Chapter 30
THIRTY
WAIT
Ally
Leaving Cait with her foster carer wrenched at my heart, and it took me three goes to walk away from the bungalow. It had to be done. The social workers were still her legal guardians and had to take her to court from her official residence. Not me.
I wasn’t even allowed in the room.
Even so, I’d dressed smart and went to the court in the Edinburgh suburbs.
Scarlet, in a sharp suit that had me staring and wanting to rip it right off her, never left my side.
Together, we sat on the bench and let the social workers make their recommendations.
I didn’t pretend to understand the process.
I was still aiming to get the parental responsibility that allowed the social workers to let me take Cait home forever.
There were steps after that, but if Georgia Banks still had a case, I might never reach them.
We watched Dee Forsyth carry Cait in.
My solicitor went next, packs of papers in hand. Challenges at the ready.
I clutched Scarlet’s hand, crushing it, though she never complained.
There was nothing I could do but wait.
“I feel sick,” I said to Scarlet. “What if, right now, they are deciding I’m nae right for her? What if Banks used everything I told her against me? One flick of a pen, and Cait’s gone.”
“They won’t. They can’t.”
Georgia Banks entered through the double doors, a folder of paperwork under her arm. With a solemn face, she crossed the entranceway then stopped in front of us.
I stood, my pulse hammering.
Her gaze bounced between us. “Do you promise to let me see her? I’d like to visit you from time to time, and for my children to grow up knowing her. She’s my family, too.”
“I want that. I want ye to be part of her life,” I replied, my heart in a squeeze. “I swear it.”
She dipped her head then motioned to another woman who’d entered behind her. The second woman joined the court.
“I’ve withdrawn my case. My solicitor has my instruction and will deliver it now. I think Cait should live with you. You clearly love her, and you make a wonderful family.” She took out a business card and held it out to me. “My number, so we can keep in touch.”
I could only stare.
“Thank you, Mrs Banks,” Scarlet said, pocketing the card. “You have no idea how happy that’s made us.”
“Aye,” I managed. “Ye have.”
“Georgia, from now on, please. May I wait with you to hear the outcome?”
“Do!” Scarlet grinned, her knees jiggling. “Ally’s solicitor is in there now, making his case. We got all the information together in time, just about, so this could take ten minutes or it could be hours. It’s in the lap of the gods.”
I swallowed, hoping for the former. Then I closed my eyes and rested my head on the panelled wall.
Scar’s dad had raised a storm fit for his name to get things moving with my employment guarantee.
My and Cal’s visit to the solicitor on Friday had done the rest. If the judge didn’t like the fact I was renting now and not a homeowner, there was nothing I could do.
Fuck, the waiting was killing me.
Then the court door swung open, and Dee Forsyth, the Edinburgh social worker, emerged, a wailing Cait in her car seat in tow. I leapt to my feet and crossed the floor. “What happened?”
“I had to bring her out. She was disrupting the proceedings,” Dee said.
I collected Cait into my arms and stood tall, toting her about the hall and letting her bite on my knuckle until she settled. No one tried to stop me. If this was wrong, then I didn’t give a damn.
If they came out and told me I wasn’t good enough for her…
My breathing stuttered, and I held Cait close, unable to finish that thought. I’d grown in the past few months. Before, I probably would’ve plotted ways to take off with her. Now? I only wanted what was best for my daughter.
The next to emerge was Rena Smith, my Inverness social worker and the bane of my life. The last time I’d spoken to her, I’d yelled. I probably shouldn’t have, but her office had sent the report that said I’d missed meetings. A mistake, apparently, made by someone else.
Rena approached me with her usual flat, inscrutable expression.
Instinctively, I held Cait closer and put out my hand for Scarlet. Then Scar took my fingers, and I could breathe again.
“We will need to arrange regular meetings now until the final custody hearing. In my experience, these can take up to a year. One of the team will visit every six months which is a legal duty—”
“What are ye saying?” I cut in. “I was approved?”
She blinked. “Well, yes. The judge has awarded you parental responsibility of your daughter.” She remembered to smile. “Congratulations.”
“Ahh!” I yelled.
“What?” Scar yelped.
Then I picked up Scar in a one-armed hold and spun her around. “We won!”
“I knew it! She’s yours!” Scarlet sang back, and her eyes sparkled with tears. “There was no doubt in my mind. I couldn’t let myself think it. You deserve this. After everything you did, you more than earned this moment. I’m so, so proud.”
We held each other close, Cait between us. Held against, and in, my heart.
“I love ye both,” I whispered.
“I love you both, too,” Scarlet replied.
Cait squeaked, her eyes wide at the scene.
“I’m your da forever now,” I told her and kissed her tiny nose.
Georgia appeared at our side. She took Cait’s hand and gave it a wee shake. “I’m so pleased! You’re a lucky girl and you’ll grow up in a wonderful family.”
I had to agree. But I was the lucky one, and I’d never forget it.
The day wasn’t over with the hearing. We had papers to sign and agreements to make. Then, finally, I was able to drive Cait back to the foster carer’s home to deliver the news and collect her things.
Fat tears soaked Vicki’s cheeks as she said goodbye. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for her.
“Ye can visit. I’ll send pictures,” I said.
“I’d like that. It’s hard letting them go.”
Luckily, I’d never find that out.
We left Edinburgh for the Highlands and a triumphant homecoming.
As I drove, a thought played over and over on my mind. I hated saying goodbye to Scarlet as much as I did Cait. Now Cait was mine forever, I needed Scar to be the same. Tonight, I’d do something about it.
Awelcome party awaited us at Castle McRae, my whole family on the steps and an It’s a girl! banner strewn across the entrance with balloons tugging at their strings in the breeze. We climbed out of the car to rapturous applause.
“Oh God!” Scarlet laughed. “That’s so cute.”
“Congratulations!” everyone called, whooping it up.
“You told them already?” I side-mouthed.
“Yes! They wanted to do this so they had to know. Do you mind?”
I grinned at her. “Not a bit.”
“Skye, come here,” I called my niece, and she danced over.
“Ask me your question again. The one you’ve said on every visit from wee Cait here.”
Skye gazed at me then caught on. “Is Cait staying for good this time, uncle Ally?”
“Aye, she is,” I replied, my smile so broad.
“Yes!” she squeaked.
“Welcome home, Cait,” I yelled to the wide Highlands sky.
“Welcome home!” my family echoed then descended on us with hugs and love.
Today, we didn’t stay. Cait had been through enough with being moved from pillar to post. She needed to be used to a routine at home. She had all the time in the world to get to know the family. We shared the drama from the court then left the castle and returned to the loch house.
To our home. Together.
Now, Scarlet held Cait on her hip, playing a game of peek-a-boo while I stirred mushrooms and onions in a pan, making dinner.
Next, I added two diced chicken breasts with chopped bacon rashers and a dash of olive oil to make sure the mixture didn’t burn.
In the next pan over, I’d already boiled and drained pasta.
When the chicken and bacon was done, I’d mix it into the pasta with two big spoonfuls of cream cheese.
It was going to taste incredible, if I did say so myself.
“Cait’s going to have such a perfect childhood. She’ll be part of a little gang with all her cousins,” Scarlet said. “A regular mob of McRaes to cause trouble.”
I gave her a look. “Plus any more that are to come over the years.”
Scarlet hugged Cait closer, her smile soft. “I don’t know if I want kids of my own. But I want this one. Is that okay?”
“More than okay.” I had a big question to ask her. “I want ye in our lives. Permanently, I mean.”
Scarlet’s cheeks reddened, her freckles darkening so prettily. I hastened on.
“We’ll start small. Move in part time. So be here when ye can. When ye don’t have to work somewhere else, I mean. I know your job needs ye to be elsewhere—”
“What if it doesn’t?” Scarlet’s expression grew earnest. “This morning, Dad sent me a message. He wished us good luck but he also said he was firing Devon.”
My jaw dropped. “For stealing your report?”
“That, plus other things. He was a terrible employee.”
“Which means…” Please, God, let her take the job in Edinburgh.
“I’d take the Storm Force job. It’s not a done deal, yet. But it will be.”
I let out a whoop and left my station to pick her up, bairn and all. “In Edinburgh?”
“Yep.” Scarlet’s eyes glinted in the kitchen counter lights. “Which means I could live here most of the week but stay there when I need to. If you’re sure you want me.”
“You’re kidding me? Aye, I want ye. We both want ye. Endlessly and forever.”
Scarlet’s breathing shuddered. “Even now, thinking about leaving is so hard. I couldn’t do it for weeks on end. Even a couple of days is going to be tough.”
I kissed her hard.
Cait patted our faces and gave a delighted giggle. We both gaped at her.
“Did you just laugh?” I asked. “Ye clever girl!”
“Of course she’s a clever girl. She’s just like her father.”
I kissed her again. I couldn’t hold back.
Scarlet placed a hand on my chest and eyed me, giving me a clear later look which I was going to hold her to. “I could even work four days a week so I could look after Cait some of the time you’re working. I want a career, but I want this family, too. You both come first.”
The slight burning smell from the chicken had me leaping to turn it over, saving our dinner, but nothing could keep the grin from my face.
I’d won the day but I’d won in love, too.