For 4 years, I picked up my sister’s kids from school for free. One day I was 37 minutes late, and she screamed at me in front of them: “Not with my children!” Then she shoved me out of her house. I stopped picking them up. 11 days later, the school called me. Then my sister called 6 times. I turned my phone face down.

Dan smiled gently.

“I’m working on it, buddy.”

Caleb looked confused.

“Mom says you don’t want us on Wednesdays because you’d rather work.”

Dan’s expression changed.

He remained calm until Caleb returned to the field.

Then he looked at me.

“She told them that?”

I nodded sadly.

For a moment, I considered revealing everything.

The bank records were in my car.

I could have shown him the documents immediately.

But I knew Nicole.

She could argue her way through almost anything.

She could twist a conversation before anyone had time to think.

What she couldn’t easily explain away were certified records and statements she’d signed herself.

So I simply asked Dan,

“When Nicole provided proof that she was paying me, what did her attorney submit?”

“Screenshots of bank transfers.”

I nodded.

Then I looked directly at him.

**“Dan, don’t cancel the October 22 hearing. Whatever Nicole tells you, make sure you go.”**