Jocelyn was going with him. She wasn’t sure if he wanted her to tag along, but he said another set of eyes was needed and she’d been the one gobbling up all the research online.
“Moving fast there too. Even better. Nights and how does your schedule work?”
“I work every other day for nine days and then have six days off. I’m off for two weeks, and if I can’t get daycare set by then, I’ll take another rotation off, which gives me two more weeks. Nights will be a combination of my grandmother and Jocelyn.”
She smiled. “That’s why I’m here for this visit. Not sure if you needed to talk to me or not.”
“It’s an added bonus,” Shelby said. “Chance could have hired someone just the same as during the day. As long as we know he has it covered, we’re content with that.”
“I’d like to keep him with family at night.”
“And Maverick’s other grandmother. Will you be letting Nettie Bradley have visitations or him stay overnight?”
“That hasn’t been decided yet,” he said. “I don’t suppose you can let me know anything about them or that situation? I’m not exactly thrilled I didn’t know about my son and I’m aware she was receiving assistance. There had to be check-ins for that, right?”
“I’m not at liberty to say those things,” Shelby said.
“Which is kind of odd, don’t you think, Shelby?” Jocelyn asked. Might as well play this up like they were friends from years ago. “Here Chance is doing all the right things and onlywants to know what his son’s life was like before. Between us and the four walls, we know Chance is going to do much better than Maverick had.”
“Most definitely,” Shelby said. “Unfortunately, there is only so much child services can do. There are a lot of cases out there much more complicated.”
“I’m not letting my son go into foster care,” he said firmly.
Shelby’s smile dropped. Chance’s voice might have been harsh, but it needed to be said. “I don’t believe your attorney would allow it. You’ve got one of the best money can buy in the area in terms of family court cases.”
“Which is another check in his favor, right?” she asked.
“With you next to him and your name,” Shelby said. “All the better.”
“It’s not about those things,” he said, frowning.
Great. This wasn’t going the way either of them had hoped.
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Shelby rushed out. “I’m saying that we all know that money talks. There isn’t much we can do about those things. You’ve got it with your attorney. Your job in the community is huge too. You’re doing all the right things and moving quickly.”
“I think that’s human decency,” she said.
“It is,” Shelby said. “I can see that the place is promptly equipped for a child with new items.”
“Everything is new,” he said.
“There is an old blanket on that chair,” Shelby said. “One that is most likely a comfort for Maverick.”
“Nettie gave us what Maverick had. It wasn’t much.”
“No,” Shelby said. “Why don’t you show me around the place? I have to do an inspection. You know about them in your job.”
“I do,” he said, standing.
“I’ll stay out here with Maverick,” Jocelyn said.
Chance was tense. Shelby too. Walking with them would be better, but she could still hear what they said.
Twenty minutes later, everything had been looked at and she had Maverick sitting at the table with some cut-up fruit to keep him occupied and behaving well.
“Here is my card,” Shelby said. “I’ll have to check in again. I might call also but understand that your job could make it hard for random visits. That is how I’ll do it at first.”
“I can let you know my schedule as we get close to the next visit.”
