Chapter 26 - The new care plan
Ten months after the dinner incident, Tamsin was still seven.
My work schedule was stable.
Two overnight trips most months.
Sometimes three.
Childcare:
After-school program.
Maribel.
Thomas and Claire.
No one person indispensable.
That was deliberate.
Then the court-supported progression.
Isolde completed:
Four supervised family visits.
Two community visits with me nearby.
No violations.
Dr. Price recommended:
One two-hour unsupervised public outing.
I said yes.
Not easily.
But yes.
Conditions:
Public place.
No home meal first time.
No recording.
No legal conversation.
Phone available.
Return on time.
Isolde chose:
Botanical garden.
Tamsin came home with a pressed leaf and a small muffin wrapper in her coat pocket.
I asked:
“Did you eat?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“Muffin.”
“Anything else?”
She frowned.
“Dad.”
I stopped.
I was interviewing.
“Sorry.”
Then:
“Did you have fun?”
“Yes.”
That was enough.
Then Tamsin pulled a little recorder from her backpack.
Not the original.
Her school audio recorder.
My body tightened automatically.
“What’s that?”
“We’re doing oral-history projects.”
“About what?”
“My favorite person.”
I smiled.
“Who?”
“Not you.”
Children preserve humility.
“Who?”
“Ms. Benson.”
Her teacher.
“Why?”
“She lets us have snack.”
I laughed so hard I had to sit down.
Then she added:
“Grandma said that was funny too.”
That was new.
I did not ask what else Grandma said.
No surveillance.
May you like
No evidence gathering.
Just a child coming home.
