Chapter 37

Naomi spends hours crying in a holding cell, fearing charges and what her arrest means for custody. An officer finally releases her, and she meets Ezra in the station lobby; he looks worn and unsmiling. He drives her away in his battered car, and after a tense silence, warns he has bad news.

Ezra explains Jeremy obtained a temporary protection order. Naomi is prohibited from contacting Jeremy or Teddy, or going near them, until a hearing in a few weeks. Panicked and hyperventilating, Naomi is guided by Ezra through breathing exercises. He is firm that her arrest made this development likely and begs her not to do anything reckless.

Fearing for Teddy, Naomi unloads her secret worries about Veronica: the prior residence visit, the poisoned kombucha, and a fear that Veronica might harm Teddy. Ezra listens but ultimately calls the theory crazy, clearly concerned about Naomi’s judgment, then softens and attributes her fears to stress.

Ezra reassures Naomi he has seen similar situations and believes he can get the order dropped if she avoids further trouble. He drives her home, promises he can fix this, and they lightly reference a future karaoke plan. Naomi, devastated by the looming weeks without seeing Teddy, resolves to rely on Ezra’s strategy.