the shift in the room, looked toward Carter. The eldest boy stood up, his eyes searching Carter’s for permission. Carter knelt down on the floor, opening his arms wide. One by one, the children ran to him, forming a chaotic, sobbing, laughing pile of humanity in the center of the courtroom.
As they walked out of the courthouse together, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the pavement. Carter led the way to his old truck, now equipped with five gleaming new car seats. He knew the
