She shook his hand, the smile still on her face. “Please, call me Sadie. Thank you for having me in your home.”
She said it as if it were optional or as if we’d invited her over for a barbeque. I did my best to keep my expression warm, but I knew it was fake. This woman had the power to potentially take Justin and Lyla away, to place them with their grandparents. “It’s nice to meet you, Sadie. I’m Anna, and this is Justin and Lyla.”
“Hi, guys. I know you probably have a lot more fun stuff to do on such a pretty day, so I’ll be as quick as I can.”
“We’re getting pizza and ice cream after,” Lyla chimed in.
Sadie widened her eyes. “Lucky. That’s my favorite.”
“You can come with us if you want. Right, Anna?”
I couldn’t help but pull my niece a little closer. “Of course, she can.”
“That’s so kind of you to offer, but I actually have another appointment after this one. Maybe another time.”
Mason moved into our little circle. “Open invitation.”
“Thanks.” Sadie adjusted her tote bag on her shoulder. “How about this? Anna and Mason can show me around, and then I can have some one-on-one time with Lyla and Justin.”
I hated the idea of Lyla or Justin being out of my sight right now, but I nodded. “Why don’t you guys finish your game while we give Sadie the tour?”
“Sure.” Justin wrapped an arm around Lyla’s shoulders.
“Sadie, you saw the cameras and the gate, right?” Lyla asked.
Sadie looked a little confused. “I did.”
“We explained to the kids that you were here to make sure they were safe and happy. Lyla wanted to make sure you saw all of Mason’s security,” I explained.
Sadie’s expression gentled. “Looks like he’s got lots of good things in place.”
“He does,” she assured.
We made our way through the family room and left Justin and Lyla on the couches. Sadie slid a clipboard and pen out of her purse. “Do you mind if I wander? I’ll ask any questions as they come up.”
“Go right ahead,” Mason said. “We’ll follow behind.”
Most of the perusal of the downstairs was silent. And the quieter things were, the more my anxiety kicked up. Sadie kept marking things on a sheet. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, she looked up from her checklist. “Everything looks great down here. Where are Justin’s and Lyla’s rooms?”
“They’re on the second floor. And we’re on the third,” Mason told her.
“Is that okay?” I asked. “That we’re not on the same floor? Because we can move—”
“It’s fine.” She gave me another one of those reassuring smiles that did nothing to calm my nerves. “Try to take a deep breath. You’re doing great.”
Mason pulled me into his side. I hadn’t realized how much I needed it. How much I’d missed his touch, simply not having it for twenty-four hours. I soaked up the feel of his warmth and strength. He pressed a kiss to the top of my head and then looked at Sadie. “This has been a nerve-wracking process, as I’m sure you understand.”
“Of course. It’s never easy to have a stranger assessing your home and talking to the children you love. But I promise I’ll do everything in my power to make sure Justin and Lyla are in the best place.”
“That’s here,” I said, my voice sounding almost rusty. “The best place for them is here. They wouldn’t be safe with my parents.”
Sadie’s gaze sharpened. “What makes you think that?”
I swallowed against my suddenly dry throat. “My father was physically abusive to me growing up, and my mother covered for him. He hit Justin once right before they came to Sutter Lake.”
Sadie scribbled on her paper. “Has there been any documentation?”
“No. Justin didn’t tell his mom when it happened. He only told me after he knew there was a chance they might have to go live with their grandparents.”
