Not this.
Not now.
I felt Cate go rigid beside me.
Ms. Rodriguez’s pen stopped moving. “She broke your arm?”
“Yeah!” Megan said, oblivious to the sudden tension in the room. “I fell off the skateboard. It hurt really bad. But Cate was there, and she called Daddy right away, and then we went to the hospital and Daddy fixed it. See!” My daughter smiled, lifting her bedazzled-casted arm for Ms. Rodriguez to see.
Ms. Rodriguez turned to look at us, her expression neutral but her eyes sharp. “When did this happen?”
“A few weeks ago,” I said, my voice calm, controlled, even though I could feel Cate shaking beside me. “It was a clean break of the radius. It’s healing well.”
“I see.” More notes. “And how did the accident occur?”
“She fell,” Cate said, her voice strangled. “She wanted to learn how to surf, but we didn’t have a surfboard. So I went next door and got my skateboard. She was doing great! Total Pro! Olympic Gold Medal contender. Well, when she gets older, I mean—”
“It was an accident,” I interrupted, my hand tightening on hers. “Megan was learning to skateboard and lost her footing. These things happen.”
“But I should have—” Cate started.
“It wasn’t your fault,” I said firmly, looking at her, trying to communicate with my eyes:Stop. Breathe. You’re making it worse.
But she wasn’t stopping.
“I was right there,” she continued, her voice getting higher, faster. “I was watching her, but I should have been closer. I should have been able to catch her. I should have—God, I should have done so many things differently. I should have suggested a different activity. I should have known the aerodynamics of skateboarding was too advanced. I should have—”
“Mrs. Lyon,” Ms. Rodriguez said, her voice cutting through Cate’s spiral. “Accidents happen. I’m more interested in how it was handled. Was it reported?”
“She was treated immediately,” I said. “Cate took her to the hospital, and the break was set and cast. It’s all documented in her medical records. I can provide copies if needed.”
“That would be helpful.” She made another note. “And there were no complications?”
“None. It’s healing perfectly. She’ll have the cast off in another few weeks.”
From the doorway, I heard a sound.
A cough.
I turned my head slightly and saw Fitz, his hand over his mouth, his shoulders shaking.
He’s laughing.
He’s actually laughing.
I’m going to murder him.
I’m going to murder him with a scalpel.
A dull scalpel.
Nathan was next to him, his face red, clearly trying not to laugh.
Hayden sounded suspiciously like he was choking.
They think this shit is funny.
They think Cate having a complete meltdown in front of a social worker is FUNNY.
