Next installment, thanks all who are reading. Thank you again for RustyTypewriter for proof reading.
A few of you asked about Legislations in the uk about Child abuse and reporting it.
To my knowledge yes if a child is under 18 and at risk of harm, you have a duty of care to report the suspected or known case of abuse.
Using channels within the education authorities, teachers notify the head teacher who will then in turn notify the relevant parties; police, social services and educational authorities.
The individual case is reviewed and then all agencies work together to put In place a protection plan, which allows them to monitor a child's progress and welfare.
In cases where their is a suspected case but no evidence, it generally goes through the Local Safeguarding Children's board which the school informs, and makes an initial protection plan.
To help monitor and assess the issues of that child before reporting it to social services and the police if concerns are still present.
Caroline had felt uncomfortable all morning waiting for Lauren to return. She didn't, which only worried Caroline more.
"It's the weekend Kate. We need to put something in place to keep her safe. I've sent my preliminary report to the relevant people, but they don't always act instantly."
There was a knock on the door that made them both raise their heads.
"Hi. Sorry to interrupt, I was asked to give you this by Beth, I think she said her name was." Beverly finished handing over the note.
Caroline quickly took the note and read it, Caroline finished passing it to Kate.
"What? Where has she gone?" Kate asked.
"It doesn't say."
Caroline slumped in her chair. ""Now what?" She whispered to herself.
Kate opened the office door peering her head out.
"Beverly how did you get this again?"
"From Beth. I think she's in the other girls' form."
"Okay thank you, Beverly."
"Caroline I'm going to go and find Beth and see if she knows where Lauren is."
Caroline nodded.
"I'm going to go to the library in town, Lauren used to spend a lot of time there when her mum was ill last time things were difficult at home," Caroline said. "Kate, Ring me if you have any luck."
Kate smiled and nodded.
It had taken Caroline forever to make it into town; her stress levels rising fast, as she raced quickly through the lobby and into the reading hall. Her gaze frantically searching all the occupied seats until she came across the blonde head of hair she was looking for.
"Lauren?"
The girl looked up, shocked.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you. I remembered you used to love it here."
"It's quiet," Lauren nodded "room to think," she finished.
"I think we need to go and see your Mum," Caroline continued.
"I know but it's no use, it will make it worse."
"We will get her alone, without your step dad"
"I don't have a choice do I? I shouldn't have told you." Her hard icy stare in those blue eyes.
"She will be at work now, so you can't," Lauren said relieved.
"I think it's the best time without your step dad being around. Come on." she held out her hand for Lauren to take.
Lauren stood slowly and took her hand following her from the building.
It had been one of the longest days for a long time, emotionally draining as Lauren's Mum excused herself from work. Caroline decided the only place to have the conversation was at school.
Caroline and Lauren waited in the office. "Rebecca hello how are you?" Caroline shook her hand warmly.
"Hello Dr Elliot, what's the matter? It sounded urgent."
"Right. Well this is a little sensitive. One of my staff noticed that Lauren hadn't been herself recently. So I had a chat with her myself yesterday and was concerned. From speaking to her today, I decided that I'd have to bring it to your attention. Now this is difficult for Lauren and she's very anxious to spare you any upset but I can't ignore this Rebecca."
Caroline moved to sit round next to Lauren's mother.
"What the hell is it?" She asked anxiously, looking from Lauren to Caroline.
"Mum I'm so sorry I didn't want you to know, I wanted to fix this myself. I never wanted to cause you more pain I know things are OK at the moment and I didn't want to ruin it."
"What is it? Lauren tell me!" her mother pleaded as she watched her daughter crumble.
"Rebecca this might be hard for you to hear, but I think Lauren's step father, Josh, has been hurting her."
Rebecca stood up, backing towards the window. "No he wouldn't. He promised he wouldn't, I'd have known. No it's not true. Lauren tell me it's not true!" she pleaded the tears welling in her eyes.
Lauren opened her mouth to speak and closed it again the sobs racked over her slender body.
"Rebecca I've seen the marks on her body. I couldn't ignore this, but she's petrified of you becoming ill again. So we need to make this better for everyone, don't we?" Caroline placed her hand upon her arm.
"He promised he hadn't. He promised," she repeated loudly, "he promised!"
"What?" Lauren asked, confused, looking from her mother to Caroline.
"I asked him I thought he had but he denied it. He promised it wasn't happening with you. I know he gets angry with me and sometimes he loses control. But he promised he would never touch you, he promised. Oh Lauren I'm so sorry, I let it happen, I believed him."
Caroline watched the scene as the mother took her in her arms and held her tight.
"When, how?" She asked surveying her daughter's physically fine appearance.
"Only sometimes when you're at work. I thought he'd stopped hurting you, so I coped with it. I love you Mum, I just wanted you stay well. He's nice to me most of the time, it's confusing. I just wanted him to stop hurting you," Lauren sobbed.
"Oh darling I just wanted to keep you safe. You're safe now. He won't hurt you again I promise. I deserved it, I caused all the problems I know I was difficult when I was ill. But you … Why does he hurt you? I can't forgive him that! I can't" she shouted.
"So what do we do mum. We can't afford the house if he leaves, what if you get ill again" Lauren sobbed, "This is such a mess".
"Darling knowing this is going on and doing nothing will make me Ill. I'm doing OK. We're doing OK. We don't need him. We don't. He should have gone before now but I thought, like you did that we needed him, that I loved him.
But I don't, we don't we need each other. Do you know how I feel knowing I missed it? That once again Dr. Elliot has done my job as a mother to help you. I feel ashamed so ashamed, it's time I looked after you, not the other way round," Rebecca sighed.
Caroline shuffled in her chair "Rebecca I have to tell you I am duty bound to make a report, if I know a child in my care is at risk."
"Dr. Elliot, I don't want my life being dragged through the muck again. I will ask him to leave but I won't press charges. I'm sure Lauren feels the same," she finished sharply.
"Whatever you want mum," Lauren finished. "Right lets go home then. Thank you Dr. Elliot I can handle it from here."
"Rebecca i do appreciate your desire to keep this between us all, But I had to send a report to the Local Safeguarding children's Board. Lauren once you had told me I couldn't ignore it. It's my job to care for you, I'd be putting you at risk not to take action. The police will be in touch and work with the school.
Caroline watched the fear flicker in the eyes of the young girl before her, "but you said..I don't want anyone else knowing" She whispered.
"Lauren if it was something that meant you were not at risk of harm I wouldn't have. It's my duty to do what's best for you, the Children's board will inform the authorizes that need to be aware to review what's going on, and how to keep you safe. That does include the police Lauren, it will be ok your see" she smiled reassuringly at her.
But Kate Mckenzie is head of our pastrol care, so we will work together to do whatever we can within the school to help. End of the day we just want you to be safe and happy Lauren".
" I wont tell anyone else, I'm not talking to them " she half sobbed.
Caroline sat on the chair beside her,
"Lauren if one of your friends had told you what you had told me, if you saw she was being hurt. Would you tell someone to help keep her safe?, Or would you do nothing and hope she didn't get hurt again?" Caroline asked gently.
Lauren studied her head teacher "yes I would probably tell someone, if I had too".
"I don't want you to feel I've broken your trust Lauren, but for me to do the best for you I have to keep you safe, with support at home and school we can make things better".
Lauren nodded "yeah I suppose. And you will help me here at school?"
"Yes of course", she smiled at the young girl stroking her arm "we can make this better".
Lauren nodded a smile half smile "thank you".
Caroline slumped into her chair running her hands through her hair, God she was exhausted. Pulling out her phone she scrolled down and pressed call.
"Kate hello, they have just left if you wanted to come to my office?" Caroline smiled putting down the phone.
"Okay I'm on my way," Kate replied.
Kate arrived at her office, and Caroline filled her in on what had happened. "Well that sounds like it went the best we could have hoped for. Do you think she will leave him?" Kate asked unsure.
"I do hope so, she seemed genuinely distraught by the news, but she didn't like the idea of involving the police. I'm just writing up my report now, as I have to send an update to the Safeguarding Board. It's been a long day but hopefully Rebecca will do right by Lauren and throw him out". Caroline finished feeling suddenly more skeptical about the quick conclusion of the problem.
"Caroline you've done the best you can, and we can put things in place at school can't we. At least she's not alone, she will be safer over the weekend with her mum aware of the abuse" Kate concluded reassuringly.
"I'll ring Rebecca tomorrow and see what's happening, I won't be able to relax until I know they are ok".
Kate moved closer to Caroline noting the faint creases above her eyes, "You look tired," Kate spoke softly.
"Thanks Kate," Caroline laughed.
"I didn't mean it like that. You still look beautiful," Kate smiled.
"Umm well thank you," Caroline smiled shyly, watching Kate closely. You're a very good person and a good teacher Kate, you noticed when many wouldn't."
"Thank you but I didn't do anything. You managed to get her to open up. See showing your soft side had its benefits Dr. Elliot," Kate smirked.
"So it seems," she said quietly moving a little closer to Kate, she couldn't keep her eyes from skipping from those delicious eyes to her perfect mouth.
Kate felt the tension once again. It was like she was drawn to this woman; everything about her.
"You in a rush to get home?" Kate asked moving closer still.
"No I'm home alone all weekend. John's picking the boys up and they're going to his for the weekend. What did you have in mind?" Caroline asked, the smile spreading wider across her lips.
"Drink at mine?" Kate offered a little more flirtatiously then she had meant to come across.
"Love to," Caroline said as she suddenly broke the trance and started shuffling papers around her desk.