Page 92 of Fierce-Dane

This was going to cost her a pretty penny that she hadn’t even thought of, but she could afford it. She’d do what needed to be done and worry about her rainy day funds another day.

“I know you’re aware that I haven’t talked to my motherin many years and didn’t know about Shiloh, but I’m her family. She should be with family right now.”

“We are on your side to make that happen,” Miranda said. “Make no mistake there. No one wants a child to get lost in the system. But we have to follow policies and procedures just the same.”

“Understood,” she said.

They got to the end of a hall and Miranda opened a door. There were two other people at the table and she was introduced to Mark who was a supervisor and Deb who was the social worker who would be in contact with someone in Durham County that would be her local contact.

“Please,” Miranda said, “have a seat. We’ve got a few questions for you.”

She sat through what she was positive was more than a few dozen questions about her past, her relationship with her mother and what her plans in the future were going to be.

Her head was spinning and Trent had interrupted multiple times to say that Sloane had already answered when they tried to ask her more than once in a different form.

“Do you have questions for us?” Miranda asked.

“I know Trent does and so does Dane.”

“As Trent brought up during one of the questions, I’d like all of Shiloh’s medical records sent to my office immediately. We will get her in to be examined,” Dane said. “She will be set up with any counseling recommended through Duke. Nothing will be court appointed.”

Sloane turned to look at Dane. That hadn’t been something she was aware of but wasn’t going to argue with him either. She didn’t know how any of this worked, but Trent had assured her that they’d get Shiloh’s insurance throughthe county until everything was legalized and she could be added to Sloane’s policy.

“We’ve sent forms to Shiloh’s physician. She wasn’t seeing a pediatrician but a family practice. All that information is in this folder,” Deb said.

Sloane nodded. That told her that she would be leaving with Shiloh and that was the most important thing right now.

“Does Shiloh know about me?” she asked.

“She does,” Deb said. “I’ve been her social worker for years. Your mother was receiving public assistance and in contact with me. She was a lovely woman. Would you like to know some about her the past few years?”

She looked at Dane and he nodded. “I would,” she said. “I know that doesn’t sound good.”

Trent jumped in over the phone. “You are all aware of how Sloane and her sister Sabrina were raised. Sloane has proven to be a success story and it stands to reason that her mother’s choices in life weren’t ones that Sloane agreed with, but her mother always had a way to reach her. Sloane has kept the door open.”

“Nadine talked about you often,” Deb said. “I told Miranda and Mark that. Shiloh knows about you. I have to admit that I didn’t realize you had another sister.”

She wasn’t sure what to make about that. “I haven’t spoken to Sabrina in a long time. Maybe eight years. She has to find her own way.”

“We understand,” Deb said. “Which is no concern of yours or your decisions. But know that your mother loved you. She was proud of you. I think she might have been a little jealous.”

Sloane felt her eyes start to fill and Dane reached over and grabbed her hand. “I doubt that.”

“She was,” Deb said. “She didn’t feel she was strong enough to do what you did, but she did enough to survive.”

“For years that is all we could do,” she said. “Do you have any idea who Shiloh’s father might be?”

“No,” Deb said. “She never talked about him. She came to us for services when she was pregnant. Then when Shiloh was born she was eligible for assistance, but she’s always worked. She was a hard worker.”

“I remember,” Sloane said. “She instilled that in us.”

“A good trait,” Miranda said. “Are you ready to meet Shiloh?”

“Yes,” she said. She looked at her watch and saw that they’d been talking for over two hours. She wondered if Shiloh had been in the building this whole time.

Deb left the room. “Do you plan on leaving Tennessee with Shiloh tonight?” Miranda asked.

She let out a breath and knew she’d be able to if she wanted to.

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