Please.
Stop talking.
From the couch, Fitz made a sound that might have been a cough or might have been him dying.
I didn’t look at him.
If I looked at him, I would lose it.
“Well,” Ms. Rodriguez said, lowering her clipboard. “I think I have everything I need for now.”
That’s it?
That’s all she’s going to say?
No indication of whether we passed or failed?
No hint about whether she’s going to recommend removing Megan from our care?
“I’ll be submitting my report to the court within the next few days,” she continued. “You should hear from your attorney after that.”
“Thank you,” I said, my hand finding Cate’s again, holding tight. “We appreciate your time.”
“Of course.” She moved toward the door, then paused. “Dr. Lyon, Mrs. Lyon, I can see that you both care deeply for Megan. That’s clear. But I would encourage you to... perhaps work on managing stress in healthier ways.”
She glanced at the kitchen, the suspiciously clean kitchen, and then at Cate.
She knows.
She knows we were panicking.
She knows something was wrong.
“We will,” I said. “Thank you.”
She nodded, then left.
The door closed behind her.
For a moment, no one moved.
No one spoke.
Then Fitz burst out laughing.
“Oh my God,” he gasped, doubling over. “The NINJA. The shirtless ninja with the butter knife. And the TOAST. She told a social worker about her toast consumption.”
“It wasn’t funny,” Cate said, but her voice was shaking.
“It was hilarious,” Nathan said, grinning. “I’m sorry, Cate, but it was. ‘Very abdominal.’ You said, ‘very abdominal.’”
“I was nervous!”
“You told her about your recurring sex dream!” Hayden added, his shoulders shaking. “To a SOCIAL WORKER. About a NINJA.”
“It’s not a sex dream!” Cate protested. “It’s an anxiety dream that happens to feature a shirtless man!”
“With impressive abs,” Fitz added helpfully. “Very defined. Very... abdominal.”
