Tinker gathered Abby in his arms, grateful she didn’t fight or pull away. “We’ll take care of her, Abby.”
He wasn’t going anywhere.
CPS
Abby paced back and forth in the small reception area of the Department of Family Services. She ran her finger over the cuticle of her thumb, raw and chapped from being chewed on. She eyed the office door of Erin Readman, the social worker Katherine had made the appointment with.
“Hey.” Katherine touched her shoulder gently. “How’s it going?”
“I’m not sure. She spoke with both of us and then asked me to step out so she could speak to Olivia alone.”
“That’s normal,” Katherine said. “She needs to get an unbiased account from Olivia. A lot of times, the parents or guardians answer for the kid or give unspoken direction—or threats. Erin is one of the best. She really cares about the kids.”
Katherine pulled Abby over to the chairs and got her to sit. “How did it go this weekend?”
“Kind of surreal. I took her shopping for clothes Saturday after you left. She would only let me get her a few things. I took her and Will to the Isle of Palms on Sunday.”
“How has she been with Will?”
“She’s been great,” Abby said. “She’s played with him and read with him. She’s been like a big sister.”
“How has she been with you?” Katherine asked.
“Reserved and polite is probably the best way to describe it.”
“That’s to be expected,” Katherine said. “She’s been through some major emotional trauma in the last six months. It’s going to take some time for her to get a sense of you. I know one of the recommendations from Erin will be for a therapist.”
Abby nodded. She’d already planned to ask hers for a recommendation.
“Have you given any thought to long-term arrangements?” Katherine asked.
“A little. In a vague kind of way,” Abby said. “I feel like everything happened so fast. I’ve been so focused on what’s happening in the moment, figuring out what help and resources I need that I haven’t let myself really think about it.”
“If the court grants you guardianship, would you take her in? Permanently?” Katherine asked.
Abby inhaled and tried to envision all the ways life would change with the addition of a twelve-year-old girl, and she couldn’t. Everything she pictured felt like a cheesy fairytale story or a tragic Lifetime documentary. But…
“Yes. I…don’t know how to explain it, or describe it, but I feel about Olivia the same way I feel about Will. She’s a piece of me, even though she’s not mine.”
She laughed and heard the edge of panic. “I have no idea how it’s going to work or any illusion that it’s going to be easy, but…yes. She belongs with me and Will.”
“It’s good that you’re scared,” Katherine said.
Abby laughed disbelievingly. “How is it good?”
“It means you care and that’s the most important thing.”
Abby wasn’t scared—she was terrified. She had no idea what to do with a traumatized preteen.
Katherine reached into her small tote bag and pulled out a business card. “Here. My friend Magda is a family law attorney. She can help you navigate this whole process. I told her to expect your call.”
Abby might be edging into heroine worship territory. “Thank you so much for all your help. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everything you’ve done. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“I think you would have figured it out. You don’t seem like the kind of woman to back down from a challenge.”
The office door opened, and Erin stepped out. “Hi, Katherine. Abby, could you join us?”
Abby and Katherine stood.
