Hours later, Grayson found himself sitting stiffly in a hospital waiting room chair. The fluorescent lights hummed. Nurses rushed in and out of automatic doors. Talia leaned against him, drowsy from worry and juice a nurse had offered her earlier. She seemed to have decided that Grayson was the only safe place she had left.
A social worker eventually approached, a woman with weary eyes and a stack of forms. “I am Ms. Halberg from Child Protective Services. I need to ask some questions. Talia, can you tell me what happened?”
Talia explained the story with great effort, her small voice cracking at the edges. Ms. Halberg nodded sympathetically and then faced Grayson.
“Renee Summers will need at least a few days to stabilize. The protocol would be to place Talia in temporary foster care. There are no relatives listed.”
“No,” Grayson said sharply without thinking.
Ms. Halberg blinked. “I understand that you are concerned. However, you are not family. You are essentially a stranger to this child.”