Suzie’s House 121: Home Visit

When Suzie answered her front door, she knew right away the woman standing next to Gene must be the social worker on his case, the one who had called about him. Gene darted into the house like a stray dog coming home, but the woman remained standing on the porch.

“Mrs. Hammacker, do you mind if I come in? There are a few things I would like to discuss with you and Gene.” The woman, Kathy, didn’t look nearly as much like a bureaucrat as she sounded. In fact, Suzie rather envied her broomstick skirt.

“Come in. Come in.” She waved Kathy in. Gene was already half way back to the kitchen. He didn’t look bad, but now that she knew, she could see some stiffness in the way he held himself. Suzie stopped, thinking she should take Kathy to the office, then deciding to follow Gene instead. Not that there was much choice, actually. “I’m sorry. We’ll have to go to the kitchen. I’m been… cooking.”

She’d been cooking up a storm even before the social worker called to see if Gene could stay here. Fueled by her concerns for him, she’d simply kept going. Though she tried to tidy as she went, the place was a disaster. But Gene was already there, and it would be easier to keep an eye on the oven this way.

She noticed the way Kathy glance around with sharp eyes as they entered the room, taking in the dishes piled high and the food covering the counter, but neither said anything. Suzie merely invaded Kathy to sit.

“Would you like something to drink?” Suzie set a plate of cinnamon rolls in front of her and slapped Gene’s hand when he tried to take more than two cookies off another plate. “I’m afraid all we have right now is orange juice, milk, and water, but if you can wait a while I’ll brew coffee or tea.”

“Water would be fine.”

Suzie could feel the woman’s eyes on her back as she fetched glass and water. Well, she was here to check out the situation for Gene’s sake. It was her job to judge. Still, her silent scrutiny made Suzie uncomfortable.

“It’s the funniest thing. I normally cook when I’m upset, but this time I was so busy I didn’t have time. Now I have nothing to be upset about, but I seem to be making up for all the cooking I would have done.”

“Upset? About what?”

Suzie swallowed her tongue. Why had she said so much? Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. “My husband tried to take my son from me. We ended up in court.”

Kathy gave her a hard look. Suzie could almost hear her thinking what a shame she was a divorcee. Worse, that she’d been in court. No doubt Kathy questioned her decision to leave Gene with such a defective woman. Suzie fought the urge to grab a hot pad, and lost. It smelled about done anyway.

Yep, the apple pies and one of the loaves of bread were ready to come out. She pulled them out quickly, not wanting to keep Kathy waiting.

“Well, that will buy us some time.” She sat down at the table, then twisted around toward the dish washer, which was running noisily. She was about to open it a crack to stop it when it switched to dry so she let it run. That was when she ran out of excuses to avoid facing Kathy. Gene watched her with the wariness she had grown to expect from him, like he was sure she would fail and couldn’t figure out why she’d try to do anything for him anyway. Better to focus on the social worker. “Now, what can I do for you? You said something over the phone about a place for Gene to stay?”

“Gene refuses to go home, and I have reason to believe it would be best if he did not do so. There is some question of child abuse.”

“Gene?” Suzie turned toward the boy. She reached for him more than half afraid he’d flinch away. She let her hands drop “What happened?”

“Nothing.” Gene’s eyes cut to the side and his chin came out.

“Well, you know you can always stay here.”

“Not last night, I couldn’t. Drew made me leave before you and Ben got back.”

The bottom dropped out of the pit of her stomach. She was sure it was merely a miscommunication. Still, she’d have to talk to the others about him, let them know how she felt.

“We’d like to place him here for the time being. I’ll try to find him a foster family as quickly as I can.”

“No need. He really can stay here. I’ll get a copy of the key made for him and let the others know.”

“Others?”

“This is a boarding house. There in an FBI agent, a private investigator, an advertising executive, and my son living here as well as myself.”

“Oh. Uh….” Suzie thought Kathy would change her mind then and there, but she glanced at Gene, then nodded once. “Right, then. About the foster care provisions…”

“Forget them. I don’t need to be paid to take care of Gene. I have more than enough money coming in now to cover his expenses.”

“I would prefer to keep things official…”

Suzie ignored Kathy. Instead, she turned to Gene, and took his hands in hers.

“Gene, talk to me. Tell me what has been happening.”

Gene glanced at Kathy, looking rebellious. He lunged to his feet. Suzie half expected him to run out the back door, which was right behind him. Instead, he launched himself into her arms and cried.

Suzie rubbed his back very gently, soothing and consoling him. She sneaked a glance at Kathy, who smiled back whole-heartedly.

“Right. Here’s the paper work.” Kathy left a smile pile on the table as she stood to leave. “I’ll come back for it later.”

With a rush of relief Suzie realized Ben’s best friend had just become part of the family.

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