Page 83 of Fourth Heartwarmers Trilogy
“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.
