
“I came home and you were gone.”
Daniel said quietly, “Mama.”
She stood and walked to the sink.
Her whole body shook.
For forty-five years she had blamed a system.
An overworked office.
Rules.
Bad timing.
Maybe her own failure to push harder.
Now she was staring at a record that made her look complicit in Claire’s removal.
Claire spoke behind her.
“There’s more.”
Margaret turned.
Claire had found another document.
A contact log.
Edith had recorded a telephone conversation with Margaret two days after the move.
Foster mother notified child has transitioned successfully and agrees continued contact may interfere with adjustment.
