Chapter 5: The Woman Who Came With a Contract
Vanessa Cole stood on Patrice's doorstep as though she had arrived to deliver flowers.
She wore a cream-colored jacket, dark trousers, and polished black shoes.
Her blond hair was neatly arranged behind her ears.
The envelope in her hand was thick enough to contain several documents.
"May I come in?"" she asked.
Patrice didn't move.
"Not until you explain exactly why you're here.""
Vanessa glanced toward me.
"Mrs. Bennett, I understand there has been some confusion about the temporary care arrangements.""
I folded my arms.
"There's no confusion. I didn't agree to care for the children for two weeks, and I certainly didn't authorize anyone to sign documents using my name.""
Vanessa's smile tightened.
"I see.""
"Do you?""
She adjusted the envelope.
"Tori explained that you were upset because your travel plans conflicted with the family's needs.""
"My travel plans are not the issue.""
"Of course.""
"The issue is that someone submitted documents containing a signature I never made.""
Vanessa's expression changed slightly.
"I wasn't involved in the preparation of the original authorization.""
"Then why are you here with more paperwork?""
She looked toward Patrice.
"Perhaps we should discuss this privately.""
Patrice laughed.
"Absolutely not.""
Vanessa blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"You came to my house asking about the care of my grandchildren. Myrna is standing right here. If you have something to say, you can say it in front of both of us.""
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she stepped inside.
Patrice closed the door.
We sat in the living room.
Vanessa placed the envelope on the coffee table.
"Let me explain. Tori and Caleb contacted my office several weeks ago because they were considering a temporary family transition.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"Sometimes parents need help arranging temporary care while they address employment, housing, or marital difficulties.""
Patrice leaned forward.
"Are you saying they are separating?""
Vanessa carefully folded her hands.
"I cannot discuss confidential client information.""
"Then why are you discussing the children with us?""
Vanessa glanced at the envelope.
"Because you have both been identified as potential family caregivers.""
"Potential?"" I repeated.
"Yes.""
"Without our consent?""
She took a breath.
"The parents indicated that both grandmothers were willing to help.""
I stared at her.
"Neither of us agreed.""
Vanessa opened the envelope.
"That's why we're here today. To clarify the arrangements.""
She removed several pages.
The first was a temporary caregiver agreement.
The second was a consent to exchange educational and medical information.
The third was a proposed guardianship arrangement.
My name appeared on the first page.
Patrice's name appeared on the second.
The third document contained a section titled TRANSITIONAL RESIDENCE.
I leaned forward.
"What is this?""
Vanessa pointed to a paragraph.
"This outlines the possibility of the children staying with a designated relative while their parents resolve certain personal circumstances.""
"Which circumstances?""
"As I said, I cannot discuss the parents' confidential matters.""
Patrice shook her head.
"Then you cannot expect us to sign something when we don't know what we're agreeing to.""
Vanessa smiled again.
"I understand your concerns. But the documents are designed to protect everyone.""
I picked up the third page.
At the bottom was a sentence that made my stomach tighten.
The designated caregiver acknowledges that temporary placement may extend beyond the initial fourteen-day period if circumstances require.
I read it aloud.
"May extend beyond fourteen days.""
Vanessa nodded.
"That's standard language.""
"How long could it extend?""
"That depends on the circumstances.""
"One month?""
"Possibly.""
"Six months?""
She didn't answer.
I put the paper down.
"Then this isn't a two-week childcare agreement.""
Vanessa folded her hands again.
"It could become something more substantial.""
Patrice stood.
"Get out.""
Vanessa looked up.
"I beg your pardon?""
"You heard me. Get out of my house.""
"Mrs. Bennett, I think you're misunderstanding—"
"No. I think I'm understanding perfectly.""
Patrice pointed toward the door.
"You arrived with a contract asking me to accept responsibility for four children without telling me their parents were considering a longer-term arrangement. You expect me to sign it because someone else has decided that my time is available.""
Vanessa gathered the papers.
"I don't think hostility is helpful.""
"Neither is dishonesty.""
Vanessa turned to me.
"Mrs. Bennett, perhaps you would be more comfortable reviewing the documents with your attorney.""
"That's exactly what I'll do.""
I reached for the envelope.
Vanessa held it for a moment.
Then she released it.
"These are preliminary documents," she said.
"Nothing has been finalized.""
I looked at her.
"Then why does this one already have my name typed into the designated caregiver section?""
She didn't answer.
Patrice opened the front door.
Vanessa walked out.
Before leaving, she turned.
"Please understand that Tori and Caleb are under considerable pressure. They are trying to do what's best for their children.""
I met her eyes.
"Then perhaps they should start by telling the truth.""
The door closed.
Patrice locked it.
For several seconds, we stood in silence.
Then she said, "I want Margaret to see every page.""
I agreed.
We photographed the documents and sent them to the attorney.
At 11:08, Margaret called back.
Her voice was more serious than before.
"Do not sign these documents.""
"We weren't planning to," Patrice said.
"Good. I want you to look at page four.""
I opened the scanned attachment.
Page four contained a section titled BACKGROUND AND FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Underneath was a description of the parents' situation.
It stated that Caleb and Tori were experiencing temporary financial hardship and needed a short period to stabilize their household.
I frowned.
"Financial hardship?""
Margaret continued.
"There's also a statement that the paternal grandmother has significant travel commitments and may be unavailable for extended periods.""
I stared at the sentence.
"That's true. But I never agreed to anything.""
"Correct. Now look at the next paragraph.""
I scrolled.
The paragraph described Patrice as having limited physical availability due to her personal commitments.
Patrice read it aloud.
"Limited physical availability.""
She looked offended.
"I am sixty-three years old, not eighty-three.""
Margaret continued.
"The concerning part is the recommendation at the end.""
I reached the final paragraph.
If immediate family placement cannot be secured, professional temporary placement should be considered to preserve continuity for the children.
I looked at Patrice.
"Professional placement?""
Margaret answered.
"That could refer to a range of services. We need to establish whether an actual application has been made.""
I felt sick.
"Are they trying to place the children somewhere else?""
"We don't know yet. But we need to find out.""
Margaret gave us instructions to preserve the paperwork, avoid signing anything, and contact the appropriate child welfare office for guidance if there was reason to believe the children might be abandoned or placed without proper arrangements.
She also asked us to establish where Caleb and Tori were.
I checked my phone.
No new messages.
Then, suddenly, a message arrived from Caleb.
Mom, please stop talking to Vanessa. She's trying to help us.
I stared at the screen.
I typed:
Your wife brought a guardianship agreement to Patrice's house. Neither of us agreed to it. Explain what is happening.
He replied almost immediately.
We can explain everything when we get back.
I wrote:
You will explain it before you get on that plane.
There was no response.
At 11:25, Joyce called.
I answered.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
"Where are you?"" she asked.
"I'm at the airport, and I'm starting to worry.""
"I'm sorry. It's been a difficult morning.""
"Do you need me to come get you?""
I smiled faintly.
"No. I'm fine.""
"Are you still going to Portugal?""
I looked toward the kitchen.
Maggie was showing Mrs. Alvarez how to make a paper airplane. Finn was attempting to balance a spoon on his nose. Chloe was drawing a picture.
Eli sat by himself, watching the front window.
"Yes," I said.
"I'm still going.""
"Good. Because I'm not spending ten days listening to you explain why everyone else's problems are more important than yours.""
I laughed.
"That's rather direct.""
"That's why you love me.""
She paused.
"Charles would have wanted you to go.""
I looked down.
My husband's name always had a way of opening a door inside me.
"Yes," I whispered.
"He would.""
"Then get yourself to the airport, Myrna.""
After the call, I went upstairs.
My suitcase stood beside the bedroom door.
I checked my passport, medication, phone charger, and travel documents.
Everything was ready.
But when I came back downstairs, Eli was waiting for me.
"Are you leaving now?""
"Not quite yet.""
He looked at my suitcase.
"Are you really going?""
I knelt beside him.
"Yes.""
His eyes filled.
"Does that mean you don't want us?""
My heart broke.
"Oh, Eli.""
I took his hands.
"Nothing about this morning changes how much I love you. Not one little bit.""
"Then why are you going?""
I thought carefully before answering.
"Because loving someone doesn't mean you must give up everything you have whenever they ask. Your parents made a mistake. It is their responsibility to fix it.""
He nodded.
Then he asked, "What if they don't?""
I brushed his hair away from his forehead.
"Then the right adults will help make sure you're safe.""
He hugged me.
I held him longer than usual.
When he finally stepped back, he whispered, "Dad told me you would cancel.""
I closed my eyes.
"Well, your father was wrong.""
At 11:47, Patrice called Margaret again.
I was standing beside the front window when I heard her voice rise.
"Wait. What do you mean there's another application?""
I turned.
She looked at me.
Her face was pale.
"What application?"" I mouthed.
Patrice listened for several seconds.
Then she said, "No. We absolutely did not authorize that.""
She ended the call.
I walked toward her.
"What happened?""
She held out her phone.
"Margaret found something.""
"Tell me.""
Patrice swallowed.
"Apparently, there is already a temporary guardianship inquiry associated with the children's names.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Filed by whom?""
She shook her head.
"Not by us.""
"Then who?""
"Vanessa Cole's office submitted the initial inquiry on behalf of the parents.""
I sat down.
The children were still in the kitchen.
We couldn't let them hear this.
Patrice lowered her voice.
"Margaret says it was submitted before we even knew about the Japan trip.""
I stared at her.
"How long before?""
"October eighteenth.""
The day after the alleged signatures.
I looked toward the coffee table.
The red folder sat beside the printed documents.
Then I remembered something.
The first page had included a section for emergency placement preferences.
I pulled it toward me and searched.
At the bottom, in small print, was an address.
It belonged to a residential family assessment center about forty miles away.
I read the name aloud.
"Willow Creek Family Services.""
Patrice looked confused.
"What's that?""
"I don't know.""
I searched the name on my phone.
The website described a temporary residential assessment program for families experiencing serious instability.
It wasn't an orphanage.
It wasn't a boarding school.
But it was a place where children could be assessed while adults worked through legal and family arrangements.
I looked at Patrice.
"They were considering sending the children there.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Without telling us?""
I couldn't answer.
Then my phone rang.
Caleb.
I answered immediately.
"Caleb, where are you?""
"At the airport.""
"Are you boarding?""
"We're checking in.""
"Listen to me. There is a guardianship inquiry under your children's names. What is Willow Creek Family Services?""
Silence.
Then he said, "Who told you about that?""
I gripped the phone.
"So it's true.""
"Mom, listen—"
"Why were you planning to send your children there?""
"We weren't planning to send them anywhere!""
"Then why is the center listed on the paperwork?""
He lowered his voice.
"That was only a backup option.""
I closed my eyes.
"A backup option for what?""
He hesitated.
Then I heard Tori in the background.
"Caleb, don't tell her!""
My blood ran cold.
"Tell me what, Caleb?""
He took a breath.
And then he said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
"Mom, if this doesn't work out, Tori and I might not be coming back to the same house.""
I stared at the phone.
"What does that mean?""
May you like
He didn't answer.
Then the call ended.
