Chapter 5 - THE FIRST EXPENSIVE DECISION
Grant spent Monday morning calling clients and explaining that he could not complete their repairs.
Most were understanding. One landlord threatened to sue. Another customer said she would hire someone dependable.
By noon, Grant had lost four appointments and one maintenance contract.
He took Lily to school, then met Taylor at a coffee shop across from the playground. Mrs. Harlan, the school counselor, had agreed to speak with Lily privately.
Grant placed emergency-custody forms on the table.
“I want her with me until the investigation is complete.”
Taylor studied the papers. “You live above a tire shop and work emergency calls at night.”
“I’m changing my schedule.”
“For one week?”
“For however long it takes.”
Taylor stirred coffee she did not drink.
Grant leaned forward. “Sign it.”
“Evelyn needs to be removed from every pickup list. I agree with that. But you’re asking to change Lily’s entire routine in the same week she was traumatized.”
“She isn’t safe at your house.”
“She isn’t safe around my mother.”
“You let your mother into the house.”
“And you left Lily with her on your weekends.”
Grant stared at her.
Taylor looked away too quickly.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing we need to discuss here.”
“That’s becoming your favorite sentence.”
Taylor read the temporary placement agreement twice before signing.
“I’m doing this because Lily needs one quiet home while we figure out what happened.”
“Fine.”
“Not because you suddenly became the safer parent.”
The words landed precisely where Taylor intended.
When school ended, Lily emerged holding Mrs. Harlan’s hand. She saw both parents and slowed instead of running toward either one.
Mrs. Harlan crouched beside her. “You can tell them.”
Lily looked at Grant.
“Can Mommy come inside Daddy’s apartment?”
“Of course.”
“And can Daddy come inside our house?”
Taylor nodded.
Lily considered them carefully.
“No yelling?”
“No yelling,” Grant promised.
Taylor did not repeat the promise.
On the drive home, Lily asked if Grant would lose his business because she needed him.
He gripped the steering wheel.
“Who told you that?”
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“Grandma says people who need too much make other people poor.”
Grant pulled to the shoulder because he could no longer trust himself to drive.
