Here we are. This chapter is kinda long since I wanted to get both the visitation and the home visit in it. Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, alerted and favorited this. That's my version of kisses and hugs.
January
"What do you mean she gets visitation?" Dave yelled into the phone to his lawyer.
Ms. Cantrell sighed. She knew her client wasn't going to like this any better than she did but it couldn't be helped. "Here lawyer probably told her it would help her case. The judge has granted her temporary visitation," she said, "but, after what happened in December, they will be supervised visits."
"Hell, yeah, they'll be supervised," Dave said. "By me."
"David, you won't be there," she said. "Her lawyer argued that the visits would be better without your presence."
"Then who's supervising?" he asked.
"Skylar's social worker," she said.
"She has a social worker?"
"It's standard procedure in custody cases," she informed him. "She'll be also doing at least one home visit to you before that hearing, maybe two. The same goes for Ms. Peterson."
"Elizabeth lives in Europe," he said. "I don't think home visits are going to happen there."
"That's another reason they're going to be supervised," she said. "I argued that there was a real possibility that she could take off with Skylar if left to her own devices. The judge agreed."
"Skylar is not going to be happy about this," Dave said.
"I know," she sighed,. "Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about it. She has to go." She chuckled. "Nothing says she has to be nice to the woman, though."
"I don't think that will be a problem."
Unhappy was a mild word for what Skylar was. The following Saturday, the first scheduled visit, she fought Dave at every turn. By the time they left for the visit, both were in foul moods. The visits were being held at Ms. Cantrell's office this time. Skylar, her mother and Mrs. Roberts the social worker would be in one of the conference rooms. Dave, Ms. Cantrell and Elizabeth's attorney James Franks would wait in her office. This first visit would last an hour.
Dave walked Skylar into the conference room where the social worker was already waiting. He gave her a kiss then left the room. Elizabeth arrived just as he was walking out. He glared at her but neither said a word as she walked into the conference room.
It was the longest hour of Dave's life. Nothing much was said as they waited for the end of the visit. They knew it was over when the door to the conference room slammed open and Elizabeth stormed out. Her attorney got up and hurried after her. A moment later, Skylar ran into the room and climbed into her father's lap. She was followed by Mrs. Roberts.
"How did it go?" Dave asked.
"Agent Rossi, your daughter is the most stubborn eight-year-old I have ever met," the social worker said.
"She comes by it honestly," Ms. Cantrell chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Dave asked.
"It was apparent from the moment she arrived, she didn't want to be here," the woman said. "To that end, she basically ignored her mother for the entire visit."
"What's in the bag?" Ms. Cantrell asked.
The social worker held it up. "It's a present Ms. Peterson brought for Skylar," she said. "She refused to even open it."
"I'm not surprised," Dave said. "When do we have to do it again?"
"Next Saturday at Mr. Franks' office," she said. "I'll see you then." She set the bag on the side table by the door then left.
"Well, this was fun," Dave said sarcastically. He nudged his daughter and she looked at him. "Lasagna and iced cream?" he asked. The little girl nodded.
Dave had arranged to not travel with the team as much until the custody issue was settled. If it was a really big case that needed everyone, he still went. He also did a lot of the custodial visits. Those were generally only overnight, two at the most.
Penelope also spent quite a bit of time at Dave's home. There were some things she could do for Skylar that Dave just couldn't. Skylar loved her Aunt Pen and Dave was coming to appreciate here more and more. One more than one occasion, she took the little girl shopping for 'girl stuff' or took her to her apartment for a sleepover when Dave needed a little down time. She often had dinner with them when she came over.
The visitations continued for a month when Elizabeth missed her first on. She called to say she had been unavoidably detained but everyone knew she just didn't want to be there. Skylar was still not acknowledging her presence and no one saw that changing any time soon.
The home visit was scheduled for the first Friday in February. Mrs. Nichols had cleaned the house from top to bottom. Dave wanted everything perfect for the visit. He didn't want to give the social any cause for negativity in her report. Unfortunately, Murphy's Law was in full force.
The morning started off well enough. Breakfast was eaten then Skylar headed to do her schoolwork and Dave went into his office to work on his new book. Mrs. Nichols loaded this dishwasher, turned it on then went into the laundry room to get that started.
She had just loaded the washer when she heard what sounded like a small explosion. She hurried into the kitchen and stopped dead in her tracks. The dishwasher had stopped and water was pouring from under the kitchen sink. She looked up as Dave and Skylar appeared in the doorway.
"What the hell happened?" Dave asked as water spread over the kitchen floor.
"I don't know," Mrs. Nichols said. "I was in the laundry room when it happened."
"Where's the shut-off valve?" he asked as he headed for the sink. "Under the sink?"
"I think so," the housekeeper said, heading that way herself.
Dave opened the cabinet, causing the water to shoot out more forcefully and soaking his pants. He got on his knees, getting more wet in the process, and began searching for the valve. Finding it, he tried to turn it. It wouldn't budge. It took almost ten minutes, and several scraped knuckles, to get the water turned off. When it was done, Dave sat back on his legs and sighed.
The kitchen was a mess. Water covered most of the kitchen floor. Things from under the sink that were packaged in paper or paper themselves were ruined and sitting on the floor next to Dave. As for Dave himself, he was soaked to the skin. This was not what they needed today, not with the social worker coming.
"Okay," Dave said as he hauled himself to his feet. "Mrs. Nichols, get the wet-vac, please. I'll call the plumber." He glanced at his daughter as he grabbed the trash can. "Go finish your schoolwork," he told her. "I don't want you in here." The little girl nodded and started to leave as Dave began throwing things away.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Dave looked up in panic. "She's early," he said, glancing at his watch. He went to answer the door but Skylar had beaten him to it.
The social worker Mrs. Roberts smiled at Skylar when she opened the door. She started to say something when she caught sight of Dave.
"Have I come at a bad time?" she asked.
"Something busted under the kitchen sink," he explained. "We're in the process of cleaning it up. Come on in." They walked into the living room. "I'm going to get changed."
"While you're changing, Skylar can show me her room," Mrs. Roberts smiled.
"Alright," Dave sighed and headed for his room as Skylar headed for hers.
Five minutes later, Dave joined them. "Everything was ready for your visit before this," he said, leaning against the door jam.
"Believed it or not, this happens a lot," Mrs. Roberts smiled. "I think someone up there likes messing with people."
"I've always thought God had a sense of humor," Dave chuckled.
"I know He does," she chuckled. "You should see my neighbors." She looked around. "These are very nice rooms."
"Skylar decorated everything herself," Dave said. "Well, she picked everything out. The rest of us, the people I work with, did the actual painting and stuff."
"She does her schoolwork online?" Mrs. Roberts asked, looking at the computer.
"Yes, she does," Dave answered. "The tutor she had over the summer thought it would be a good way of catching her up with her age group. If everything goes as planned, she'll go to regular school this fall."
"Will she go to public school?"
"I'm looking at my options," Dave told her.
"Why don't we check out the rest of the house," Mrs. Roberts said.
An hour later, she was gone. She had seen everything in the house, including the kitchen which they saved for last so Mrs. Nichols had time to get it cleaned up. She even met Mudgie who shook hands with her. The only thing that concerned her was the amount of time Dave might be gone for work but she liked the plans he had made for when that happened.
Dave leaned against the door and sighed after he had shown Mrs. Roberts out. "That was not how I planned for that to go," he said. He pushed off the door and walked into the living room.
"At least it's over," Mrs. Nichols said, sighing herself. Skylar nodded. "I'll get lunch started."
"I think we deserve a reward for surviving this morning," Dave said. "I'm thinking Big Ed's for burgers and fries then the Marble Slab for dessert." Skylar vigorously nodded her head. "Great. Grab your coat, Mrs. Nichols."
"All right," Mrs. Nichols said, "but you get your daughter hyped up on sugar then leave for the office, I will poison your coffee."
"Understood."
TBC
A/N The restaurants mentions at the end are real. Big Ed's has a burger that is fifteen inches across. If you can eat that and a family-size fries alone in an hour, it's free. The Marble Slab is great because they hand mix your ice cream with your add ins on a marble slab right in front of you. My favorite is cappuccino ice cream with chocolate chunks and almonds mixed in.