Page 65 of Tanner

Tanner opened the door just enough to block most of the gap with his body. “About what?”

Dana’s tone stayed calm. “About Savannah.”

He didn’t move.

Mark spoke then, quieter than Dana. “We’re not here to cause a scene. We just need to ask a few questions.”

Tanner knew better than to tell them no on the doorstep. If they pushed harder, if voices carried, if Savannah heard too much, it would only make things worse, so he stepped back.

Dana thanked him and came inside. Mark followed, looking around without being obvious about it. Tanner hated that more than if he’d been blatant. Savannah was still on the floor, watching all of them now with wide eyes.

Dana’s expression softened a little when she looked at her. “Hi, Savannah.”

Savannah pressed closer to the sofa and said nothing.

Tanner moved nearer to her without making it obvious. “You can sit there,” he said to Dana, nodding at the chair opposite his.

Dana sat. Mark stayed standing for a second, then took the other chair. Tanner remained on his feet until Savannah reached for his leg, then he sat beside her and rested a hand on her back.

Dana opened the folder. “We’ve had a report made about your current living arrangements with Savannah. We’re here to do an initial welfare check and establish some basic information.”

Tanner kept his face still. “What report?”

“I’m not able to discuss the source,” Dana said. “Right now I just need to ask you some questions.”

He already knew that meant she could discuss it. She just wasn’t going to.

“How long has Savannah been living with you?” Dana asked.

Tanner felt Savannah shift against his leg. “Since I left with her.”

Dana looked up. “How long ago was that?”

“Years.”

“How many?”

“Three.”

She wrote it down. “And during that time, who’s been legally responsible for her?”

Tanner’s jaw tightened. “Me.”

Dana held his gaze. “Do you have legal guardianship papers?”

“No.”

She wrote that down too. “Has Savannah been enrolled in school or daycare before now?” Dana asked.

“Not school. She’s too young.”

“Daycare?”

Tanner looked at the folder, not her. “I’ve been trying to get that sorted.”

Dana nodded once. “Has she seen a doctor regularly?”

“When I could get her seen.”