Ryder were to have a seizure and hit his head, this would at least cushion the impact a little.
Once I’m done with the childproofing, I head into the pantry and retrieve the bags of groceries we bought with us yesterday. I dig out the stuff we bought for our home first-aid kit, still completely appalled that this has been my second home for over a year and I’ve only just now realized we don’t have one. Some nurse I am. As well as all the usual first aid supplies, we also bought children’s Tylenol, Spider-Man Band-Aids, a children’s thermometer, and kids’ sunscreen. I put everything in a plastic box and then store that up in a high cabinet in the kitchen, well out of any child’s reach.
I then unpack the groceries into the fridge—all the best stuff from the bottom of the food pyramid. Thanks to Blake, we’re pretty good eaters in this house anyway, but we’re making the extra effort to buy kids snacks that are organic and healthy and won’t lead to Ryder’s teeth falling out. Except the ones that have to, obviously.
By the time I’m done with all this, Blake has finished the gate and he helps me set up Ryder’s room, which is right next to ours on the ground floor. We didn’t have time to get a kid’s bed, so we’ve decided that here in the Hamptons he can “make do,” as Blake puts it, with a queen. We’ve got him a new Sesame Street comforter set, though. And we’ve filled his closet with a whole bunch of new clothes—much of them red, or at least partly red—just like we did in the city.
“God, I really hope we pass,” I say with a sigh as I stand in the doorway looking at Ryder’s room.
Blake comes up behind me, wrapping his strong arms around me. “We need to be patient, sweetheart. If we don’t pass tomorrow, we’ll just take whatever notes Abigail gives us and try again. And then again. Until, eventually, we do pass.”
The next day, Abigail, the social worker in charge of Ryder’s case, comes by for the inspection and I’m ecstatic to see she has Ryder with her. She explains to us she wouldn’t normally bring a child on a home visit, but as Ryder’s been in her care since his release from hospital there wasn’t really much choice.
“Owen!” Ryder calls, his face breaking into a wide grin.
I step forward and crouch down in front of him, smiling at the sight of the Elmo stuffy clutched tight in his arm. “Hey, buddy. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. The hostapul looked after me.”
I smile. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“Ryder, maybe you’d like to stay with Owen while Blake shows me around?” Abigail suggests.
I imagine Ryder and I are probably wearing matching expressions right now as we look up at Abigail—wide, hopeful eyes.
Abigail offers a wry smile. “It’s fine.”
I take Ryder’s hand and lead him toward the living room. “Do you like coloring, Ryder? We have some crayons over here.”
He nods enthusiastically and I retrieve the crayons and a coloring book from the shelf where I stashed them yesterday. I set them out on the coffee table and watch with affection as Ryder finally sets down Elmo and dives on the crayons.
A little while later, Abigail and Blake return, calling me over from where I’m coloring with Ryder.
“I’ve seen everything I need to see,” Abigail says. “And I think you two can provide a wonderful home for Ryder.”
I let out a little squeal of excitement, throwing myself into Blake’s arms. “Oh my god, it’s actually happening. He’s coming to live with us. We get to take care of him.”
“I know,” Blake murmurs, gently stroking my arm. “I know.”
“There are some forms I need you to sign,” Abigail says, cutting into our emotional display. “And I’ll need to talk you through his medication. It’s probably a good idea to check in with his specialist when you’re back in the city so he can give you a thorough break down of everything that’s involved with Ryder’s condition.” She draws in a breath, her eyes landing on Ryder, who’s still happily coloring. “But, if you’re okay with it, I can leave him with you now. You’ve passed all the checks.”
Blake and I both nod enthusiastically.
“We can take him now,” I say. “We have everything he needs here.”
“I know,” Amelia says with a soft smile. “I saw.”
23
Heath
* * *
It’s the tenth of January—two days after the due date—when I