Nevvie’s hands shook. “Who reported this? Who would say something so horrible about us?”
“I’m afraid that’s not information I could give out even if I had it.”
Tyler unclipped his BlackBerry from his belt. “Hold on just a moment, please.” He placed a call. “Bob? Tyler. This is an emergency. We have a CFS investigator sitting at our kitchen table… Yes… Right. Thank you.” He hung up. “Our attorney is on his way. He said he’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
Ms. Jameson sat back. “Attorney?”
“I would prefer to let him explain our situation to you.” He immediately placed another call to Thomas and told him to return home immediately, but not why.
Ms. Jameson looked unflappable. “While we’re waiting I’d like to see your son,” she said to Nevvie.
She felt too numb to stand. “He’s asleep.”
Tyler stood. “I’ll show you to the nursery. Please do not wake him. He usually sleeps until around four.”
Nevvie remained at the table while Tyler led the woman down the hall. Who would call on them? They barely knew their neighbors, and the ones they did they were on good terms with. None of their friends would do this…
Nevvie had a hunch.
When Tyler and Ms. Jameson returned to the kitchen ten minutes later, the investigator was filling out a form, checking things off as Tyler answered her questions. By the time they finished, Bob had arrived.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
The four of them sat at the table and Tyler gave him the quick run-down. Bob turned to Ms. Jameson. “What is the exact allegation?”
The investigator shook her head. “There weren’t specific allegations made, which is the problem. The caller stated that the child was being raised in an immoral environment. Frankly, I haven’t seen anything here so far that concerns me. I’m not sure why Mr. Paulson called you.”
That’s when Tommy raced in, slamming the front door behind him. He slid to a stop in the kitchen. “What’s going on? What’s wrong? Bob, why are you here?”
The investigator frowned. “And you are?”
“This is my house and you’re asking me who the hell I am? Who the hell are you?”
“Thomas,” Tyler interrupted. “Sit down.”
Tommy looked from Tyler to Bob to Nevvie and took a seat on Nevvie’s other side, found her hand under the table and squeezed it.
Bob looked at Ms. Jameson. “This is the situation. The three of them are in a relationship. They live here together.”
The investigator tried to make sense of that, then her eyes widened slightly as she realized what he meant. “They live…together?”
Bob nodded. “I have paperwork at my office, I didn’t have time to run back and get it. Tyler is listed as Adam’s father on his birth certificate, but we have filed custody papers giving Thomas joint guardianship. They also have powers of attorney for each other. They are not married, so they are not breaking any bigamy laws. They are polyamorous.”
Nevvie lost her battle against her tears. “Please don’t take my son away. They’re good fathers, they love me and they love him and we have a good life…” She dropped her head to the table and sobbed. Thomas put his arm around her shoulders, comforting her.
The investigator shook her head. “I’m not making any decisions right now. And as I’ve stated, I haven’t seen anything yet that would make me think any kind of intervention is necessary. But I have to follow procedure.” She looked at Bob. “I need to talk to the baby’s pediatrician.”
He nodded. “No problem. I’m sure he’ll back up everything they’ve told you. They’re good parents, no child is as loved as Adam is. He doesn’t have just one dad, but two, and a mother. A lot of kids don’t even have two parents and he’s got three.”
Tyler gave her the doctor’s information and she gave Bob her card. “I’ll return in a day or so. I’ll call to set up an appointment.”
Bob escorted her out of the house. Tyler stood and put his arms around Nevvie and Thomas. “This will be okay. Bob will take care of it for us.”
Nevvie sobbed. “Who would do this to us?”
Thomas glared. “I have an idea.”
Tyler frowned. “Emily?”
“Probably. I’d be willing to bet.” He reached for the phone, called his mother, and told her what happened. A few minutes later, he hung up. “She’s packing to fly down right now, said she’ll leave immediately so she can be here.”
Bob returned, running his hand through his red hair. “Well, this will be an interesting couple of days.”
Thomas snorted in disgust. “This is fucking ridiculous.”
“I know it is,” Bob agreed. “Technically y’all are breaking the law by cohabitating. Not that anyone’s usually prosecuted for it. In a sticky case like this it has been brought into play. Let’s just hope that woman doesn’t have a chip on her shoulder or is out to score points.” He leveled his gaze at Nevvie. “I’m warning you now, you might have to marry Tyler to make this go away.”
She shook her head. “No! They can’t force me to pick one of them over the other, that’s not fair!”
Thomas laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Baby girl, if it means getting the state off our backs, we’ll do whatever it takes.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“I didn’t say I liked it. Bob’s right. If it turns out that’s the easiest way to make this go away, we might have to do something.”
Nevvie jumped up from the table and ran, crying, to their bedroom.
Tyler looked at Bob. “Is that going to be our only answer?”
He shrugged. “Hopefully they’ll let this die. And hopefully it won’t hit the tabloids. We’ll deal with whatever they throw at us when they throw it. For now, we’ll have to wait and see. Do you really think Emily did this?”
Thomas looked grim. “I’d be willing to bet on it. She actually showed up at Momma’s house a few weeks ago, and in the process of catching up she was asking questions about us. Momma said Emily then ranted about our ‘situation’ at a family dinner the other night. Karen was gushing about Adam. Em laid into her like a chainsaw, yelling that what we’re doing is wrong and an abomination.”
Bob laughed. “Abomination, huh? Good grief. I know you said she’s a head case but this takes the cake. What does she think she’s going to accomplish?”
“I don’t know.”
* * * *
Nevvie had cried herself to sleep by the time the airport taxi dropped Peggy off a little before three that morning. She sat at the table with the men and listened to the full version of the story.
“Well, as much as I hate to say it, sugar, I agree with you. It probably was Emily. Your other sisters got over their shock years ago and are fine with it. They were all happy for you when Adam was born.”
Tyler nodded. “Come to think of it, Em is the only one who didn’t send us a card or gift for the baby.”
“I’d like to wring her neck,” Tommy growled.
Peggy patted him on the hand. “You leave that to me, honey. I’ve got an idea.”
* * * *
The wait proved agony for them all, especially Nevvie. She barely spoke to anyone, her silence punctuated by long crying jags with Adam cradled in her arms. Tyler felt her distress as if it was his own, his chest tight with crushing anxiety and worry. Life had been so perfect for them, and then this.
When Nevvie was eighteen, she was raped by a former classmate. After being dragged through hospital exams and police interrogations, the perpetrator was never charged because it was his word against hers, Nevvie was essentially alone with no family, and the rapist’s father was rich. To this day, Nevvie had never gotten over her fear of being treated unjustly by authorities despite her later win in court against an ex-boyfriend who stabbed her. And now their legal limbo only served to bring those old feelings and worries back to the surface.
When Ms. Jameson returned two days later, she carried more paperwork and spoke in th
e same neutral tone. Bob and Peggy joined everyone at the table while Nevvie clutched Adam in her arms.
“I talked to Adam’s doctor. He stated very adamantly that he believes Adam is in a fit home. I’ll be honest that I haven’t taken this to my supervisor yet because, frankly, I’m not sure how to approach it. Left up to me to make the decision alone, I would close this case immediately.”
Peggy jumped in. “I’m Thomas’ mother. If I don’t have a problem with the three of them being together, no one else should either, not that it’s anyone’s business. It’s not like they go parading around naked. They’re just like anyone else except there’s three of them. I’ve seen worse public displays of affection from my married daughters than I have from these three. They’re very modest when it comes to that. They’re good parents. I’d be willing to bet it was my oldest daughter who started all this mess, wasn’t it?”
“Ma’am, as I told them, I can’t give out that information. We are required to investigate every claim. Unfortunately, too much of my time is wasted on false accusations by vengeful family members. However, if we didn’t investigate and there was a real problem, a child could die.”
“I bet I can prove she’s behind this. If I can get her to admit she did it and why, would it help you close this out sooner?”
The investigator nodded. “It would certainly give me a stronger position with my boss.”
Peggy whipped out her cell phone and dialed. “Everyone, just stay quiet.” She hit the speakerphone button then laid the phone on the table. On the other end a phone rang. Emily answered.
Peggy’s face looked grim. “Emily, it’s your mother.”
Emily sounded nervous. “Hi, Momma. What’s up?”
“I’m going to ask you something. You’d best be honest with me, missy. Did you call in a report about Adam to the state?”
Emily remained quiet for a long moment. “Momma, I’d rather not discuss this with you.”
“You answer me right now, young lady.”
Young lady wasn’t exactly the right term to describe Emily, considering how much older she was than Tommy. Apparently, Peggy’s angry tone cowed her. “Momma, it’s not right what they’re doing. You know that.”
Thomas’ face transformed into an angry mask. Peggy held up a staying hand to her son. “Emily, how could you call the state and tell them your brother is abusing that baby?”
“I didn’t tell them he was abused! I told them they needed to remove him from the home because of how they’re living.”
“So what happens if they take Adam away from them and put him in foster care?”
Emily’s voice quickened, her words tumbling together in her anxiety. “Momma, I told them I’d take him, that I’d drive down and pick him up and be his foster mother because I’m his aunt. Listen, Momma, this is a chance for us to get Tommy away from them for good. He can move in with you. I’ll raise Adam, and Tommy can live up here. You know it’s what’s best for him! I talked to my minister and I know he could help make Tommy see reason!”
Nevvie suspected if Peggy could reach through the phone she’d strangle her daughter herself. “Have you finally lost your pea-pickin’ mind? What makes you a moral expert? You’ve lied and accused your brother of being an unfit father!”
“No, I never did that, Momma. I swear! I just want a chance to save that baby from doing what they’re doing.”
“So this was some sort of scheme on your part? You don’t think Adam’s being abused?”
“Not abused. I’m sure he’s well cared for but do you want him raised seeing the way they live? It’s disgusting.”
“And what if I tell you your plan won’t work?”
“How can it not work? I looked up the law. They’ll take him away from them.” She sounded triumphant. “They’re living together and not married. That’s against the law.”
“Emily, for one thing that’s most likely not grounds for him to be removed. For another, Tyler is listed on the birth certificate as Adam’s father.”
Emily fell quiet for a moment. “What?”
“You heard me. You have no rights to that boy regardless. They would put him in foster care locally, not with you.”
No longer as sure of herself as she had been, Emily tried to backpedal. “But the other night Karen said—”
“Karen has no problem seeing Thomas and Tyler both as Adam’s daddies. I’ve seen his birth certificate. You haven’t even laid eyes on Adam. How dare you assume you’re going to steal him from them and try to raise him?”
“I just want what’s best for him!”
Peggy’s voice dropped to a momma bear growl. “So let me get this straight. You’ve never seen Adam, yet you put him at risk of being sent into foster care with strangers who might not be able to take care of him as good as his own parents? You do realize your brother probably won’t forgive you for this.”
“Momma! You can’t tell him!”
Thomas had all he could stand. “She didn’t have to, Emily. We all heard it. Including our attorney and the CFS investigator.”
Emily’s horrified gasp was unmistakable. “Momma! What did you do?”
“I had you on speaker phone. Ms. Jameson needed one last clear reason to take this to her supervisor to have it dropped, and I think you just gave it to her.”
“Tommy, please, you have to understand—”
“The only thing I understand is that I don’t ever want to see you again. Momma’s right that I will never forgive you for this.”
Emily loudly sobbed. Peggy hit end and looked at the investigator. “Enough?”
Ms. Jameson had been taking notes. She nodded. “More than. As far as I’m concerned, everything’s fine. Yes, it’s unusual. Frankly, I have serious cases to deal with, legitimate incidents of abuse and children at risk. Do I agree with this arrangement? Personally, no, but my feelings on that have no place in my decision. There are no signs of abuse or neglect, the home is fine, and they are fit parents. I wish all the homes I visited were half as clean as this one.”
She made another note and looked at them. “Obviously you’re financially able to take care of him and he’s in no danger that I can see. I doubt my supervisor will dig deeper into this. I can’t promise you anything, but I’m planning on telling her this is a case of a vengeful sibling trying to cause her brother trouble, while keeping as many details out of it as possible. There are God only knows how many unmarried couples living together who are technically breaking the law. I’m not wasting my time going after people who are fit parents regardless of their marital status.”
Thomas grimly nodded. “Fine with me.”
Nevvie remained at the table, crying with relief as the men escorted Ms. Jameson to the door. Peggy stayed behind and put her hands on Nevvie’s shoulders. “It’s okay, sugar. It’s over.”
“No, it’s not. You heard her. She still has to take it to her supervisor.”
“It’ll be okay.”
The men returned. Tyler rubbed his chest. “Well, thank goodness that’s over. Bloody hell, my stomach’s upset.”
“No, it’s not okay!” Nevvie cried. “It’s not over now, it won’t ever be over. What happens when she tries again?”
“She won’t try again,” Peggy said, “Because I’m talking to all her sisters and telling her if she ever tries it again she’s out of this family for good. Her sisters will skewer her when they find out what she did.”
Tommy snorted. “I’d love to be a fly on that wall when Karen gets her hands on her. She’ll kill her.”
“No, it’s not officially over yet,” Bob said. “Considering the workload these people have, I’d be willing to bet they sign off on it and close the case. Try to relax, Nevvie. The worst really is over.”
Chapter Five
Thomas and Tyler asked Peggy to stay with them for at least a week. Until they heard back from the CFS investigator, Nevvie wouldn’t relax no matter how many assurances they gave her. Two days later, Nevvie was outside doing yard work wi
th the men when Peggy stepped to the back door, Adam cradled in one arm, the phone in her other hand.
“Tyler.”
He looked up and nodded, flexing and stretching his left arm and shoulder as he walked over and took the phone from her. It’d been bothering him off and on for a couple of days, probably aggravated by the yard work.
“It’s Bob. Good news, I just heard from Ms. Jameson. The case is officially closed.”
Tyler breathed a deep sigh of relief and flashed an okay sign at Thomas and Nevvie. Nevvie burst into relieved tears. Thomas reached for her, holding her. “Excellent. Thank you for calling.”
“She told me she’d note the file about Emily in case there’s ever another call. They might still have to investigate future allegations, if there are any. At least with that in the case file, it’ll hopefully be resolved immediately.”
“Very good. What would we do without you, Bob?”
“Hey,” he laughed, “it’s just billable hours.”
Tyler grinned. “Right. Milking the cash cow, are we?”
“My most famous client. Take care. Try to relax now.”
“Will do.” Tyler hung up and looked at the others. “I say we celebrate.”
The timing couldn’t be better. Tommy had to leave for Ft. Myers in two days to be on-site at a construction project. Peggy and the men knew it would take Nevvie several days to emotionally recover from the traumatic experience.
Peggy went to the grocery store and cooked a full southern feast for dinner. They all laughed and relaxed for the first time in several days. Their best friends, Pete and Eddie, ate dinner with them. While Nevvie tried to enjoy herself, she still felt on edge.
Too exhausted to do anything but cuddle that night, she curled between her men and closed her eyes, breathing in their scent. Her boys. She didn’t ever want to choose, how could she?
The next morning she felt a little better. Peggy had already called the other sisters and told them what happened. Even Kate, the other sister almost as reluctant to accept Nevvie into the family as Emily, felt outraged that her sister had put the three through such hell.