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.”
Chapter Twelve
Moonlight shone through the window, it’s glow highlighting the forlorn Christmas tree set up in front. Neither Colin nor Jaq mentioned the poor thing waiting to be decorated or how they’d found it outside when they’d returned without the children.
Worried about not finding one available so close to Christmas, Colin explained about having made arrangements for it to be delivered.
“Good thinking. We should bring it inside.” But neither of them had the desire to decorate it without Maisie and Charlie.
Morosely, Jaq sat, resting her feet on the sofa and staring at the empty branches. “What a day! What a sad, horrible day.”
“I feel the same. The kids were so excited this morning and now who knows where they are. It’s killing me, imagining all the worst possible outcomes. I’m glad you’re here and I’m not alone.”
“Me too. I never expected that they’d take the kids away, though I imagine they had no other choice. Once Ms. Lather lost the battle to her boss in the Child Services office it was all but over. They joined forces, and we were literally escorted from the building. I know they explained they had to follow their rules, I get that. And without any formal paperwork, they couldn’t release the kids in our custody, but it still drives me insane to think that because of their bureaucratic malarkey, those two babies are suffering.”
