The next morning, Dad appeared at my door without calling. He looked nothing like the confident man who had defended Bradley beside the fire pit. Bradley worked as a recreation coordinator for the county, supervising summer programs for young children. One of the cookout guests had recorded him laughing beside the burning toys while Ethan cried in my arms. The video had been posted online, and by morning Bradley’s employer had placed him on administrative leave while they reviewed what happened.

Dad wanted me to call Bradley’s supervisor and say the whole thing had been misunderstood. “Tell them the boys accidentally threw the toys in,” he pleaded. I stared at him. Bradley’s sons had finally admitted their father had told them to collect Ethan’s stuffed animals because he wanted to “teach him to stop acting like a baby.” Bradley had then watched them burn. I told Dad I would not demand Bradley lose his job, but I certainly would not lie to protect him from consequences.