I look around. Even though we’re busy, I have enough staff to cover. I nod to Mindy, one of the local high schoolers who is looking for flexible hours. She smiles and takes the next customer as I walk around the counter and indicate for Greer to follow me. I take Greer back to my quiet office and ask her to take a seat.
“Is everything okay?”
“I just wanted to let you know that Diane Milton has admitted herself into a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.”
I sit down and stare at her. “I’m not sure what to say. That’s good, right?”
“It is. But…” She lets her voice drift off, and that’s when it clicks.
“But if she gets clean, a judge will probably place Theo back in her custody.”
“I won’t lie to you, Delphi. It’s likely, yes. She has no history of violence toward her son.”
“No, but she has a history of neglect. She has a history of using Theo as a shield to protect herself. And now, she’ll do what—28 days or something equally bullshit—and her slate will be wiped clean. No consequences for her at all when she stood by and let her husband continually beat her child to a pulp and did nothing to stop it. “
“Domestic abuse is a difficult situation to navigate.”
“I’m not judging her for staying with him, Greer. I understand that leaving is the most dangerous time for a woman. I’m judging her for not getting her son out. She could have called CPS herself or had him stay with a relative or friend. But she didn’t, because she wanted him there with her. She was selfish. It was never about Theo. It was always about her.”
“I’m not saying I disagree. I’m telling you what a judge will likely do because they try, where possible, to keep families together.”
“Funny, because I’ve only ever seen good families torn apart, and the shitty ones get chance after chance. At least until the kid is dead. Then the judge can just throw up their hands and say ‘whoops, my bad’ and carry on with their lives.”
I’m breathing heavy and taking my mood out on Greer, which I know is unfair. But fuck, I’m so damn pissed at a system that’s rigged to fail. And the ones that always get hurt are the very ones that need our protection.
“I’m sorry, Delphi.”
“Sorry, won’t make his bruises fade any faster or heal his fractured bones any quicker.” I get up so I can pace, my anger making it impossible for me to calm down. “There’s nothing I can legally do?”
“I’m not saying the judge will rule in Diane’s favor. She hasn’t completed her rehab yet. After all, she may very well fail at the first hurdle. I’m just preparing you. And yes, if a judge rules in favor of Diane, his decision will be final.”
I bite my lip so I don’t scream, but it’s so fucking hard not to. “I’m not blaming you here, Greer. I know there is nothing you can do, but I’m finding it really hard to look at you without clawing your pretty little eyes out of your head.”
She sighs, her expression turning sad as if she’s used to this outcome, but it never gets easier. She gets to her feet, wisely keeping the distance between us. “I’ll go.”
Before she can move, I stop her with my next question. “What will your recommendation be?”
Her eyes close for a second before she tilts her head and looks at me. “I have to interview Diane when she is released and make detailed reports, but I can see how happy Theo is here with you. The last thing I want is to strip all that away from him. I can’t tell you what my recommendation will be, but I can swear I will do what I consider to be in Theo’s best interest.”
That’s it. I have to hope she thinks me and Kruger is what’s best for Theo. But even if she does, a judge is going to do whatever the fuck they want.
“If this falls through…” I don’t say “when,” but we both know that’s what I mean. “I want him back. Don’t send him anywhere else. I want to adopt him.”
“I’ll do everything I can, Delphi.”
She heads to the door, and the fear of everything that could go wrong grabs me in a chokehold. “Who’s gonna tell him?” I whisper.
“I’ll talk to him when we know for sure. Like I said, this was just a precautionary warning. It could all amount to nothing.”
“Okay, I’ll just take it one day at a time,” I tell her.
She sighs in relief, though if she knew what I was thinking, she wouldn’t find much to smile about.
“Congrats again on your grand opening. It really is a beautiful place.”
I paste on a fake smile and nod. She leaves with a soft goodbye, closing the door behind her. I pick up the empty mug from my desk and throw it at the door. I watch as it shatters, with zero remorse.
Think, Delphi, think. Every part of me wants to go to war. I want to destroy this room before I hunt down Theo’s mother and beat the fucking shit out of her. Only the thought of hurting Theostops me. Because no matter what, she’s his mom, and I think if I did that, it would break something between us.
