Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
RACHEL
I noticed how uncomfortable Mojave looked when he first joined Frankie on the obstacle course.
I felt bad for not bringing a bathing suit so I could take his place, but I hadn’t realized I’d need it.
Neither had he, apparently. He’d thought like I did that Frankie would go play once she saw the other kids and we could both watch from afar.
But thirty minutes later, Frankie still hadn’t let Mojave leave her side.
She pulled him along, giggling, and dragged him onto the slide over and over again.
The poor man was having a hard time keeping up with her.
“Someone needs to tag him out,” Skylar, one of the old ladies of the crew, said with a smirk.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Simone agreed. “This is why I work with middle schoolers. I don’t have the energy to keep up with the littles all day. Could you imagine a whole class of them?”
I laughed as they all collectively shuddered. “It takes a special person to teach elementary school. And pure magic to teach anything below first grade. A friend of mine is a kindergarten teacher, and I swear, she’s made of sugar and sunshine to keep up with all of them.”
“Are you talking about Ms. Benjamin?” Maggie, the club’s First Lady, asked curiously. “She’ll be my daughter’s teacher come fall.”
I nodded. “Yep. Her parents named her Joy and she definitely lives up to the name.”
Maggie let out a breath of relief, and when Skylar noticed my frown, she snickered. “Maggie taught pre-k at home because Zoey’s always been shy. Kindergarten will be the first time she’s around kids outside the club and she’s a little nervous.”
“Oh! Well, you’ve got no reason to worry. I know Joy will take care of your daughter.”
They started discussing the teachers they were familiar with, along with the ones they’d heard were good and were considering requesting for the following year.
It meant a lot that they asked for my input and included me.
I knew they were a little standoffish with me the first time we met, given the unjust suspicion I had for one of their own.
That they were willing to set that aside and include me was refreshing.
Not all women would let go of a grudge that easily.
A familiar face sauntered over, her arm around a boy’s shoulders.
I almost didn’t recognize him, he’d changed so much.
Xander was bruised, malnourished, and terrified when I first met him.
Now, his face had filled out, his hair had grown down to his ears instead of sheared short, and he had a bright smile on his face as he joked with Melanie, the nurse dating Xander’s older brother.
I hadn’t recognized the connection the night she came to check on Mojave.
I’d been too distracted by talking to Prez about asking Mojave to take in Frankie at the time.
“I’m telling you, you can’t just wait. If you want to date him, you’re going to have to say something,” she said.
“Says the woman who kept her crush to herself for, what? Fifteen years?”
Melanie wrinkled her nose. “Exactly. Take it from me and don’t waste a decade or more waiting for the guy to realize he’s in love with you. Make stuff happen, Xani!”
Xander rolled his eyes like a typical teen, then ducked out from under her arm and pointed toward the parking lot. “My friends should be here soon. I’m going to wait for them. Then prepare yourself. I’m going to win that water balloon fight, and you’re going to convince Mattias to get us a PS5.”
Melanie snickered, waving him away, and turned to join the table, her eyes alight with curiosity as she took me in. “I know you. The social worker, right? Who’s been gifted with the pitter patter of little feet now?”
I pointed toward the large inflatable where Mojave was helping Frankie up the slippery ladder to the slide. Melanie’s eyebrows flew up in surprise as she took the pair in.
“That’s still happening? You know… Mojave was the last person I expected when I asked that question, but thinking about it now, it makes sense. He takes protective to a whole other level.”
“Right?” Skylar chuckled. “Then again, they all are. Mel, did you bring a bathing suit? Mojave looks like he needs a break and Frankie might want a buddy.”
Pursing her lips thoughtfully, Melanie shook her head. “I didn’t, but…” she shrugged. “I don’t mind getting wet. With this heat, I’ll be dry by the time we head home anyway. Let me see if I can tag in.” She shot me a curious look, asking, “What’s her favorite thing right now?”
I smiled. Someone knew how to get kids to warm up to her. “Ask her about frogs and she’ll open up fast.”
Melanie nodded, her expression amused. “Frogs. I like it. Alright, lemme work my magic.”
She jogged over to where Mojave was being dragged along by Frankie for another round on the course.
I didn’t miss the mix of relief and apprehension on Mojave’s face, but he must have trusted Melanie enough to back her because eventually Melanie offered a hand to Frankie and the two of them ran off to join the rest back on the course.
Mojave stood watch for a little while, making sure Frankie was comfortable, but I could see the strain on his face. He was getting overwhelmed.
Before I could step in, Prez joined him and handed him a towel, tipping his head toward the clubhouse without a word. Killian was waiting for him in the shade of the clubhouse, following him inside and speaking low to him.
A smile pulled at my lips when I watched him go.
I shouldn’t have worried. This wasn’t a rough and tumble crew who ignored a member having a hard time.
They were a family. They showed up for Mojave, and knew when to give him space.
And Frankie was squealing with laughter playing with Melanie, not a hint of unease about being away from Mojave.
This was a good place for them. A happy place.
They were safe here. I didn’t think there was much more I could ask for when it came to those two.
After a day in the sun yesterday, I was feeling more upbeat coming into the office the following morning.
Mojave and Frankie were going on the field trip today and would spend the day in the city.
Frankie had woken up an hour earlier than normal, more excited than a kid at Christmas, and was bouncing off the walls until Mojave finally took her to school.
I’d been a little worried about him going, but he seemed prepared for it and he had both me and Perry available if needed.
Frankie’s joy was infectious and he was smiling softly as they walked out the door hand in hand.
I felt like he’d be alright. She took care of him just as much as he took care of her.
Spending the day prior with the crew and the morning with those two maybe gave me a false sense of security.
When I arrived at work to Meredith already waiting for me, my stomach sank.
I’d forgotten entirely that today was the meeting with Frankie’s parents.
It hadn’t gone well last time. I was afraid to hope they’d take it more seriously this time.
It surprised me when they both arrived on time, but what surprised me even more was when Violet’s mother showed up with them, a stubborn look on her face that made me think she wasn’t happy that I’d called her to ensure this meeting happened.
“Mrs. Schultz. I’m surprised to see you here,” I greeted with a forced smile. “Thank you for coming.”
“I’m here because these two children are causing trouble for everyone else. We’re going to get it sorted, and they’re going to learn the meaning of responsibility. Let’s get this over with.”
She stalked into the conference room, sitting in an empty chair and pointing sharply at the one next to her while giving her daughter a dark look. Violet sat in a huff, arms crossed, and Max sat on her other side.
“Okay, well, let me introduce you to my supervisor, Meredith Knoll. Meredith, this is Violet and Max Smythe, Frankie’s parents, and Mrs. Schultz, Frankie’s maternal grandmother.”
“Francine,” Mrs. Schultz interrupted with a scowl. “Frankie is a boy name and I’ve made myself very clear that Francine’s behavior won’t be tolerated anymore. She’s a girl. She has a girl name. She needs to dress and act like a girl.”
Meredith didn’t comment on the distinction, though I saw her eye twitch with annoyance.
She dipped her chin in greeting while I sat down across from the family at her elbow, keeping her tone even and professional as she said, “It’s nice to meet you.
We’re here to discuss the issues we’ve been having regarding Francine’s reunification plan.
It’s been three weeks and we’ve yet to see any effort from either parent.
We’ve had several missed visitations, no indication that parenting classes have been attended, and Rachel informs me that her attempts to call either parent have either been rebuffed or ignored completely.
” She leveled both young parents with a serious look.
“I’m sure you understand our concern. We need to see a certain level of commitment from families before reunification can be considered, and the lack thereof doesn’t look good for either of you. ”
Mrs. Schultz glowered at her daughter, demanding, “You didn’t even show up for the visitations?”
“I was working!” Violet snapped. “I told them I was busy! How the hell do they expect us to take care of her if we can’t work?”
“Plenty of parents find a way to make it work,” Meredith said firmly.
She was more strict than I was. She’d heard every excuse in the book in her long career and wasn’t one to let someone try for a pity party when she knew exactly how little they’d done to earn her sympathy.
“While I understand balancing work hours with childcare is difficult–” she began, only to be cut off by Mrs. Schultz.
“You chose to have sex at fifteen,” she hissed. “You chose not to use protection and faced the consequences for that. Now you have a child and it’s your job to meet the requirements–”
“I didn't choose anything!” Violet practically screamed. “I didn’t want her! I only had her because you made me!”
It wasn’t the first time she’d said something along those lines, but it still felt like a dagger to the heart to hear it.
I saw Frankie’s smiling face flash through my mind, bouncing and waving from the top of the water slide before racing one of the club kids down to the bottom.
I saw the sweet way she stuck her tongue out when she was concentrating, her little brow furrowed tightly as she tried her very best to do whatever task was put in front of her.
I heard the uncertainty in her voice each night when she asked if we’d be there to pick her up the following afternoon from school, and if Mojave would still walk her to school in the morning.
Every night without fail, she needed that reassurance after a lifetime of being failed before.
It wasn’t fair. A spunky and sweet little girl like that didn’t deserve to be talked about so callously by her own mother.
Like she was no more than a puppy they brought home and regretted a few months later.
Meredith cleared her through, interrupting the bickering women. “Be that as it may, we need to see considerably more effort in regards to the reunification plan.”
“Or what?” Violet shouted, spinning around to glare at me and Meredith instead. “What are you going to do about it? She’s already out of the house. What does it matter?”
“It matters because if we don’t see an effort to re-establish care, then the issue of your custody may be brought into question, and–”
“So take her!” Violet shouted, throwing her hands up.
“Violet,” Mrs. Schultz hissed.
“No, Mom! I’m done! Listening to you landed me in this mess and I’m fucking tired! I work my ass off and still it’s not good enough! I’m done!” Her wild eyed gaze swung to me again. “You want her so bad, you keep her. I’m not doing this anymore.”
She made to stand, but Meredith’s voice stopped her, her eyes wide with barely contained fury. “Mrs. Smythe, sit down.”
She did, begrudgingly, and crossed her arms again. My attention moved to Max, who hadn’t said a single word since we began. “Max?” I implored. “Do you have anything to say?”
He’d been staring at the table, his eyes distant and not fully present.
He lifted them to look at me, and while I saw pain there, he didn’t argue.
“Violet’s right. We can’t keep doing this.
We’re in debt, working two jobs, barely making ends meet, and still you want more.
You’re asking too much.” His face twisted in what looked like regret and resignation.
“We shouldn’t have been screwing around so young, we know that, but we’re still getting punished for it years later.
I think… I think it’s best if Frankie doesn’t come back.
” His eyes locked with mine. “How do we give up our rights?”