“Well, as you know, we’re trying to catch her up academically with her new classmates, and I’m happy to say that she’s made great progress. We’re working mostly on math because that’s where she’s behind. Right now, we’re reviewing long division.”
“Eve, what did her teacher say at the parent conference?” Christy asked.
“She’s doing well, considering she’s only had a public school education. I’ve written a full report on the meeting. It’s on your desk. There was one problem, though.”
“What?”
“Next time, either you or Michael must attend. Mrs. Smart said she wouldn’t do any more parent-teacher conferences without a parent present.”
“Even though I sent written permission?”
“Doesn’t matter. They’re adamant about having an actual parent there.”
“Hmmm. I guess I can understand that,” Christy mused. She had hoped to spend all her Renata-designated time doing things with the child herself. But she could see that more would be required. That’s okay, she thought. I’ll just sleep less.
“Cynthia, do you have an update?” Eve asked.
“I’ve been cleaning her room and bathroom. At first, she left everything perfect, the way Maria taught her. I told her if she kept that up, I’d be out of a job. Now, I’m making her bed and picking up her clothes. She’s leaving the sink dirty for me, too.”
“That’s wonderful,” Eve said.
“Wait,” Christy said, “shouldn’t we expect her to clean up after herself? She doesn’t have to iron her uniforms or vacuum, but making her bed and picking up clothes—she should do that herself.”
“If you insist,” Cynthia said, stiffening. “But most girls who live in this neighborhood have help for that sort of thing.”
“That may be true, but I’m not comfortable with it, and I know Maria wouldn’t be. Eve, would you let Renata know that we expect her to take on those chores?”
“Of course. It’s perfectly ridiculous for children not to help around the house,” Eve snipped. “Dr. Perlmutter? Your update?”
“Well, as you know, anything Renata tells me is confidential. I just want to say that, in general, she’s adjusting to the many changes in her life as one would expect. She’s grieving the loss of her grandmother, of course. I think it would be therapeutic to let her visit the cemetery. She hasn’t been there since the funeral.”
“Good idea,” Christy said. “Junior, would you drive her there after school today?” Sorry, Maria, she thought. I’ll make sure she visits you regularly.
“My pleasure, Mrs. Drummond,” Junior said.
“Also, she seems to have forged a relationship with Mrs. De Mille, the ninety-five-year-old woman who lives below you. My sense is that she sees her as some kind of replacement grandmother figure.”
“Transference,” Junior observed. “It’s to be expected.”
“Yes, well…it’s a bit more complicated than a layman can understand,” Dr. Perlmutter said.
“Excuse me. Mr. Fritz studied psychology at the Learning Annex,” Eve said, in defense of Junior.
Dr. Perlmutter continued as if Eve hadn’t spoken. “I’m not sure it’s healthy for Renata to pursue a relationship with such an old woman. I think we may want to limit her time with Mrs. De Mille and increase her sessions with me so we can explore the transference more fully. Did I mention that my fees are going up?”
“What are they going up to?” Eve asked.
“We can discuss the specifics privately,” the doctor said.
“Give me a ballpark,” Eve pressed. “While Christy’s here.”
“Three-fifty an hour.”
“Three-fifty, from two-forty? That’s steep,” Eve said.
“Well, I haven’t raised my rates in years,” Dr. Perlmutter said. “You’ve been paying artificially low prices.”
“Low? I don’t know, Doctor—at those prices, maybe we should work with someone else,” Christy said. She wanted to do right by Renata, but she hated being taken advantage of.
“I’ll give her therapy for two-forty an hour. Heck, I’ll do it for one-forty,” Junior said.
“No, no, no. Switching doctors would devastate Renata. She might never recover,” Dr. Perlmutter explained.
“I think we’ll pass on increasing the sessions, Doc. Three times a week will have to suffice. Maybe we should invite Mrs. De Mille to our next update and get her thoughts; what do you think, Eve?” Christy said.
“Good idea. Let’s do it,” Eve said.
Michael poked his head in to say good-bye to Christy. “Don’t stop,” she told everyone as she slipped out to give her husband a kiss.
“What’s going on in there?” he asked.
“It’s a meeting of Renata’s caregivers. I’m holding a quarterly review of her progress.”
Michael gave his wife a strange look.
“What?”
“You don’t think that’s a little weird?” he asked.
“No. These are the people I’ve entrusted with her care. They have to be managed.”
“Okay, fine, whatever,” he said.
“You don’t think I’m doing a good job?” Christy snapped.
“I didn’t say that. I just think it’s an unusual way to raise a child, that’s all.”
“Well, since you don’t want to be involved, this is how it has to be. Unless you’ve changed your mind.”
“No, no I haven’t. She’s your responsibility. Listen, Beeg, I’m not going to be able to make the ceremony today. I have to go to L.A. We’re having problems with the Anipix acquisition. I’m really sorry.”
Christy noticed that Michael looked worried. He was usually pretty undaunted by work stuff. “I’ll miss you. I promise to thank you in my speech.”
“Would you?”
“Of course.”
“Do me a favor,” Michael said. “Call me on your cell phone right before you speak. Then leave it on so I can hear what you say.”
“Of course I will.” Christy kissed Michael good-bye and rejoined her meeting.
“We’re just getting to Nectar, Christy,” Eve reported. “Nectar? Nectar, are you asleep?”
Nectar awoke with a start. “Sorry, I was just checking for holes in my eyelids. As you know, I’m with Renata most of the time. I take her near about everywhere she needs to go. Bad as I hate to say this, the child is hurtin’. It’s like she fell outta the lonely tree and hit every branch on the way down. She needs a mama.”
Christy was transfixed by Nectar. She was the least-educated person in the room, but
