Kitabı oku: «Nobody’s Son: Part 2 of 3: All Alex ever wanted was a family of his own»

Chapter Eight
Plans for the Future

Lin and Jill both telephoned on Monday morning for updates on the weekend. I was able to say that the visits had gone very well and I outlined what we’d done. Lin thanked me and said that Debbie was in court on another case for most of the week and she’d be in touch when she had a moment, but in the meantime she’d keep her updated. When I spoke to Jill she said, ‘Good luck, Cathy. You’ve got a busy couple of weeks coming up. You know where I am if you need me.’

‘Thanks, Jill.’

I’d written a simplified version of the timetable of introduction for Alex and had pinned it to the cork board on his bedroom wall so that each morning he knew what was happening that day, and he could tick it off at night. The telephone call on Monday from his family was a little laboured to begin with. Alex hadn’t had much experience of using a telephone and answered his mother’s questions politely, but with one word, so it made conversation a little difficult.

‘Have you had a good day at school?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ Alex replied.

‘Have you had your dinner?’

‘Yes,’ Alex said.

‘Did you eat it all?’

‘Yes.’

It was similar when Edward spoke to him. Edward asked Alex which subjects he liked best at school and he said, ‘Games.’ Edward followed it through by asking which games in particular he enjoyed and Alex said, ‘Football.’ And so it continued. But it didn’t matter that the conversation was a little awkward, as this call would still achieve its purpose: to maintain and develop the bond that was starting to form between Alex and his new family, and which would gather momentum towards the date when he moved in.

However, conversation became easier when it was James’s turn to talk to Alex. Alex visibly relaxed, and after they’d both said hi Alex asked James if he’d made any more robots. James said no because he had homework to do. I was sitting beside Alex on the sofa during the call, and he replied that he had homework too – reading and science. They then spent some time discussing the ills of homework and how it should be banned so they could play all evening at robots and similar. Eventually James said he had to go and practise his violin, and Rosemary came on the line again to say goodnight to Alex. When they’d finished Alex passed the phone to me and Rosemary said she was pleased James and Alex had had a good chat, and then confirmed the arrangements for the following evening – that they would be with me at about 5.30 for dinner and would stay approximately two hours. Rosemary apologized that she still couldn’t say for definite that Edward would be joining us, but he would do his best to leave work early.

On Tuesday morning Alex was so excited that his mummy, daddy and brother were coming again that it was no surprise he told his teacher. At the end of school she came out to see me in the playground.

‘Alice Cork,’ she said. ‘We met briefly before.’

‘Yes.’

‘Alex has been telling me all about his new family. He’s so excited. His social worker spoke to our Head and I understand he’ll be able to stay with us for the rest of the term.’

‘Yes, that’s right. You’ll meet Rosemary, his mum, next week when she collects him from school.’

‘I’ll look forward to it. Well, I just wanted to say have a good evening. You can tell me about it tomorrow,’ she said, smiling at Alex.

We said goodbye and she went over to speak to another parent while Alex, Paula and I began across the playground.

‘It was all right to tell her, wasn’t it?’ Alex asked me.

‘Yes, of course, love. It’s your news, you can tell who you like.’

‘I told one of my friends, but he wasn’t really pleased, not like Miss. He said it was sad that I couldn’t live with my proper mummy, but he doesn’t understand, does he?’

‘No, he doesn’t,’ I agreed, ‘but Miss Cork will.’ I thought it must be virtually impossible for a young child brought up by loving parents to comprehend why Alex would be excited when he would never see his birth mother again. Whereas his teacher would have some experience of children, like Alex, who’d been neglected or abused by their birth family.

On the way to collect Adrian from school Alex asked me if I thought his dad would be able to come to dinner this evening with his mum and James. I had to say I didn’t know but that I hoped so. He asked me again when we arrived home and I could only give him the same reply. He was still very excited and I settled the boys at the table to do their homework while I made dinner, as they wouldn’t have time to do it after Alex’s family had left. When they’d finished they went to play and I laid the table ready for dinner. As 5.30 approached – the time they were due to arrive – Alex began to grow nervous again, which was understandable. When the doorbell rang he fled upstairs, saying he was going to hide in his bedroom and they could find him. Adrian went up with him, which left Paula and me to answer the front door.

‘Great. You’ve made it,’ I said, pleased to see Edward. ‘Alex will be glad.’

‘It was a rush but this is too important to miss,’ Edward said, coming in and kissing my cheek. He was wearing his office suit but had taken off his tie.

‘Hello, poppet,’ Rosemary said to Paula, patting her head. She grinned shyly.

‘Alex and Adrian are hiding,’ I said to James. ‘Perhaps you’d like to find them? Upstairs, turn right and Alex’s room is on the left.’

James ran upstairs while I showed Rosemary and Edward through to the living room. ‘How has Alex been?’ Rosemary asked.

‘Very excited and a little nervous. He’s been telling his teacher all about his new family. She’s lovely. You’ll meet her next week.’

‘I’m looking forward to it. Miss Cork, isn’t it?’

‘That’s right.’

‘Something smells good,’ Edward said, collapsing into an armchair. ‘I didn’t have time for lunch.’

‘Edward!’ Rosemary said, lightly chastising him.

‘It should be ready soon,’ I said. ‘It’s chicken casserole. I’ll check on it.’

‘Can I help you?’ Rosemary offered.

‘It’s OK. There’s nothing much to do. Make yourself comfortable.’ I offered them a drink but they both declined.

Paula came with me into the kitchen, where I kept her away from the oven as I checked the casserole, which was ready. A couple of minutes later I went into the hall and called everyone for dinner. The boys, who were still upstairs, stampeded down like a herd of elephants.

‘Hello, love,’ Rosemary said to Alex, greeting him in the hall. ‘How are you?’

‘Hungry,’ Alex said.

Edward laughed. ‘So am I.’

‘Me too,’ Adrian and James agreed.

I showed them to the table and then served the meal. To begin with all that could be heard was the sound of cutlery on china.

Sometimes it can be a little awkward eating with people you hardly know, and while the adults might have felt this, the children were relaxed in each other’s company and ate and talked without reservation. Edward just ate – he clearly was hungry – while Rosemary and I made polite conversation, and Paula stared at our guests, fascinated, and had to be reminded to eat. Once the boys had finished we excused them from the table and they went into the living room to play while Edward had a second helping. Although this evening was about Alex continuing to get to know and bond with his family, it was important that we kept the atmosphere as relaxed and natural as possible, so it would have been unwise to insist that Alex spent every single minute in the company of his parents.

When Edward had finished eating, Rosemary helped me clear away the dishes and then we returned to the table to talk. Paula was content to sit on my lap listening and watching us. Edward told us a bit about his work and also that they’d just booked a holiday for the spring break to Disney World in Florida.

‘James and Alex will love that,’ I said.

Rosemary nodded. ‘James has been before, but he wants to go again. And I know Alex hasn’t been abroad at all.’

‘No, he hasn’t. What’s happening about a passport for him?’ I asked, aware that obtaining one can be an issue and takes time for looked-after children.

‘Debbie is applying for it,’ Rosemary said.

‘Good.’

‘Do you think it’s all right to tell Alex he is going?’ Rosemary asked.

‘Yes. I don’t see why not. It’s nice to have something to look forward to. He’ll be so excited.’

As it turned out there was no need for Rosemary or Edward to tell Alex about the holiday as James, brimming with the news, had told him. When I called the boys for pudding the first thing Adrian said was, ‘Mum! Alex is going to Disney World.’

‘I know, isn’t he lucky?’ But I felt a little sad for Adrian, as a trip to Disney World was something John and I had talked about doing before he left, and there was little chance of that happening now.

Everyone enjoyed the crumble and custard, and once we’d finished we all went into the living room where Alex set out his football board game. He, his parents, James and Adrian played while I kept Paula amused with her toys. It was nearly her bedtime now and she was becoming a little fractious, but, as I’d said to Rosemary, this introductory period would disrupt all our routines.

They had two rounds of the football game and it was just after 7.30 when I saw them to the door. ‘We’ll phone you tomorrow,’ Rosemary told Alex. ‘Then on Thursday we’re taking you out for dinner.’ Alex threw her a really warm, appreciative smile. ‘Would you like a hug?’ she asked him.