Thomas's face did what his face did when he was containing something. Go be with the children. He said, "No," Clareire said. "I should be there. I know this house better than anyone.
If he asks about the children's well-being, the school records, the household accounts, I know where everything is." Thomas looked at her. "All right," he said. "The inspector's name was Calvin Marsh, and he had a notebook and the methodical manner of a man who has conducted many such assessments and applies the same process to each one, regardless of what he expects to find. He was neither hostile nor warm.
He was professional." He asked Thomas about the household, about finances, about the children's schooling, about medical care. Thomas answered each question steadily. Then Marsh asked, "Who is Miss Bennett and what is her role in this household?" "She is our housekeeper," Thomas said.
"She manages the house." "How long has she been in residence?" "Nearly 3 months." "And before that," Marsh made a note. "Who managed the household?"
"I did," Thomas said. "With the help of my daughter." "Your 14year-old daughter." "Yes." Marsh made another note.
He looked at Clare. Miss Bennett, in your assessment of this household and the children in it, what would you say about their welfare? It was the question she had been prepared for. Not prepared because she had rehearsed it. Prepared because she had lived it.
The five Walker children are among the most resilient and capable children I've encountered in my life. She said she kept her voice even and direct. Emily, the eldest, is a gifted artist who is 14 years old and should be thinking about her future rather than carrying an adults responsibilities. And since I've been here, she's been able to do exactly that. Jacob is brilliant with mathematics and returned to school 10 weeks ago after an absence caused not by neglect, but by his own determination to help his father, which is a testament to his character, not a mark against his upbringing.
Lily is healthy and creative and has more energy than this house knows what to do with. Noah is thoughtful and perceptive. And Ben, she stopped for half a second. Ben spent the first months after his mother's death in near complete silence. He talks now.
He talks about his rabbit and about stars and about things that four-year-olds should be talking about. She paused. These children are not suffering. They are healing. There is a difference.
Marsh looked at her. "And who was it?" Marsh said slowly. "Who filed the complaint that brought me here today?" "I don't know," Thomas said.