A boxy white Kia parked next to the pink truck and two middle-aged people who must be Maude’s parents got out. From the pink truck emerged a pretty young woman with heat-straightened hair and Rainbow.
Nev’s heart skipped a beat. “Is she supposed to be here?”
“Yes. The social worker is here to observe how Rainbow acts.”
At first glance, Maude looked like a teenaged babysitter. Long, straight, auburn hair too perfect to be real. Maybe it was a wig.
“You must be Nev.” Urban accent, upper class, almost British, vowels breathy and open. Fringe that draped stylishly on either side of wide, startlingly green eyes. Mesmerizing. Pouty pink lips, plump face, slender limbs, like a doll.
Jesus Christ…
Maude was not what she expected. How the hell had Ron bagged this ten when she was fourteen?
Nev shook the limp outstretched hand the same size as her own. The two of them were the same height. Maude knew she didn’t need to introduce herself. Her last name was Green, the lawyer had told Nev over the phone.
Rainbow hugged Nev around the waist. “Hi Nev! The turtle I found last week laid an egg!”
“That’s exciting. You got to let it go.”
“The dog ate it.”
“What, the egg?”
“No, the turtle.”
“Whoops. Well, maybe look up how to incubate a turtle egg. Probably too late now, though.”
Maude’s parents stood behind Rainbow. Nev extended her hand. “Mr. and Mrs. Green? I’m Nev. Welcome to Upsend Downs.”
Maude’s father had hot hands, and her mother had cold ones. The woman smiled anemically. “Thanks for letting us drop by.”
“No worries.”
“We’re waiting for the social worker,” the lawyer said. “That must be her now.”
A green minivan pulled up the drive and parked beside the Kia. A woman with braids and carrying a sparkly clipboard stepped out of the car.
Rainbow’s eyes shot to the clipboard. Sparkles were like crack for kids. She went over to the social worker and touched the polymer clipboard. “This is cool. Where did you get this?”
When the social worker hugged the girl against her blouse Rainbow sank into the woman’s soft body. “Rainbow girl! Long time no see, darling! Like it? There’s a new art supplies store in Atherton. I bought one in every color. How are the hermit crabs?” This must be a social worker who had worked with Rainbow before.
Why the hell did Rainbow need a social worker before? What happened? No one tells Ron anything. I get fifty percent of that, if I’m lucky.
“They’re all dead,” Rainbow said.
Nev frowned.
The social worker looked unconcerned. “I’m so sorry to hear that, darling. Hermit crabs don’t live very long.”
“I left the cage in the shade in the greenhouse, but then the sun moved, and they cooked. At least I think they cooked. It could have been dehydration that killed them.”
Morbid, much?
“Oh, what a shame,” the social worker said. “I’m so sorry. Tell me more about it after, darling. I’d love to hear about it after the meeting.” Her voice was deep and warm. “Is this your friend, Mrs. Bickerman?”
Rainbow hugged Nev around the waist again. Nev reached as far as she could to shake the social worker’s outstretched hand. “You can call me Nev.”
The woman held up a phone. “Mind if I take pictures?”
