Chapter Eleven
Thankfully by morning the storm had passed leaving a lot more snow, but it was a beautiful sunny day. Once they cleaned up the breakfast table and washed the dishes with the children’s help, Jaqueline suggested they set up their reindeer display.
Colin cleared off a cupboard on the side of the living room and soon the twinkling lights from the trees and each reindeer glowed as pretty as they had in the shop.
Not wanting the kids to get bored, Jaqueline suggested that Charlie show her where Gisele kept the laundry and that they might help her sort the clothes to be washed.
She’d seen the pitiful few things hanging in the closet and hoped there would be more in the basket, only to be disappointed.
Neither one of the kids had large wardrobe choices and so she sat with her laptop open to the page where it showed children’s clothes, but the delivery dates were too close to Christmas or after the big day.
Which meant, she needed to sneak off on her own to do some holiday shopping.
Motioning Colin close, she showed him her dilemma, whispering, “They have pathetically few clothes. I want to buy them each new outfits as Christmas gifts, but I can’t depend on them to be delivered by December twenty-fifth.
Do you think I could sneak off for a while later on my own and shop here in town? ”
“Sure. I’ll tell them you’re going to the hotel to fetch some of your things.”
“Can I stay here again tonight? Maisie woke up a few more times and called for me. I do believe she’ll settle better if I’m in the room.”
“I was praying you’d agree to stay. Look, as soon as we deal with the social worker who should be here soon, we can make plans. I’ll take the kids around the city, maybe go for groceries while you do the shopping you need to do.”
Feeling an anxious premonition, she spoke her thoughts out loud. “That’s if we get custody to look after them here.”
He grimaced, showing his worry. “Yes. If we get custody. My lawyer called and said he’s working on the papers to be filed. He’s sending them online for my signature.”
“It’s all happening so fast, isn’t it?”
“I suppose. But that’s life, right. Time doesn’t stop for us just because we wish it would.”
Before she could answer, the doorbell rang, and both kids stiffened at the table where they were coloring.
“I’ll get it.” Colin’s voice sounded firm and confident. “Keep your fingers crossed. We need this to work.”
“What to work?” Colin left the room, so Charlie turned to Jaqueline. “Jaq, what to work?”
She put her hands together like saying a prayer and admitted, “For them to agree that you and Maisie can stay here… with us.”
“They have to. It’s what we want.”
Maisie caught on and her face crumpled, showing her distress. “I want to stay here wif you and Cowin.”
“I know sweetie. It’s what we want too. But the courts have to agree.”
“Is that wady the courts?”
“Kind of. She’s in charge of what happens today.”
Voices were heard in the distance, and all three sat at attention, looking toward the room where Colin had disappeared.
“Can me and Maisie tell them we w-want to stay with you?” Charlie’s voice broke before he finished his thought. “Cause we talked, and we both want to.”
“Sure. And Charlie, it’s good that you feel that way.”
“Will it help them to say yes if we tell them?”
“I hope so, Charlie. It can’t hurt.”
Maisie’s eyes filled, and her lip began to tremble. “Charwie, I don’t want to-to go away.”
“Shush, Mais. You can’t cry now. We have to be good. I’ll tell you when you can cry. Okay?”
The little cherub sniffed back her tears and used her chubby hands to wipe away the signs, “Okay. I be good.”
Not too long after, Colin called for them to join him and the visitor in the living room.
When Jaqueline saw the thin, stoic looking woman, with her no-nonsense attitude – dressed in a dark suit and not even a necklace or earrings to give her a bit of cheerful humanity – turn to face them, she all but wept.
This short-haired, older female could be a male if not for the protrusions on her chest. Even her voice sounded harshly masculine.
But for the interested clarity of her gaze, and the softening of her features upon sight of the children, Jaqueline would have broken down right there and then.
Once the introductions were done, they took their seats, and Charlie automatically went to Colin to be lifted up while Maisie came to Jaqueline and lifted her arms like being held close was the most natural position for her to take.
Colin opened the discussion. “Ms. Lather wants to ask you children some questions, and you must be truthful. Will that be okay?”
Both small voices rang in unison. “Okay.”
Ms. Lather turned to Charlie. “You’re the oldest. Is this correct?”
“Yes. I’m six and six months, my birthday is June sixteen, and Maisie is four and six months. Her birthday is June seventeen.” He went on to explain about their birthdays, and Jaqueline watched to see the effect this had on the counselor.
Unfortunately, her face remained free of all expression. “I see. So you understand, I’ve been discussing your new arrangements with Mr. Jones, and— Colin is Mr. Jones,” she explained when both children looked around, showing confusion.
Charlie tried to recover by saying what he thought was right. “We just call him Colin.”
“Fine then. Colin and I have been discussing your situation, and I’ve explained to him that we must put you in the child care system. This morning, I’ll be taking you to a foster home who will care for you.”
Charlie’s eyes widened in fear and Maisie’s glance immediately flew to her brother. When she saw him nod, she began to cry… very loudly. First she hugged Jaqueline as hard as she could, yelling, “No. I want to stay wif Jaq and Cowin.”
Then she wrenched herself from Jaqueline’s arms to run and fling herself at Colin. Charlie moved down to make room for her and both him and Colin lifted her in their arms, both hugging her close. “Don’t cry precious. Let’s explain to Ms. Lather why it’s so important for you to stay with us.”
Maisie turned her drenched blue sparklers toward the stiff-backed woman and rubbed at her nose before speaking. “We want to be wif Cowin because he promised my Maman he would look after us. Right, Charwie?”
Charlie looked straight at the woman, his dagger-like glare focused on her face. Anyone watching the boy couldn’t help but understand one thing. He might be a child, but he was trying as hard as he knew how to be a little man.
“Right. See… Maman didn’t want to leave us, but she was sick. So she asked Colin, Mr. Jones, to be our dad. He wants to. And we want him too. Both Maisie and me. So maybe you can look after other kids who need a home. We got one.”
Ms. Lather stared back at Charlie, waiting for him to look away first. Yeah…
that didn’t happen. He stood like a miniature soldier fighting for his life.
Until she finally caved and looked at the papers in her lap.
Long seconds passed before she spoke. “Charlie, I respect your wanting to stay here… in your home, but I do feel it’s better for you and Maisie to come with me now.
Maybe once the judge agrees, you can return to Mr. Jones’s custody, but for today, you need to be safely brought into the system. ”
“No. You don’t understand. Come. I want you to see what we got.
” He bravely walked to the intimidating woman and unafraid, he took her hand.
“It’s okay. You can come.” Not certain she should, but unable to refuse the child, she looked toward Colin for help.
When he just nodded for her to go with Charlie, she stood awkwardly to follow.
“See Ms. Lather, Jaq bought this for our new family. It’s a Christmas village with Santa and his reindeer. It plugs in and lights up.”
Maisie rushed to be included, her voice breathy, and her word skills deteriorating. “Wudoph has a bwight, shiny wed nose… see?”
Charlie added. “And Jaq let us each buy angel ornaments of our mom. And we’re going to get a small tree later and put our decorations on it. Right, Colin?”
“Yep. That’s the plan.”
“So… we have to be here with our family and help. Me and Maisie. Oh… and Jaq slept with us in our bedroom last night so Maisie wouldn’t cry too much for Maman. Jaq takes care of us too. We’re better here with our new family. See, Ms. Lather?”
The poor woman didn’t seem to know what to make of the situation.
She nodded at Charlie and walked awkwardly back to sit in her previous place.
The papers she’d left became her focus as she clutched them tightly.
Jaqueline noticed that they were mysteriously rustling from the trembling in her hands.
Finally, she spoke, her voice deeper than before.
“This is all very confusing. It says here that I’m to bring Charlie and Maisie to the office for placement in the foster system.
” Suddenly she looked at Colin and then at Jaqueline.
“By any chance are either of you a registered foster parent?”
“I’m a registered pediatric nurse. I work mainly with children. Does that help?”
Suddenly, Ms. Lather’s expression lightened, and she actually smiled.
“I do believe that will make a difference. If you could come to the office with us and fill in some forms, I’m hoping we might be able to release the children in your care for the holidays.
We’re overloaded with clients and have few options for placement.
I’m thinking my boss might be willing to release these two in your care until other arrangements can be made. ”
Both children looked toward Jaqueline, their expressions filled with hope.
She could see Maisie sniffling, trying desperately not to cry, while Charlie’s arm around her shoulder gave her added courage.
She glanced at Colin then and saw he was also watching for her reaction.
She appreciated his control, not trying to influence her decision and yet his eyes sent messages of support and dare she hope… affection.
When she smiled with gratitude for the chance to save the situation, she saw them all breathe a sigh of relief. “Of course I can come with you. I hope you don’t mind if Colin and the children tag along. We have plans after we’ve settled the paperwork. We need to find a Christmas tree.”