Allison and Asher walked together into Rachel's office.
"So," Allison asked, "what have you found?"
"My interviews with your medical team," Rachel began, "they were nothing less than complimentary of you. They did speak about a reluctance to medicate at times can you explain that?"
"I'm cautious," Allison said, 'we are. Some of the medications have side effects we don't want our six year old to deal with, nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite or there is the potential for dependence on the medication especially the pain ones. Those need to be choices she makes for herself when she is old enough to understand the risks and benefits."
"We do provide pain relief," Asher said, "but we try to use over the counter and NSAIDs and will not give our child opioids. She's not old enough to decide if she wants it for herself."
"We use steroids as appropriate," Allison replied, " we are not going to medicate the life out of our daughter. If we over medicate day to day she won't have options if she is really in pain or hurt. She doesn't complain so we don't over medicate. She's a healthy kid."
"Her teacher was more challenging," Rachel replied, 'the school was very closed off. They did mention and incident last year."
"The IEP wasn't being followed and we brought it to the School Board's attention," Asher replied, "and they moved Everly classes as the teacher in her original class was un willing to accommodate her physical needs. We have done battle with the school a couple times."
"I understand and you're protecting your daughter," Rachel replied.
"Do you have any thing figured out," Allison asked.
"I still need to do a few more things," Rachel admitted, "at this point you two appear to be cleared of any wrongdoing. What I've seen and the conversations I've had are really going in your favour."
"Is there anything we can do to speed things up," Allison asked, "our daughter is best at home with us."
"Keep doing what you're doing,' Rachel replied, "I don't have many concerns. I would like to see your bank statements and ensure you're financially stable but other than that theres nothing you can do."
"I am our sole income right now," Asher said, "our budget is tight but Everly is prioritised, her needs, activities and wants come first."
"We eat well, there's occasional treats," Allison said.
"We believe these are false allegations,' Asher said, "from my sister."
"I'm starting to believe so as well," Rachel admitted, "I've been digging into the file and I can't prove any of the claims."
"That's a good thing," Allison asked.
"It is," Rachel replied, "but you do have a file now and there is one on Everly. It does mean that should you choose to have a second child you may be checked up on and a social worker may visit you."
"If you prove all of the allegations are false," Asher asked, "what recourse do we have?"
"You can speak to a lawyer," Rachel said, "I don't know exactly how it would work."
"If you find that the allegations are false what happens to the person who reported it," Allison asked.
"Once they make the report we have no further contact," Rachel replied.
"Is there a way to find out," Allison asked.
"You would need a lawyer to go though the process," Rachel replied, "but other than the financial records I really don't need anything from you. Your home inspection went well, my conversations with her doctors and teachers were positive. I do still need to speak to a few family members. Grace Altman is proving hard to get a meeting time with."
"She's been out of town for work a fair bit," Allison replied, "with my sister a phone or virtual meeting may be best."
"I also need to speak with Mitchell and Sierra Blouin," Rachel said.
"They've been out of town as well," Asher replied, "her grandmother is in Bend Oregon and hasn't been well. They don't expect Sierra's grandma to live much longer."
"With all of us family comes first," Allison said.
"Do you two have a written plan if something was to happen to both of you," Rachel asked, "who would care for Everly?"
"My sister Grace Atlman and Brother in law Joshua Riggs," Allison replied, "followed by my parents, Theodroa Altman and Owen Hunt, my brother Leo Altman-Hunt, then my aunt Megan Hunt."
"We do have the first 5 selected," Asher said, "if direct family is unable to we've spoken to Dr Jenna Silverstone and Christopher McKellar. Chris is Grace's half brother."
"Chris and Grace have the same dad," Allison explained, "I've known Chris and Jenna since I was a baby and they're family. We do holidays with them and go camping together and up to the cabin."
"Asher's family," Rachel asked.
"Not at all," Asher replied, "they're decisions and beliefs do not match what we want for our daughter."
"Is it in writing," Rachel asked.
"It is," Allison replied, "and done through a lawyer it's all legally done."
"You two are on top of things," Rachel said.
"How do we end this sooner," Asher asked.
"Once I finish my interviews I will contact you again and go over final paperwork," Rachel replied, "I know this isn't what you want to hear."
"We understand," Allison replied, 'thank you for your time and keeping us updated."
They shook Rachel's hand and left the office.
"I'm calling a lawyer," Asher said in the truck.
"Wait and see," Allison said, "once we're cleared of everything then we go after Renee for slander."
"My parents will bail her out," Asher said.
"This time we push for jail time," Allison replied, 'she can't break up our family."
"Mitch and Sierra," Asher asked.
"We need to tell them what's happening," Allison said, "she's growing on me Ash. I like Sierra."
"Why can't things ever be easy,' Asher asked.
"I don't know," Allison replied, "I just don't understand why Renee would do this. It has to be her. Your parents weren't in on it. Your mom is too mad about it. I know they want more time with Ev but they wouldn't go behind our backs like this."
"No and they'd open themselves up to investigation," Asher said, "our Eden is only 12."
"I know," Allison replied, "I'd like Ev to know your siblings more but I just don't feel safe."
"Neither do I," Asher said.
Once they got home Allison wandered upstairs to find Teddy, "mom do you have a minute?"
"What's going on baby girl,' Teddy asked.
"We just met with the social worker," Allison said, 'it's going well or so she says but I can't shake the feeling someone is going to try to take Ev from us. It's his sister for sure. It's his family that has always had issues with her knowing about the human body or anatomical terms."
"It has been,' Teddy replied.
"What if," Allison worried.
"No," Teddy replied, "you are great parents and took to it so naturally."
"It's hard," Allison said.
"It always is," Teddy agreed, "but you do it well. Allie the best things in life are the things we work the hardest for."
"If I lose her mom," Allison whimpered.
"You wont and if you do dad and I will help you fight with everything we have," Teddy replied.
"I can't," Allison said, "everything I've done since I was 17 I've done for her."
"I know," Teddy said, "and she is your driving force for a lot of things. But you will not lose her."
"How do you know," Allison asked.
"Because I know you and Asher and Everly," Teddy replied.
"We want to go after Renee for slander," Allison replied, "for false charges. Because this will be on our records for ever. If I ever have a second baby we will be watched and investigated."
"Are you thinking about another child," Teddy asked.
"When I finish school," Allison replied.
"You said one and done last time we talked about it," Teddy said.
"Ev was 1 or 2," Allison said, "I know way more now. I understand the process, Ash and I are more stable and more mature. But I know that I want to do a few things differently when we do."
"What is that," Teddy asked.
"I don't want to go through labour again I'll do a scheduled c-section and I know the risks but I think after Ev and how brutal that was I don't want to again and with the way the cord was on her neck that would prevent it," Allison said, 'and because Everly had so many complications I want to be monitored more closely. I want the screenings that we didn't do last time because it wasn't indicated."
"You could do that if it makes you feel more comfortable but you're also not 17/18," Teddy said, "do you want another?"
"When I'm done school," Allison said, "one more and I won't panic and freak out this time."
"You will," Teddy smiled, 'if your sister is any indication."
"I'm calmer about everything than Annie," Allison said, "she's nuts and panics."
"You are calmer," Teddy agreed, "I think you might actually be my most grounded."
"I hope so," Allison said, "I don't want to be an anxiety case like Annie."
"You're not," Teddy said, "and stop comparing yourself, you are all different."
"We are," Allison said, "I've just never been able to shake the feeling of being the family failure. "
"Allison," Teddy sighed,
"Now I'm being investigated," Allison said, 'for child abuse."
"And they will find that it is a lie," Teddy replied, "and a false report."
"But I failed her," Allison said, "it's all my fault, it's always been my fault."
"It has never ever been your fault," Teddy assured, "and this is on Renee Blouin. We will help you get a lawyer and we will fight it as a family. She will see that actions have consequences this time."
"And if she doesn't," Allison asked.
"She will," Teddy replied.
"It's so hard on Ash," Allison sighed.
"Its hard on both of you," Teddy said.
"And we're trying to hide it from Ev," Allison said, 'she doesn't need to worry about it. She's six, she's in first her worry should be if it's pizza or tacos for lunch."
"It should be," Teddy agreed, "but I have noticed she's using her crutches less around the house."
"She is,' Allison replied, "it's good to see. But she'll always need the braces won't she?"
"I don't know," Teddy replied, "you were told a wheel chair, then a walker, then the crutches so theres a chance."
"I hope so," Allison said, "but she did like her first wheelchair basketball class last week."
"Good," Teddy smiled, "and piano is going well. She's learning quickly."
"I like that that's your special thing with her," Allison smiled, "grandma and me piano lessons."
"Not quite right now we're both doing half an hour and listen to the other play," Teddy explained, "she likes listening to me try it first it makes it less stressful for her when she's seen me try it first and not be successful."
"She likes to be right and do things well," Allison agreed, "I looked at my next rotation I have to ask dad to take her to riding. I won't get back from Tacoma in time."
"You're going to commute it," Teddy asked.
"I am," Allison replied, "it's 4 16 hour days a week in a locked psych ward. I'll drive it it's not too far."
"A four on four off rotation," Teddy asked.
"Yes," Allison replied.
"We'll get Ev to her activities dad and I are so flexible right now," Teddy said, "we're just teaching really. I'm maybe one day a week in the OR and I'm okay with it. Dad's teaching more than anything. We can make it work."
"Or she misses a few riding lessons," Allison said, "she likes it but prefers music and swimming. Riding is expensive."
"It is," Teddy agreed, "you're still in school are you and Ash doing okay for money?"
"It's tight but I took a student loan as a buffer," Allison replied, "my scholarships do school expenses but the loan is doing my car insurance and gas. We'll be okay, we made it through 2 years of med school on his income and my scholarships with help from you and dad in a pinch."
"That's still there," Teddy replied, "and we'll keep paying for piano lessons."
"She was playing somewhere over the rainbow yesterday," Allison smiled.
"We're trying to do it as a duet," Teddy smiled, "my mom used to play it every day. Ev has my mom's ear for music."
"She's having fun at choir," Allison said, "being part of a team and a group. She needs that experience of being on a team."
"She should have it," Teddy agreed.
"She needs to do normal kid things and feel normal," Allison said.
"She's doing well," Teddy assured, "and you will get through this with the social worker."
"What if she doesn't see it that way," Allison asked.
"If she does there will be steps," Teddy replied, "you will be given steps to follow. But I highly doubt it will come to that."
"I don't know how I would ever live with myself if they found something," Allison said.
"They won't because you're good parents," Teddy said.
"I'm just scared," Allison whined.
"And you get to be," Teddy assured, "this is really scary, you can be scared and worried but don't stop that from enjoying your daughter and loving your family."
"I'm trying," Allison said, "did me going to school cause all this?"
"No," Teddy replied, "going to school only makes you a better mom, stronger, wiser."
"What if Ash blames me," Allison asked.
"Then you need to talk to him," Teddy replied.
"We have been," Allison replied, "but we're both scared and stressed."
"I know you are baby girl," Teddy said, "I would be too."
"I need you and dad," Allison said.
"We're here," Teddy promised, "we are here for you."
"Can I have a hug," Allison asked.
"Always," Teddy agreed wrapping her arms around Allison.