Chapter 1

Hey, Ivy!

Ivy Jones was halfway across the parking lot when she heard the voice — with a sigh, she did her best to scrub the weary look from her face before turning around. The sun was low in the sky and she squinted through the rich orange light, seeing a familiar figure hastening across the wet parking lot toward her.

Dana, she said, fixing her most professional smile on her face. Long day today, huh?

Sorry, I dont want to hold you up. I just — wanted to say thanks, again, in case I dont get a chance later. For your testimony, I mean. Despite her neatly applied makeup, Dana still looked exhausted… and no wonder. Nearing the end of a messy divorce and a drawn-out custody battle, it was a miracle she was still on her feet, let alone taking the time to chase Ivy down after God only knew how many days of battling her ex-husband.

Of course, Ivy said, feeling an odd mix of warmth and uneasiness — as always — about the vivid look of gratitude on the womans face. It was sad, knowing how unusual it was for women in Danas situation to have someone in their corner. I mean, I only told them the facts as I see them, you know?

Still. Your opinion carries a lot of weight. And you didnt have to come all the way down here, do all this.

You know me. Whatever helps us do whats best for Emma, Ill do it. How is she, by the way?

Much better this week. That info sheet you made for my mom helped a bunch. Dana smiled wanly. She wouldnt listen to me, of course, but the moment a doctor tells her what to do…

All that student debt has to be good for something, Ivy said with a grin. So shes on board with the routine?

Yep. From what I hear, mornings are running like a well-oiled machine over there. Havent had a call from Emmas school all week.

Thats amazing, Ivy said, smiling. Dana had been one of her first clients here in Columbus when shed first set up her practice — shed known the woman for close to five years now and watched her daughter Emma grow from a toddler to a first-grader. Unfortunately, shed also witnessed the slow dissolution of Danas marriage to her now ex-husband Gary — thanks in no small part, she suspected, to the stress of Emmas autism diagnosis. Dana had been an absolute dream of a client throughout the journey. Any resource Ivy mentioned, Dana would seek out — any new strategy Ivy so much as suggested, Dana would try and return with extensive notes at their next session. Gary, on the other hand, was less reliable. He didnt come to many of Emmas appointments, and when he did, he tended to be quiet and uncommunicative. A few times, Dana had confided that Emmas father had expressed his doubts about what he privately referred to as this whole autism thing. As though it was a phase his daughter would simply grow out of, instead of a fundamental aspect of who she was.

So it hadnt surprised Ivy to learn, six months ago, that Dana and Gary were getting a divorce. It had taken quite a toll on Emma, though. As parents often did, both Dana and Gary believed they knew what was best for Emma… and unfortunately, both felt that what was best was for them was to have full custody of the girl. So as the divorce turned ugly, Ivy had been increasingly instrumental in managing the little girls wellbeing throughout. It had been Ivys idea that Emma move in with Danas mother instead of moving back and forth between her mother and fathers houses, and she was relieved to hear that it was working out. All children needed routine, but neurodivergent children in particular tended to fall apart without it, and Ivy had been noticing Emma withdrawing and shutting down a lot more since the divorce, their sessions getting a little more difficult… and a lot more important.

Ivy empathized with Gary; she really did. Like most parents, hed had a pretty clear image of what fatherhood was going to look like, but as his daughter had grown, it had become clear that that image wasnt going to match the reality. Emma was withdrawn, shy, prone to meltdowns that confused and frustrated her parents. At first, Gary had had trouble letting go of his conviction that her symptoms had something to do with a nasty flu shed come down with as a baby, or with the vaccinations shed had at around the same time… thankfully, Ivy had had plenty of experience with those conspiracy-laden waters and was able to help the family navigate their way through the worst of it. But Gary had never quite accepted that his daughter was neurodivergent, that she wasnt going to be like other children her age. He regularly brought up Emmas cousins, a few years older than her, as proof that Emma could be more normal if she only tried… and though Ivy always urged him to be patient with her, she could tell that he was still struggling. And as much as she empathized with Gary, she empathized more with Emma, who clearly struggled to understand her fathers frustration with her.

No psychologist ever liked testifying about a patient in court. It had felt like an enormous amount of pressure when Dana had come to her with the request… but what else could she have done? With tears in her eyes, Dana explained that Gary was seeking full custody of Emma, that he had decided Danas approach to her autism diagnosis had been completely wrong. And as much as situations like these were always complicated, Ivy knew in her heart that it was best for Emma to stay with her mother. So shed agreed to testify. The process had been complex and frightening — not to mention a whole lot of work added to her already over full plate — but if it meant ensuring a better result for Emma, Ivy would move mountains.

How about you? Ivy said softly, catching Danas expression glazing over. How are you holding up with all this?

Im okay, Dana said with a tremulous smile that told Ivy she was anything but. I just want the whole thing to be over.

Not long now, right?

Thats my mantra, the woman said tiredly. By the end of the week…

Youre nearly there, Ivy said gently. This is an incredibly hard thing youre doing, but I know how strong you are.

I just dont want it to affect Emma.

Oh, Im not worried about Emma. Ivy gave Dana a reassuring smile. Emmas got a secret weapon.

Whats that?

The technical term we use in the business is… the best mom ever.

That won a laugh from Dana, though it was a tired one. Thanks, Ivy.

And as much as its hard to handle at the moment… shes got a good dad, too. Gary loves Emma too, you know?

Hes got a funny way of showing it, Dana said darkly. Then she rubbed her forehead. Thats not fair, I know. I just — we wouldnt have had to go through all this if hed just —

Hes on his own road with this. Its hard now, but one day, hes going to appreciate that youre doing the right thing for your daughter.

I hope so. Dana closed her eyes for a moment. Thanks, Ivy. I know all this, but… its good to hear it from someone else.

Ivy sighed. She hadnt meant to get caught up in such an in-depth conversation in the parking lot of the courthouse — it was already getting dark, and she had preparation to do that night for the next few days of catch-up appointments. But she could tell from Danas expression that the woman had needed to talk. They said their goodbyes, and Ivy watched Dana head off across the parking lot toward her car. Then she turned back to her own, taking a deep breath before sliding into the passenger seat.

Shed known, way back when shed chosen her career path, that a lot of her work was going to involve working with the parents and guardians of neurodivergent kids, rather than just spending time with the kids themselves. This week was a perfect example of that. She hadnt seen Emma for two weeks, not since their regular appointment… but shed seen Dana and Gary almost every day that week. Well, shed seen more of Garys lawyer than Gary himself, but still.

It was exhausting, having to explain the nature of her work over and over again in laymans terms, having to define and re-define Emmas condition over and over for the benefit of the curious courtroom. Shed kept her cool, but it was hard not to feel frustrated by the level of understanding of what autistic children went through. So many people still considered the condition something that needed to be treated, suppressed, cured… like it was a disease rather than a different way of thinking. And while it was true that autistic kids like Emma needed a lot more help and support than their neurotypical peers to navigate the world, from Ivys perspective, it was the world that needed to change, not the kids. Garys perspective, unfortunately, was just the opposite… that his daughter could change into a neurotypical child if she just tried hard enough. Ivy just hoped that her testimony would go some way to showing that that kind of approach wasnt what was best for Emma. Shed witnessed firsthand how much damage could be done by parents trying to force their children to just be normal.

And that was why she did what she did, in the end. That was why she was able to smile, tired as she was, at the thought of the piles of paperwork waiting for her in her apartment. Every client, every appointment, every interaction with a neurodivergent child or their parents or families represented an opportunity for Ivy to improve their futures, to improve their worlds. No matter how tired she got, Ivy knew that that little flame would never go out.