and Bridget will know what to do. They’re experienced carers, although Liam and Kiri are likely to be very upset.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘So you don’t know the children’s routines, likes and dislikes?’
‘No.’
‘Why can’t they see Stevie?’
‘Because he is under investigation for taking and distributing indecent images of them,’ I said, reminding her of what I’d previously told her. Each supervising social worker is responsible for at least twelve foster carers, so perhaps it was asking a lot of her to remember all this information, although Jill would have, I thought churlishly.
‘Will they be seeing their grandparents?’ she asked.
‘I assume so, but you’ll have to ask Verity.’
‘I’m calling her shortly to confirm the placement. Verity is hoping to place the children at Terry and Bridget’s between five and six this evening, so they will be there for dinner.’
My heart clenched as the details brought the reality that much closer.
‘All right,’ I said. ‘Will you keep me updated? I need to tell Stevie what’s happening when he comes home.’
‘Yes.’
I returned to the garden but was unable to take any pleasure from the warm May sunshine, pretty flowers, birdsong or the effects of my gardening. At 3.30 Stevie phoned again, having just come out of school.
‘Any news?’ he asked.
‘Edith, my supervising social worker, called. I’ll tell you what she said once you’re home. If you get on the bus now, I’ll see you in half an hour.’
‘Can’t you tell me now?’ he asked. I could hear street noise in the background.
‘No, I’d rather wait until you’re home.’
He cut the call. I quickly cleared away the gardening tools, dumped the weeds in the green bin and went indoors, where I washed and changed out of my dirty clothes. At just gone four o’clock the doorbell rang and I immediately answered it, my mouth dry and my pulse raising.
‘What’s going on?’ Stevie demanded, his face set.
‘Come and sit down.’
He dumped his school bag in the hall, kicked off his shoes and, throwing his jacket over the hall stand, followed me into the living room. We were the only ones home. I sat beside him on the sofa and turned slightly towards him as I spoke.
‘Stevie, I’m sorry, but Liam and Kiri will be going into care today.’
‘Why?’ he said, his eyes filling. ‘I told Verity it was my fault and it won’t happen again. I left her two messages. They’ve done nothing wrong.’
‘I know.’ I went to touch his arm, but he pulled it away. ‘You see, the social services have a duty to protect Kiri and Liam.’
‘What, from me?’ he asked angrily.
‘While you are being investigated by the police, yes,’ I replied honestly.
‘But they’re just kids. Why punish them?’
‘Going into foster care isn’t a punishment,’ I said. Although I knew it could feel like that to the child. ‘The social services will have decided that there are what’s called safeguarding issues. Your grandparents were in a position of trust and responsibility, and unfortunately they made a decision that could have jeopardised the children’s safety.’ I was trying to say this nicely while telling Stevie the truth.
‘It’s not fair,’ he said angrily. ‘It’s not right.’ Then he suddenly looked at me with hope in his eyes. ‘Can you foster them? They can have my room and I’ll sleep on the sofa. I don’t mind.’
‘Stevie, love, the reason why Kiri and Liam are going into care is because you’re not allowed to see them for the time being. There is no way the social services would consider placing them here so you are all under one roof.’
‘OK, so they can come here and I’ll go somewhere else.’ I suppose he thought it was better they went somewhere he knew.
‘What purpose would that serve?’ I asked him gently. ‘You need somewhere to live and you’re settled here. I know the carers Liam and Kiri are going to and they are really nice. They’re a little older than me and from what I remember their own children are adults and have left home, so they will have lots of time to look after Liam and Kiri and play with them. I promise you, love, they will be well cared for.’
‘They’ll be so upset,’ he said, all hope going and his face creasing. ‘They’ve never been away from Gran and Grandpa before.’
‘I expect they will be upset to begin with, but they will settle, just as you did. The carers will keep them occupied and make sure they’re all right.’
‘Can I phone my gran?’ he asked.
‘Not just yet. They’ll be a lot going on and your grandfather told you when you spoke to him yesterday that they’ll phone us when they are able.’
Leaning forward, he dropped his head into his hands. I couldn’t tell if he was crying – I couldn’t see his face – but I thought he was pretty close to it. I touched his shoulder and this time he didn’t pull away.
‘I know it’s difficult, love, but at some point all this will be over and you’ll all be able to get on with your lives.’
‘Then can we all go home to Gran’s to live?’ he asked, his head still in his hands.
‘I don’t know.’ Clearly this depended on a number of factors, including the outcome of the police investigation, but I’d noticed he’d said “can we all go home to Gran’s to live” – including himself. Sometimes a crisis can reunite a family, although I couldn’t see how that was going to happen here – at least, not in the near future.
‘I’m going to my room,’ he said suddenly, standing. ‘Will you tell me when you hear anything?’
‘Yes, of course.’
I watched him go, blaming himself and his spirit broken, as though he hadn’t a hope in the world. I checked on him regularly, every twenty minutes or so. I knocked on his bedroom door and asked, ‘Are you OK, Stevie?’ A couple of times he didn’t reply so I opened the door to check. Each time he had his earbuds in, so I nodded to him and closed the door again. He came down for dinner, still in his school uniform, and was obviously very low.
‘What’s the matter with you?’ Lucy asked as soon as she saw him. I hadn’t had a chance to tell them. When they’d come in they’d gone to their rooms to unwind before dinner, and I was still deciding if they needed to know at all and whether I could avoid sharing yet another of Stevie’s burdens.
‘Kiri and Liam have to go into foster care,’ Stevie replied.
‘Why?’
