Chapter 8
It was the middle of the night and Rachel couldn't sleep. It had suddenly dawned on her she was becoming a Mum to a little girl. Yes she may not be coming for long but whilst she was there it was Rachel's job to provide her with everything she needed. Rachel was just worried she wouldn't be enough.
Rachel went downstairs and got herself a glass of water before going into the lounge and flicking the TV on. There was nothing on but it was better than tossing and turning in bed not being able to sleep.
Elsie woke up wanting her Auntie so made her way into her room. She was surprised when she wasn't there so checked in her bathroom before coming to look downstairs.
"Auntie Rach" Rachel heard her niece saying
"I'm in here love"
Elsie went into the lounge and snuggled into her Auntie.
"Everything okay?" Rachel asked
"I woke up and I just wanted a cuddle. What are you doing down here?"
"Couldn't sleep, just keep thinking about Lucy coming tomorrow"
"Well she's really lucky coming to stay here so I wouldn't worry she's not going to like it"
"Yeah but what if I can't give her everything she needs?"
"You will he able to. I'm sure the most important thing she needs is love and I'm sure you'll have no problem with that"
"Thanks love, I guess you're right. Come on let's get up to bed" Rachel said standing up on the sofa and walking upstairs Elsie closely behind
"Rach please can I sleep in your bed tonight?"
"Oh go on then"
They both got into bed Rachel wrapped her arms around Elsie and it didn't take long for them both to drop off to sleep.
The next morning soon came and Rachel was still in her dressing gown and pyjamas when the doorbell went. She wasn't expecting the little girl so early.
"Hello, you must be Lucy" Rachel said crouching down to the little girl's height after opening the front door "my names Rachel do you want to come in?"
Lucy just nodded her head before following Rachel into the lounge with her social worker. Rachel noticed how worried and scared she looked but this wasn't exactly surprising. Molly and Elsie were both in there watching TV.
Rachel introduced Lucy to the girls before leaving her with them whilst she went into the kitchen to sort out all the details and paperwork. It took a little while but eventually they finished so Rachel saw the social worker out before going back into the lounge.
"Do you want me to show you your bedroom Lucy?" rachel asked and Lucy nodded
Rachel picked up the carrier bag containing Lucy's belongings and took her up to the bedroom.
"Is this really where you live?" Lucy asked shocked by how big and nice the house was
"Yes love, do you like it?"
"Yeah it's so nice. I wish I could live in a house like this"
"Well you are at the moment"
Rachel showed Lucy around the rest of the house and then to her room and she was so impressed. Rachel didn't think she'd ever seen anyone so impressed or amazed by a room in a house, especially not a little seven year old girl.
"Are you happy for me to unpack your stuff love or would you rather do it yourself?"
"You can do it"
Rachel was shocked at how little belongings Lucy had. The bag consisted of a couple of t-shirts, a pair of jeans, a pair of leggins, two pairs of knickers, one set of pyjamas, a hoodie and a toothbrush.
"These are pretty pyjamas" Rachel said picking them out of the bag. She was going to put the stuff into the drawers but after smelling them she decided the stuff all needed to go into the wash.
"Thank you. Daddy bought me them for my Birthday"
"Elsie and Molly are having their hair cut today, so do you fancy going shopping or something whilst they're having it done?" Rachel asked and Lucy nodded. She noticed how quiet Lucy had suddenly gone so thought that she could maybe do with some time alone. She knew it must be a big thing for the little girl to take in
"I'm just going to go and get ready. Come and get me if you want anything, you know where my bedroom is"
"Okay, thank you Rachel"
Elsie decided to go up and see Lucy and see if she was okay.
"Hi Lucy, do you like your new bedroom?"
"I love it, it's so big"
"Have you laid on the bed yet?"
"No why?"
"Try it now, it's so comfy"
Lucy jumped up on the bed and laid down and Elsie joined her.
"Wow it is"
Elsie say there talking to Lucy for a while, she really did seem lovely. She then started to tickle Lucy who immediately burst into a fit of giggles.
"I think someone's ticklish" Elsie said laughing
Rachel had just got out of the shower when she heard all the noise. She quickly ran into Lucy's bedroom not knowing what was going on but a smile immediately spread across her face when she realised it was Elsie and Lucy laughing. She was glad to see them getting on so well. Rachel slipped away again without the girls noticing.
Once everyone was ready they drove into town. Rachel took Molly and Elsie into the hairdressers and then went off to the shops with Lucy.
"I reckon you could do with some new clothes, what do you think?" Rachel asked
"But I don't have any money"
"Don't you worry about that love"
Rachel took her into the next and helped her to pick out some nice clothes. They then went over to the swimwear section.
"What will I need a swimsuit for?" Lucy asked
"We're going away next week and there's a swimming pool there"
"You mean we're going on holiday? I've never going on holiday"
"It's not very far away but if this is your first holiday we'll have to make it special, won't we? Now come on let's go and try this stuff on"
"I'll just wait out here shall I?" Rachel asked and Lucy nodded
Lucy went into the changing rooms and tried on all the stuff before coming out and passing all the stuff that fitted to Rachel.
"I thought you were going to come out and show me love"
"Oh sorry I didn't realise"
"That's okay, are you sure it all fits?"
"Yeah"
"Come on then, let's go and pay"
They were on their way to the tills when Lucy accidentally knocked one of the handbags onto the floor.
"Sorry Rachel please don't shout at me" Lucy said sounding frightened
"Of course I'm not going to shout at you love, accidents happen"
They did a bit more shopping before it was time to go back and meet the girls.
"Wow very nice" Rachel said after seeing the girl's hair? "Pleased?"
"Yeah" they both replied
"Shall we go and get some lunch then?" Rachel asked before they walked into a cafe for lunch
They were in the middle of their lunch when Rachel noticed Lucy jigging her legs and shuffling on the seat.
"You alright Lucy?"
"Yeah" Lucy replied but really she was bursting for the toilet but didn't want to say in front of everyone. Luckily Rachel had been around long enough to realise that a fidgety child normally meant that they needed to go to the toilet
"Do you need to go to the loo?" Rachel whispered so only Lucy could hear. Lucy nodded her head
"We'll be back in a minute girls" Rachel said before standing up and taking hold of Lucy's hand and leading her to the toilets. However when they got in there there was a massive queue
"Rachel i'm really desperate" Lucy said beginning to get worried she was going to have an accident. She didn't want Rachel to get angry with her if she wet herself
"Okay love, it won't be long. Just hold on a little bit longer"
Luckily the lady at the front of the queue saw how desperate she was so let Lucy go in front of her
"Thank you" Rachel said to the lady as Lucy went into the cubicle
"It's fine, kids will leave it until the last minute" the lady said laughing
After Lucy had washed her hands they went back to the table and finished their lunch. Rachel was surprised that Lucy had eaten everything on her plate. She had a lot so Rachel wasn't expecting her to eat all of it.
After lunch they decided to go home because Molly was staying at Madi's for the night so wanted to get back and pack her stuff.
"What do you want me to do Rachel?" Lucy asked when they got back
"You can do whatever you like love. You can watch TV or I can play a game with you if you want"
"Don't you want me to do any jobs?" Lucy was uses to always doing stuff around the house for her Dad and never really getting the chance to play not that she ever had any toys anyway
"No love you're fine. You can help Elsie lay the table later though if you like"
"Okay" lucy then sat on the sofa not really knowing what to do
"I tell you what I've got some of Molly and Elsie's old toys in the garage that they don't play with anymore. Shall we go and see if there's anything you like" Rachel asked and Lucy nodded
Going through all the stuff brought back loads of memories of when the girls were younger.
"Can I bring this baby into play with?" Lucy asked holding up Elsie's old baby Annabel
"Yeah course you can. How about we bring in the pram and cot too. Elsie and Molly used to play with their dolls all the time"
They brought in a few games as well but mainly just the stuff for the dolls. Rachel used to spend hours playing with the girls and their dolls, having to pretend to be Grandma.
"Right then love I'm just going to get a tea started and then i'll come and play with you. Why don't you go and see what Elsie's up to for now though?"
"Okay thanks for letting me play with all of this stuff Rachel"
"It's honestly no problem love, it's nice to see it all getting used again"
Once Rachel had got all the veg prepared and the meat in the oven she went back into the lounge.
"Rachel please can me and Elsie take Annabel for a walk in her pram?"
"Yeah okay but don't go too far"
"We won't"
Lucy was just getting her shoes on when Rachel whispered to Elsie " you sure you don't mind doing this love because I can go with her if you like"
"No I'm happy to go with her"
"Okay see you when you get back then"
Rachel smiled as they walked out the door. She was pleased at how well Lucy seemed to be settling in. It wasn't long before Molly came running down the stairs
"I'm off now Rach"
"Okay do you want a lift over?"
"No it's fine I'll walk"
"Okay well have a good time sweetheart"
"See you tomorrow love you"
"Love you too"
Rachel didn't know what to do with herself with all the girls out so she got a cup of coffee before sitting on the sofa and reading a magazine for a bit.
Molly and Elsie had only been gone for about 20 minutes when Rachel there was a knock at the door. Rachel opened it to see them back already
"You weren't gone very long" Rachel commented
"Lucy said she was ready to come" Elsie told her
"Oh okay"
"I'm going up to my room for a little bit" Lucy said before running upstairs. Rachel thought she'd seen tears in the little girls eyes but she decided to leave it for a little bit
Rachel followed Elsie into the kitchen before saying "did something happen?"
"No she seemed fine but then she suddenly went really quiet and said she wanted to come home"
"Hmm maybe she's missing her Dad or something"
"Yeah maybe"
"Doesn't sound like he treated very well mins you. By the sounds of it she used to be doing jobs for him all the time"
Rachel stayed downstairs for a little bit before going up to check on Lucy. Rachel was upset to see Lucy crying when she went upstairs
"Hey what's the matter darling" rachel asked sitting on Lucy's bed and lifting her onto her lap
"I'm sorry I don't mean to cry don't hurt me" this made Rachel even more upset that she thought she might hurt her for being upset
"I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I'd never do anything to hurt you. I would you to tell me why you're crying though"
"I can't" Lucy said burying her head into Rachel's chest
"Yes you can sweetheart, I promise I won't tell anyone else"
"It's just when we were out I saw Daddy and I was scared he was going to make me go back with him"
"Did he see you?"
"No I don't think so"
"Oh love, you don't have to go back with Daddy never if you don't want to. I promise you I won't let him take you"
"Are you sure?" Lucy sniffed
"I'm sure darling. You're safe here with me, honestly you are"
"I really like it here"
"Well that's good because I really like having you here. Now come on let's dry your tears" Rachel said reaching for a tissue before gently dabbing her tears
"But Lucy anytime you're feeling upset or you want a chat don't be afraid to come and talk to me. Just pull me to one side and I'm sure we'll be able to sort it"
"I will"
"Good, do you fancy helping me to make a chocolate sponge pudding for dessert?"
"Yes please, chocolate cake is my favourite"
"Yeah mine too" Rachel said smiling
The three of them had a really nice evening but Rachel decided it was time Lucy was getting to bed.
"Come on let's get you a bath and then into bed Missus" Rachel said to Lucy
Rachel went into the bathroom and ran the bath for Lucy before going to get her a fresh towel out of the airing cupboard
"Thanks Rachel" Lucy said taking the towel off of her. She then stood by the bathroom door as if waiting for Rachel to go out
"I'll leave you to it shall I?" Rachel asked and Lucy nodded. She didn't want Rachel to see anything that meant she didn't want her anymore
"Okay well shout if you want anything and I've left you some pyjamas on the side" Rachel said before walking out and pulling the door closed behind her. She did plan on staying with Lucy whilst she was in the bath presuming she wouldn't mind because she was only seven. But then again she had never met Rachel before so she was bound to want to be a bit private.
After her bath Rachel made sure she'd brushed her teeth and gone to the loo before tucking her up in bed.
"Night night. I'm only across the hall if you want anything in the night I'll leave the landing light on so you can see"
"Okay see you in the morning Rachel"
Rachel stayed with her until she dropped off to sleep before tiptoeing out. It was so nice for Lucy to have someone put her to bed for once, it definitely wasn't something she was used to.
Elsie woke up after having a really bad dream. She sat up in bed trying to calm herself down but she was used to no-one coming to her when it happened so she didn't see the need in waking Rachel up.
Rachel woke up and decided to check on Lucy just make sure she was okay like she used to whenever the girls stayed with her.
"Oh sweetheart what's happened?" Rachel asked after walking in and seeing Lucy all worked up
"I just had a bad dream I'm sorry if I woke you up"
"You didn't I was coming into check on you anyway. Oh love you're sweating you're soaked through"
"I know it happens a lot"
Rachel went over to her drawers and got out a clean pyjama top out.
"Come on let's get you sorted" Rachel said lifting off her pyjama top forgetting the privacy that Lucy had wanted earlier. Lucy was going to stop her but it was too late.
Rachel noticed the bruises all over her back and stomach immediately so flicked the lamp on. Some of them looked old and some looked knew. They all looked really sore. Lucy began to cry knowing that Rachel knew. She was sure she wouldn't want her to stay anymore
"Oh my love these look so sore. Why didn't you show them to me before?"
"I didn't want you to be horrified by them and not want me anymore" Lucy replied in between the sobs
"Hey of course I still want you" Rachel said cuddling the girl who was now crying uncontrollably
"That's it you have a good cry get it all out you'll feel a lot better for it" Rachel soothed
After a bit the girl had calmed down a bit so Rachel asked "do you think you can tell me where all of these bruises have come from sweetie?" Lucy shook her head
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but I won't be able to help you unless you do" Rachel said slipping the clean pyjama top over her head
"Okay" Lucy agreed "Daddy gave them to me. Whenever he got angry with me he used to push me or hit me. He always apologised and said he wouldn't do it again afterwards but he never stopped. My legs are covered in bruises too"
Lucy started to cry again as all the memories came flashing back to her "please don't make me go back to him Rachel he's really horrible to me and I don't like it"
"Listen to me sweetheart you never have to go back to Daddy again if you don't want to I'll make sure of that." Rachel said giving the little girl a tight cuddle "but it does mean that you have to go to the doctors in the morning so that we can get evidence of it okay?"
"Okay will you come with me?"
"Of course I'll come with you love I'm hardly going to send you in on your own"
"Thank you"
"And Lucy you really have been so brave telling me all of this but trust me things are going to get a lot better for you now. Anyway I think it's time you went back to sleep now" Rachel said but Lucy just stayed clinging onto Rachel
"How about you come in with me just for tonight then and you can stay cuddled up to me" Rachel asked and Lucy nodded. She carried Lucy through to her bed and it didn't take long for them both to drop off to sleep
In the morning Rachel took Lucy to the doctors before ringing her social worker who contacted the police.
"What's going to happen to Lucy now then?" Rachel asked the social worker
"We'll start looking for a temporary home for her" the social worker said but straight away Rachel realised she couldn't imagine anyone else caring for Lucy
"Right, well what if I was interested in taking her in full time?"
"Well we'd have to see how things go on a temporary basis to start with but in the long run I don't see why not"
Rachel decided not to mention it to any of the girls to begin with just to see how well Lucy settles in and then take it from there.
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