The next morning dawned with a heavy mist that clung to the ground, casting a muted light across the pack house. I woke before the sun, my mind racing with thoughts of our children and the impending trial. As I looked at Kenneth, sleeping peacefully beside me, I couldn’t shake the feeling of urgency gnawing at my insides.
After a quick breakfast, we gathered the kids for a family meeting. Kenneth and I exchanged glances, silently agreeing that we needed to keep them informed without overwhelming them.
“Kids, we’re going to work hard to show everyone that you didn’t do anything wrong,” Kenneth began, his voice steady but warm. “We have some friends who will help us with that.”
“Will we be okay, Daddy?” Sarah asked, her eyes wide with concern.
“We will be,” I promised, placing a hand on
