Chapter 4 - The Home Visit
Nina Cole arrived at Thomas's house at 9:30 the next morning carrying a tablet and wearing the neutral expression of someone trained to enter other people's worst mornings without making them feel judged.
Rachel had slept less than two hours.
She had cleaned a house that was already clean.
She had arranged Lily's snacks in matching containers.
She had checked the medicine cabinet twice.
By the time the doorbell rang, Thomas finally took the cleaning spray from her hand.
"Enough."
"What if she thinks something is wrong?"
"Something is wrong."
He nodded toward the door.
"You're being investigated because someone filed a retaliatory report."
Rachel closed her eyes.
"That is not comforting."
"It isn't supposed to be."
Nina introduced herself and asked if they could sit at the dining table.
She spoke with Rachel first.
Then Thomas.
Then Elaine.
She watched Lily play for several minutes without interrupting her.
Finally, Nina opened the report.
"The allegation states that you became physically aggressive with your mother-in-law during a disagreement."
Rachel nodded.
"I grabbed her wrist after she poured coffee toward Lily."
Nina looked up.
"Toward Lily?"
"It splashed her clothes and the floor."
"Was medical care needed?"
"We went to Mercy ER."
Rachel handed her the discharge papers.
Nina read them.
"The report also alleges you have threatened to remove your daughter from her father's home without cause."
Rachel almost laughed.
"Without cause?"
Thomas touched her shoulder lightly.
Rachel steadied herself.
"The house belongs to Daniel's parents."
"And you are currently staying here?"
"Yes."
"Is your husband staying with you?"
"No."
"Why not?"
Rachel looked at Nina.
"Because after what happened, he asked me not to share the video."
Nina stopped typing.
"What video?"
Rachel slid the phone across the table.
"This one."
They watched the incident together.
Nina did not react dramatically.
That somehow made Rachel trust her more.
She watched it once.
Then asked to see it again.
On the second viewing, Nina rewound to the conversation before the spill.
"Who is speaking here?"
"Daniel and Linda."
"Your husband and his mother?"
"Yes."
Nina listened to the line about Rachel becoming inconvenient.
Then the line about Daniel losing everything if Rachel left with Lily.
Her expression changed slightly.
"Do you know what that means?"
"No."
"Has there been a custody dispute before?"
"Never."
"Any domestic violence calls?"
"Never."
"Any prior Family Services involvement?"
"Never."
Nina nodded.
"I will need a copy of the video."
"Absolutely."
Rachel sent it.
Nina continued through the report.
There were claims Rachel drank heavily.
False.
Claims she had once left Lily alone in a bathtub.
False.
Claims she routinely screamed at Daniel in front of Lily.
False.
Then Nina read one allegation that made Rachel's chest tighten.
"The reporter states that last month you threw a glass against a kitchen wall during an argument."
Rachel looked at Thomas.
"I dropped a glass."
"During an argument?"
"Daniel and I were arguing about money."
"Did it break?"
"Yes."
"Was your daughter present?"
Rachel thought back.
"She was asleep."
Nina looked at her notes.
"The report says she was in the room."
"That's a lie."
Rachel's voice sharpened.
"She was asleep upstairs."
Nina nodded calmly.
"I'm not saying otherwise."
Rachel looked away.
"Sorry."
"You don't need to apologize for answering clearly."
Nina finished the home walk-through and checked Lily's sleeping area.
Before leaving, she stood by the front door.
"At this stage, I don't see a reason Lily cannot remain here with you."
Rachel felt her knees weaken.
"Thank you."
"This is not a custody order."
"I understand."
"And because there is an allegation involving your mother-in-law, I recommend no unsupervised contact between Lily and Linda until the assessment is complete."
Rachel nodded immediately.
"Fine."
Nina looked directly at her.
"Mrs. Parker, one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Don't contact the reporter to argue about the allegations."
Rachel managed a humorless smile.
"I wasn't planning to."
Nina hesitated.
"The report was not filed by your mother-in-law."
Rachel stopped breathing for a second.
"What?"
Nina's expression remained careful.
"I cannot disclose the reporter's identity, but I can tell you that much because you directly identified the wrong person during our interview."
Thomas stepped closer.
"You're saying Linda didn't make the report?"
"I'm saying the report is attributed to someone else."
Nina left.
The front door clicked shut.
Rachel remained standing in the entryway.
Thomas did not speak.
Neither did Elaine.
Rachel reached for her phone.
Daniel had sent three messages during the visit.
The newest one read:
I need to see Lily today.
Rachel stared at it.
Then she remembered his message from the day before.
Please don't fight the home visit.
It will look worse.
Her stomach dropped.
She called Nina before she could talk herself out of it.
Nina answered.
"Mrs. Parker?"
Rachel looked at Thomas.
"You can't tell me who filed it."
"Correct."
"Can you tell me if it was my husband?"
A long pause followed.
Nina's voice became very precise.
"I cannot identify the reporter."
Rachel closed her eyes.
That was not an answer.
May you like
But it was enough.
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