Page 29 of Instant Bond

“You made a mess.”

“I told you I came really hard!” He responded, a bit defensively, which brought a laugh out of me.

“It wasn’t an insult, sweet boy.”

We briefly left our phones to get cleaned up, and by the time I came back, I recognized the sleepy note in Cameron’s voice.

“Sleep tight. I’ll see you on Monday morning,” I reminded him.

“And I’ll text you tomorrow,” he promised. “I know you’ll be busy, so it’s okay if it takes you a while to get around to it.”

I knew I would make the time to get back to him, but he didn’t need to know how many work responsibilities I was willing to shirk for him. A spoiled, carefree recipient of nepotism was the last way I wanted him to see me. In truth, I’d spent years cultivating the team under me, so I didn’t have to micromanage every waking moment. But still, I made sure I was informed on every new product and all the goings-on at the business.

“Goodnight, Cameron.”

“Night, Karter.”

CAM

MY APPOINTMENT WITHDr. Gordon came and went with no notable issues. One of his nurses tested my blood to make sure I wasn’t already pregnant before he could prescribe anything to me. While we waited for the results, which were done at a lab in-house, the doctor told me he’d been Karter’s physician for more than a decade. When he noticed my discomfort at the revelation, he laid a hand on my shoulder and assured me that doctor-patient confidentiality was in full effect, regardless of his relationship with Karter, which was nice.

All the tests came back like they were supposed to, and he wrote the prescription no problem, sending it out to a pharmacy near where I lived so that I could pick it up the next day.

Karter dropped me back off at my apartment. We both kind of wanted him to stay, but he had work and it wouldn’t be long before Ty got home from school. I told him that I’d mentioned having a new friend to Ty, and he seemed flattered but didn’t push for an introduction or anything yet. I loved how patient he was with me, especially when it came to my kid. I had a brief thought that he’d make a great dad, but quickly pushed it away. Way too early to be thinking about anything like that. We did, at least, end up making out in his car for a while after he parked.

When Ty got home from school, he was excited for the parent teacher conference that we had scheduled for the next day, which would include him showing off the art he’d made. I was happy that he was excited, but cripplingly nervous as always. At least his teacher was friendly and accommodating. She’d letme schedule my time with her early, before class started, since I couldn’t really take time off work in the evenings. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to do if he ever had a snotty, rude teacher. Maybe I’d send Karter in for the conferences with that one. Oops. I already forgot I wasn’t supposed to be having thoughts like that.

When the next morning rolled around, I used a ride-sharing app (something I despised doing because not only was it unbearably awkward, it was tragically expensive) to secure a ride to the school for Ty and I so we could get there early.

She welcomed us in with impressive enthusiasm, especially considering she’d probably had to come in early because of me. Ty’s grades were among the best in the class, and he was friendly and popular with the other kids. I wasn’t sure exactly where he’d gotten that from, since I’d been a complete geek with barely any friends, but I was happy he wasn’t like me.

After all the standard parent-teacher talk, she sat Ty down in the little section of the classroom with books and puzzles and asked him to wait a bit so she and I could talk privately. My stomach dropped at the possibilities. I’d never needed any kind of private talk with one of his teachers before.

“Is everything okay?” I asked, trying not to fidget nervously with the hem of my shirt. She gave me an expression that was an odd mix of sympathy and awkwardness.

“Well, there’s something I feel like I need to tell you, but I’d appreciate if you didn’t mention that you heard it from me.”

“Of course,” I immediately agreed. I just wanted the conversation to be over.

“Well, this is awkward,” she started. “But like I said, I’d just feel terrible if I didn’t bring it up, because I see what a good dad you are to Ty. But a social worker contacted me yesterday and had a lot of questions.”

“Questions?” I repeated, completely confused. I hadn’t known what to expect, but a social worker hadn’t even been in the running. “I don’t…”

“Well, apparently there was an anonymous case filed with some concerns about Ty’s safety and wellbeing, and they do take those very seriously.”

Nausea hit me like a truck, my stomach rising up to my throat like a snapped rubber band. I wasn’t sure what to say, or if I even had the ability to speak in that moment. When she noticed that I was only gawking, she quickly continued on.

“I want to be really clear that I spokeverypositively about your relationship with Ty, and just about his health and wellbeing in general. I didn’t have a single negative thing to say, I can assure you.”

“What kind of questions were they asking?” I was finally about to push the words out of my raw throat.

“Well, they generally ask about things like bruises, if the child is socializing with others, if they seem like they aren’t getting enough food or sleep, that sort of thing.”

“Like… abuse?” I probably sounded like an idiot, but I was still in shock over the whole conversation.

“Well, that is obviously one thing we’re trained to look out for,” she admitted. “But I know without a shadow of a doubt that Ty is in a happy, healthy home. I made that clear to her, but… You should be expecting a home visit, and soon. Like I said, they take these tips really seriously.”

“Okay.” My head was spinning in absolute chaos, but I was pretty sure she was on my side. If there were even sides in a situation like this. “I really, really appreciate you letting me know.”

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