Rainbow wanted to ride Brighty so they all walked back to the horse barn. The spring sun was hot, but inside the barn was cooler from fans whirring overhead. Rainbow showed off how she could saddle and tack Brighty, which made Nev unreasonably proud.
“What do you like about horses?” the social worker asked Rainbow.
“Nev’s going to be my mum someday,” the ten-year-old announced.
In other circumstances, Rainbow’s prediction would have made Nev feel pretty good. Nev half-turned her back on the others and lowered her voice. “You are so sweet.”
The girl hugged Nev around the waist, asking to be picked up, which seemed babyish for her, so Nev ignored her. The girl was persistent, continuing to try to climb Nev like a tree, as if it was a game. The other adults politely acted like nothing was happening. Maude covered a smile. Eventually Nev couldn’t take it anymore, so she picked her up.
“Do you feel like a parental figure?” the social worker asked.
“I don’t know how to answer that. I don’t have anything to compare this to.”
“Are you in love with my mum?”
The girl was on a streak.
“Everyone’s in love with your mum.”
The social worker said, “Awww…” in a high voice.
Maude cleared her throat. “I’m not.”
Maude’s mother chimed in. “You’re so good with her, Nev, helping her with her homework. Rainbow adores you. Will you be a stable part of her life? It sounds like you don’t know what’s going to happen with Ronnie, which, to be fair, no one ever knows what’s going to happen with Ronnie, but we need to know that Rainbow will be safe here. You don’t drink or do drugs?”
“Um,” Nev said. “Not in front of her.”
Maude frowned. “Do you mind if we run a background check?”
“Go ahead.” There was nothing in her record but a few old DUIs.
Maude snapped pictures of Rainbow with Brighty. “We want what’s best for Rainbow.”
Maude’s dad agreed. “You’ve built a nice place here.”
“I don’t take any credit. All I do is try to stop it from falling down.”
Maude’s mother touched Nev’s arm. “She’s lucky to have you. If you and Ronnie break up, we hope you’ll stay in touch.Rainbow cares about you and she loves coming over to ride the horses.”
Nev felt strange. She swallowed. “Rainbow is always welcome.” She licked her lips. “She always will be.”
“Don’t say that unless you mean it,” Maude warned.
Nev still held Rainbow, who was getting heavy. She tried to think of something nice to say to the woman she considered her arch nemesis.Thank you for helping Ron.No, she couldn’t say that, it would sound forgiving, permissive.
“I’ve been wondering, what do they do for you?” Maude asked. “You cook for them, do laundry for them, help with the schoolwork, entertain them, you do everything for them, and what do you get out of it? What do they do for you?”
Nev blinked. Maybe Maude had never loved anyone other than herself. She ran her tongue along her lower lip. “They don’t have to. That’s the point.” She didn’t understand why they thought there was anything unusual going on. “There’s no greater privilege than to take care of other living things. The farm is…” What was she trying to say here? “The farm is its own reward.”
“I’m not talking about the farm.”
Nev shrugged. “It’s not different.”
“For what it’s worth, you probably deserve parental rights more than she does,” Maude said. “You’re in the most vulnerable position, and you’re not asking for anything. You can’t ask for anything. When Ronnie breaks your heart, don’t disappear. You have our contact information. We like you, and we think you’re a good influence for Rainbow. We haven’t decided what we’re going to call you, but you’re something.”
Nev swallowed. “Right.”
“You have permission for whatever this is.”
