Girl Alone: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s suicide. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control. (22 page)

Most young people don’t want to chat first thing in the morning and Joss was no exception. She switched on the radio as soon as we were in the car, although I’m not sure she was really listening to it. Five minutes from school she turned it off and looked at me thoughtfully. ‘Do you think Kevin is going to school today?’ she asked.

‘Yes, I would think so,’ I said.

‘Even if he’s in foster care?’

‘Yes, the carer will take him, like I’m taking you.’

‘He won’t like that. Mum always takes him on her way to work,’ Joss said.

‘I know it will be a bit different, but he’ll be fine. Try not to worry.’

How Joss was going to concentrate on her school work I had no idea, although I agreed it was probably better for her to be in school than at home with little to occupy her thoughts and only me for company. I parked the car as close as I could to the main entrance of the school and we said goodbye. As Joss got out someone called her name, and with a smile and a wave she went over to join them. I waited until she’d gone into the building before I drove away. On the way back I stopped off for essential groceries and then went home to await any news. The house was uncannily quiet with everyone at school. Toscha must have felt it too, for she kept wandering aimlessly from room to room as though looking for everyone.

‘They’re at school – they’ll be back later,’ I reassured her, and she answered with a meow.

Although I was busy, with housekeeping, fostering training and paperwork, I was continually listening out for the phone and wondering how Joss was faring at school. The telephone didn’t ring until the middle of the afternoon, and I rushed to answer it.

‘Cathy, it’s Jill.’

‘Yes?’ I asked expectantly.

‘No news yet. I’m phoning to check you’ve remembered I’m due to visit you tomorrow morning at ten o’clock.’

‘Yes, it’s in my diary. I haven’t forgotten.’ This was one of Jill’s scheduled four-weekly visits.

‘I’ll phone you as soon as I hear anything, otherwise I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Yes, OK.’ With a feeling of anticlimax, I returned the phone to its cradle.

When I collected Joss from school later that afternoon her first question was naturally, ‘Have you heard anything about Kev?’

‘Not yet. It could take some time for the social services to complete their investigation and decide what to do for the best.’

‘Miss Pryce came to find me at lunch break,’ Joss said. ‘She asked me if I’d had a nice summer.’

I looked at Joss. ‘What did you say?’

‘That it was all right, but I’d had to talk to the police about some stuff that happened. I didn’t tell her what. I didn’t want to go into it all again. I’ve told you and Amelia, and the police, and I know I’ll have to see the police again, but I don’t want to keep going over it all. I’m not telling my friends either. I’m trying to forget it.’

‘I completely understand,’ I said. ‘But it was nice of Miss Pryce to ask after you.’

Joss nodded and looked thoughtful. ‘I had to tell her about something else,’ she said after a moment as I drove. ‘She’s going to sort it out.’

I glanced at her. ‘Oh, yes?’

‘Someone Chelsea knows has been spreading rumours about me, saying I got Zach and Carl into trouble and I’ve been telling lies about them. I told Miss Pryce and she said she’d look into it straight away.’

‘Good. That was the right thing to do.’

Joss then changed the subject and chatted about her day at school, and the rest of it seemed quite positive.

Paula, Lucy and Adrian were already in when Joss and I arrived home, and I asked each of them how their first day had gone. Adrian said fine, Paula said she was tired from having to wake up early and Lucy said her brain hurt from all the learning she’d had to do and that it shouldn’t be allowed. They relaxed while I made dinner, and after we’d eaten they read for a while and then watched some television. Around 8.30 p.m. we all began taking turns in the bathroom, ready for a reasonably early night. I find it always takes a few days to adjust to a new term and I too longed for the more relaxed routine of the holidays. When I said goodnight to Joss she said she wanted a kiss and a hug, as she had done the night before, and was sitting up in bed ready. Since the weekend I’d noticed Joss was making a bigger effort to integrate with my family, reaching out to us at every opportunity and wanting to be part of it. It was just a pity it had taken such a horrendous event to bring this about. I didn’t know how long Joss would be with us, but I thought it could be long term, as there was no chance of her returning home now. As she hugged me she asked again if I thought Kevin was still at home. I had to say I didn’t know, but that I was hoping to hear more when I saw Jill the following day.

As it turned out I did hear more, although it wasn’t what I’d imagined it would be – events in fostering rarely are.

On Wednesday morning, having taken Joss to school, I went straight home to prepare for Jill’s visit at ten o’clock. Jill was always very punctual, and part of her visit would be quite formal as she checked and signed my log notes, assessed my training requirements and made sure my fostering was meeting Joss’s needs. By 10 a.m. I had all the paperwork ready beside me on the sofa in the living room and was waiting for the doorbell to ring. Instead, the phone rang, and it was Jill.

‘Sorry, Cathy, I’m running late. I’m leaving the office now. I’ll update you when I see you, but I’ve just finished speaking to Amelia and I’m afraid it’s not good news.’

Jill said a hurried goodbye and I was left to imagine the worst for the next agonizing half-hour – the time it took Jill to drive from her office to my house. When I answered the door she looked very serious and came in with a no-nonsense, business-like efficiency.

‘Would you like a coffee?’ I offered as she strode down the hall towards the living room.

‘Not now, thank you, Cathy. Maybe later.’

In the living room I returned to the sofa as Jill took one of the chairs. Placing her bag on the floor beside her, she then sat upright, hands in her lap, and looked at me.

‘Monday,’ she began, coming straight to the point. ‘After Amelia left you she went to see Linda and Kevin.’ I nodded. ‘This is what happened. Linda was, and still is, convinced Joss is lying – about Eric and Zach. Linda told Amelia that Joss has never liked Eric, bitterly resented his intrusion into the family and has often threatened to leave if he didn’t. She also said she thought Joss should have psychiatric care in a hospital, as she’s so delusional.’ I went to speak but Jill held up her hand. ‘I know, of course she’s not. Joss could do with some counselling, but she certainly doesn’t need hospitalizing.

‘Amelia spoke to Linda first,’ Jill continued. ‘Then she asked to see Kevin alone. Linda was reluctant to let her see him to begin with. She said she didn’t want him involved, as it was about Joss. But Amelia explained that when one child in a family discloses abuse then any other children are assessed as a matter of practice. Linda wasn’t happy and wanted to phone Eric for advice – she appears to rely on him heavily – but he wasn’t available, so eventually she agreed to let Amelia speak to Kevin alone. Kevin told Amelia there had been a lot of arguments in the family, between Joss, Mum and Dad – he calls Eric “Dad” – and it had upset him. He said he missed Joss very much and wished she’d come home so they could all live together again. He was unaware of Joss’s allegations of abuse. Amelia steered the conversation to Kevin’s relationship with Eric and much of it seemed positive. Kevin said he liked Eric; that he played with him a lot, helped him with his school work and bought him presents. But when Amelia asked him if there was anything he didn’t like about Eric, Kevin admitted that he didn’t like the way Eric put him to bed when his mother was out, and also didn’t like it when he had his bath. Amelia asked him what exactly he didn’t like, and Kevin said that he was old enough to wash himself and didn’t like having his private parts washed for him. He wouldn’t say anything further about Eric after that.’

‘He didn’t have to,’ I said. I had that dreadful sinking feeling that comes from knowing a child has been abused.

‘No,’ Jill agreed, ‘but obviously the social services have to be certain. Amelia then spoke to Linda again and put to her what Kevin had said. She was very upset, but defended Eric. She said of course he bathed Kevin and put him to bed, it was what fathers did, and he was trying his best to be a good dad. She then suggested that perhaps Amelia had misunderstood what Kevin had said, which she hadn’t. Amelia asked her if Kevin had ever told her he didn’t want her to go out and leave him with Eric. She admitted he had, but that this was because – like many young children – he didn’t like his mummy going out, and it had nothing to do with Eric.

‘Then Eric came home,’ Jill continued. ‘Amelia thinks Linda had managed to speak to him on the phone while she’d been talking to Kevin, because he seemed prepared. He was unnaturally calm, considering the serious nature of the allegations being made against him – by Joss and now Kevin. He said Joss must have put Kevin up to it because she hated him so much, and Linda agreed. Although Eric was calm, Linda was distraught and kept telling Amelia that Eric did his best for the children. Eric asked Amelia what would happen now, and Amelia explained that she’d report back to her manager and she’d advise them of the outcome of that meeting. Yesterday afternoon the social services held a child-protection strategy meeting and it was decided that there were sufficient concerns to bring Kevin into care.’ Jill sighed. ‘There have already been too many missed opportunities to help Joss; they couldn’t afford to make another mistake with Kevin.’

‘What do you mean by “missed opportunities”?’ I asked. ‘Joss only disclosed that Eric had been abusing her at the weekend.’

‘Yes, but it seems Linda had told Amelia last year that Joss was making up lies about Eric – without giving any details. With hindsight, Amelia feels she should have delved further and asked questions about what Joss was saying, but because Linda was being cooperative and working with the department, and there was so much going on with Joss, it got missed.’

‘I can understand that,’ I said. ‘When I think of all the times Joss referred to Eric as a creep and how much she hated him, I wonder why I didn’t spot the warning signs sooner.’

‘Because you were so busy dealing with Joss’s challenging behaviour,’ Jill said. ‘Don’t blame yourself. Joss was a very angry young person, although of course we now know why. Her behaviour wasn’t only the result of her father’s death and her mother remarrying, but also because she was being abused by her stepfather and her mother didn’t believe her.’

‘Exactly,’ I said. ‘I feel I could have been more aware and should have better protected her, but that contract of behaviour didn’t help. I said all along that it was wrong to allow a thirteen-year-old out until late nearly every night of the week.’

‘Amelia sees that too now,’ Jill said. ‘She admits that with hindsight she would have done many things differently. She’s taken a lot away from this case and has been on a sharp learning curve.’

‘Her and me too,’ I said, ruefully.

‘Joss is going to need a lot of support, and it won’t be coming from her mother while she’s refusing to believe Joss and defending Eric.’

‘I know. I’ll do all I can. So when will Kevin come into care?’ I asked. ‘Pity I haven’t got a spare bedroom.’

‘Tomorrow, I think. We’re trying to find a carer in the area so Kevin can go to the same school.’

‘Joss keeps asking about him. She’s worried. Shall I tell her he’s going into care tomorrow?’

‘I don’t see why not, but let me ask Amelia first. I’ll be speaking to her again later today. I’ll phone you and let you know. Also, Joss will need to make a statement to the police about Eric. Amelia hopes she’ll be able to go with her, but if not she’s asked if you could go. I said I was sure you would. She’ll let us know the date as soon as she knows.’

I nodded. ‘What’s happening with the Zach and Carl investigation?’

‘They’ve been released from police custody, but we’re not expecting to hear anything further for some time, while the police investigate. I know Amelia has spoken to Joss about not having any contact with them, and she’ll let us know when she has the police report.’ Jill now dipped her hand into her bag and took out a pen and folder. ‘Before you give me an update on how Joss has been doing and we go through any other business, could I have that coffee, please?’

‘Yes, of course.’ I stood.

‘And a biscuit, please, if you have one,’ she added.

I paused and looked at her with a smile. ‘Jill, when have you ever known me not to have a biscuit in the house?’

‘Chocolate digestive?’

‘Absolutely.’

While Jill drank her coffee and ate the chocolate biscuits, which were not only her favourite but my family’s too, I updated her on Joss. She made notes and then went through her checklist of questions, which formed part of every supervisory visit and covered Joss’s education, her physical and mental health, contact arrangements, compliance with the care plan, times I’d had to use out-of-hours emergency cover and any changes in my household. Jill finished by reading and signing my log notes and arranging a date for her next visit. Reassuring me that I was doing a good job she left, saying she’d phone when she’d spoken to Amelia.

It was now after midday. I made a sandwich lunch, which I ate while reading through the printouts Jill had left on forthcoming training events. My thoughts kept returning to Linda and the anxiety and pain she must have been going through. Amelia would have notified her after the strategy meeting of the decision to remove Kevin and had probably asked her to pack some clothes and toys for him to take with him. How ever was she coping? I couldn’t begin to imagine. Her sorrow must be immeasurable and my heart went out to her. Yes, I appreciated that she’d failed to protect her children, didn’t believe them and was still siding with Eric, but she was their mother and was about to lose her second child, which was inconceivably heartbreaking.

Jill telephoned shortly before I was due to leave to collect Joss from school and said that Amelia didn’t want Joss told at present that Kevin was going into care; I should wait until after the move, when I could reassure Joss that Kevin was settling in. ‘To be honest, Cathy,’ Jill said, ‘we’re struggling to find a carer for Kevin. All our local carers are full. We may have to place him out of the county, which will mean either a change of school for him or a very long car journey to and from his present school.’ This was a familiar problem. There were never enough foster carers for the number of children coming into care, and sometimes children had to be placed many miles from their home and in an entirely different part of the country.

When I collected Joss from school she asked about Kevin almost immediately. I said Jill didn’t know any more, but she’d phone us as soon as she did.

Joss sighed. ‘So when can I see him?’

‘Amelia will arrange contact –’ and I nearly said ‘once Kevin is settled in care’, but stopped myself and said instead, ‘if Kevin is brought into care.’

‘But what if he isn’t?’ Joss asked. ‘What if he stays at home? How will I see him? I’m not allowed to go home because of the creep being there, and Mum doesn’t want me there anyway.’

‘I’ll ask Amelia,’ I said evasively, knowing that before long I’d be able to tell Joss the arrangements that had been made for Kevin. As it turned out I didn’t have to tell her – she found out, and in very distressing circumstances.

It was seven o’clock that evening. We’d had dinner and the children were now in various locations around the house, finishing homework, reading, listening to music or generally chilling out. The phone rang and Lucy, who was passing the phone table in the hall, answered. She then shouted through to Joss, who was in the living room, ‘Joss! It’s for you.’

I immediately left what I was doing in the front room and went to Lucy in the hall. She was just replacing the handset as Joss picked up the extension in the living room.

‘Who is it?’ I asked Lucy.

‘Joss’s mother,’ Lucy said. She saw my face drop. ‘Sorry, I thought she was allowed to speak to her.’

‘She was. It’s OK, you weren’t to know.’

Although Amelia had previously said there was no reason why Linda couldn’t talk to Joss, that was before Kevin had disclosed abuse and the decision had been made to bring him into care. I hurried down the hall and into the living room. I would monitor the call and do what I could, but I knew straight away from Joss’s expression that Linda was already telling her the devastating news. I hovered indecisively for a moment and then sat on the sofa beside Joss as Linda continued talking and Joss listened, staring straight ahead, her face pale and her body tense. I couldn’t hear what Linda was saying, just the rise and fall of her distressed voice.

Joss looked at me, horror etched on her face. ‘They think Kev has been abused too,’ she said as her mother continued. ‘They’re taking him into care, but Mum is going to run away with him.’

‘She mustn’t do that,’ I said, even more concerned. ‘Tell her.’

‘Mum, listen,’ Joss tried, but Linda was sobbing. ‘Here, you talk to her,’ Joss said, thrusting the phone into my hand.

‘Linda,’ I said. ‘It’s Cathy.’

‘What?’ she blurted between sobs. ‘Haven’t you caused enough trouble?’

‘Linda, I’m trying to help. Don’t think about running away with Kevin; it will make things a whole lot worse.’

‘It can’t get any worse. I’m going to lose my other child.’

‘Linda, listen. Please. If you disappear with Kevin the social services will notify the police and they’ll have every police officer in the country looking for you both. They’ll alert the ports and airports, and when you’re found it will make your case a great deal worse.’

‘Case! You sound like one of them. Leave me alone. I wish I’d never been born.’

‘Think of Kevin and how distressing it would be for him if you ran away,’ I tried. ‘Nothing has been proven yet, and it may be that Kevin is allowed to return to you once the social services are satisfied he will be safe.’

‘I’m not taking that risk,’ Linda said, and the line went dead.

I immediately dialled Linda’s number, but she didn’t answer. Joss stared at me in horror, her eyes filling. ‘What shall we do?’ she asked.

‘Keep trying to phone her back,’ I said. ‘I’ll see if I can talk some sense into her.’

I tried again, but the phone rang and rang.

‘I’m going to have to report it,’ I said at last. ‘Did she say where she was going?’

‘No, only that she was going tonight.’

I now pressed the number for Homefinders. Michael, on out-of-hours duty that night, answered. I quickly told him what Linda had said and the circumstances leading up to it. Joss sat beside me, anxious and wide-eyed with fear.

‘I’ll phone the duty social worker straight away,’ Michael said. ‘They’ll contact the police. I suppose Linda and the child could still be at home. If not, they can’t have got far. And Joss doesn’t have any idea where they could be heading?’