A Gift of Time (Tassamara) by Sarah Wynde Read Free Book Online Page B

teenagers is not appropriate.”
    Natalya frowned and pushed her sliding chair away from the girl, turning so she could see Colin more easily.
    “I understand it’s a holiday. And the middle of the night. What else have you got?” Colin listened for a moment. “That’s almost worse. Refusing to speak doesn’t mean she’s emotionally disturbed. She’s been through a traumatic experience. She’ll talk when she’s ready.” He fell silent again, but as the person on the other end of the line continued to speak, he began shaking his head as if rejecting her words.
    “Who is it?” Natalya mouthed.
    He covered the mouthpiece with one hand and whispered, “Carla something. Didn’t catch it. Community Family Services.”
    Standing, Natalya gestured for Colin to hand her the phone. She’d take care of this. He scowled but she wiggled her fingers at him, demand clear, and he passed the phone to her.
    “Carla? Natalya Latimer here.”
    “Dr. Latimer! The sheriff didn’t mention you.” The woman sounded surprised, her tone tense.
    “We must have woken you up,” Natalya said, making her tone sympathetic. “And on Christmas. How did you get stuck with this shift? You’ve been with the agency what, four, five years, now? Shouldn’t one of the new girls be working the holiday?”
    “It’ll be six in March,” Carla answered, sounding more relaxed. “And I’ll tell ya, if I’d known what today was gonna be like, I sure wouldn’t have signed up for this shift.”
    “Bad day?”
    “A home visit that didn’t go well and two emergency placements. Plus all the usual juggling around the holidays. The Ruiz’s needed to visit out-of-state family—Marco’s mother is ill—and the Thompsons have visitors.”
    “What about Mrs. Watson? Is she available?”
    “She’s got a toddler and a baby, so she’s at capacity.”
    “Who else do you have?” Natalya asked.
    As Carla rattled down a list of names and reasons why each one wouldn’t work, Natalya turned some of her attention back to the exam room. Colin had picked up his shirt and was shrugging into it, but his eyes were on her.
    “It sounds as if we need a new recruitment drive,” Natalya said, interrupting Carla.”
    “This isn’t typical, it’s just—” the woman started.
    “I’ll make sure it gets on the agenda for the next board meeting.” Natalya spoke over her. “Meanwhile, though, what do we do for the moment? I’ve got a little girl here who needs a bed to sleep in.”
    “I’ve got space free at the juvenile facility and Hart House, but as I was telling the sheriff, that’s it. That’s all I’ve got. I can start calling out of county, but I can’t tell you how long it’ll take.”
    “Hmm.” Natalya considered the options. Her role on the board was mostly symbolic, based on General Directions and the Latimer family being the largest financial contributors to the agency. She had no experience navigating the system.
    “What are you doing there, anyway?” Carla asked. “Why did the sheriff call you?”
    “Oh, just a little emergency first aid,” Natalya answered.
    “Is she hurt?”
    “Not seriously, no.”
    “A hospital might be an option, though. I realize they won’t want to keep her, but if there was a bed on the pediatrics floor, maybe we could justify an overnight observation.”
    “What about an emergency placement?” Natalya asked slowly. “For the same reason?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m not licensed, but I took the training class last year as part of the development planning. And I’ve got a guest bed.”
    “You’d let her stay with you?”
    “For the night,” Natalya clarified hastily. “To keep her under medical supervision. Just in case.”
    “That would work,” Carla said, sounding eager. “Up to twenty-four hours. And beyond that, thirty days if a judge signs off.”
    It couldn’t take a month to find the girl’s parents. Surely they’d find them tomorrow. Maybe even by morning if the