The amiable lady in admitting didn’t seem overly concerned. Certainly not at the level I was enduring. Anthony alternated between calm and panicked—seemingly in tandem. His alarm would rise and he’d be cresting and it would start ebbing away just as mine would ramp up again. Seemed one of us was in a heightened state of panic at all times.
On the other hand, the twins appeared fine. Their eyes were wide as a young man ushered us from the waiting room into one of the curtained bed areas. Since I held Alicia, Anthony coaxed me to sit on the bed. In turn, he sat in a chair with Zayden.
“I keep thinking they’re going to call Child Protective Services because I’m a bad parent.” I pulled Alicia in tighter, and she pushed against my chest, so I relented.
A bit.
“As I’m the person they’d likel
