“Go ahead.”
When the woman pointed the phone at her, Nev schooled her expression to look approachable and law-abiding.
The lawyer stepped forward. “Thank you all for coming. You all know why we’re here. The Green family is excited to finally meet you and is looking forward to seeing the farm where Rainbow has spent so much of her childhood since she was four.” The lawyer consulted her notes. “Approximately one day every other week.”
“Since she was two,” Nev corrected automatically. She hoped that wasn’t a secret. She didn’t tell them that Rainbow had been here in utero because they didn’t need to know that.
The lawyer and the social worker scribbled notes on clipboards.
She hoped she wouldn’t accidentally say something that would get Ron in trouble.
Rainbow led the farm tour. Nev was only along for the ride, which in this case, was exactly what she wanted. Less pressure on her to entertain. They could have done the tour without her. The lawyer led the group from building to building, while Rainbow told random anecdotes about things they lingered next to, or saw, and the social worker dictated into her phone everything the girl said only slightly wrong. Rainbow’s lack of filter was like a truth serum.
In the barn: “This is where I brush Brighty, my pony.”
Smiling, sidelong glances among the adults.
In the house, more specifically the kitchen: “This is where we eat dinner and where Nev helps me with my homework.”
Approving nods from Maude’s parents.
In the family room, Rainbow pointed to Nev’s guitar case and Ron’s drum set in the corner. “This is where we jam.”
Maude glanced at the hall where the bedrooms were. “Do you ever sleep here?”
Rainbow nodded cheerfully. “Yeah. Heaps.”
“Where?” Maude asked.
Rainbow led the group down the hall into the guest bedroom. Nev followed the others. The social worker took pictures of the bed and the bathroom, which thankfully Nev had cleaned last night in a fit of paranoia. The social worker wrote on her clipboard. “How many times have you slept here?”
“At least a million.”
“Where do your mum and Nev sleep?” the social worker asked.
Of course, this whole thing was a setup to eviscerate her.Here it comes…Nev held her breath and jammed her hands in her pockets.
Rainbow looked around the guest bedroom, then pointed to the bed. “Mum sleeps here with me. Nev sleeps in her room.”
Nev exhaled, unable to believe she would be so lucky as to dodge that one.
“They don’t sleep together when I’m here.”
Rainbow was only trying to do her a solid, to protect her. Heart racing, she walked to the kitchen and filled a glass with water from the fridge. This had been a terrible idea. Why had she thought it would be all right? Why did humiliation still sting? She leaned on the counter. They had come here to gather evidence against her. Well, everyone except Rainbow. And Karen.
The lawyer peeked into the kitchen. “Everything all right?”
“Peachy.” Sarcasm was creeping back. Not good.
“They’re not going in your bedroom.”
Nev finished the water and set the empty cup in the dishwasher.
The lawyer looked sympathetic. “Let’s continue on, shall we?”
The next stop on the tour was the sheep barn that they used for lambing, which was empty now. Maude walked alongside her. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you.”
“Not embarrassed,” Nev lied.
