So we are now on a strict four week lockdown here in New Zealand, not allowed to leave our properties unless for essentials. Hope everyone is keeping safe around the world and staying home if that is what is required of you right now.
Charlie POV
We have around thirty minutes until Tim is due to arrive for our meeting, the last few days have flown by and I have actually really enjoyed being here with the Fosters. Everyone has been really nice, even Mariana who has started to include me in her day to day life, she even offered to do my hair this morning for my meeting. I was a little bit anxious about this offer at first but I said yes in the end, my hair is now in two French braids. Brandon has still kept his distance but he will say hi or give me a smile if we pass each other in the house. Another positive is my pain is finally getting better, my medication seems to be working but I still struggle with big movements such as sitting and standing. Stef is taking really good care of me though, as much as I have tried to push her away she always seems to be at the ready when it's time to take more medicine. It's hard to not enjoy being cared for but I have a feeling this won't last for long. I overheard Stef and Lena talking to the family last night in the kitchen, I had just woken up from my sleep so they didn't know I was listening. I only heard bits but I know Brandon isn't too keen on the idea of me staying and Mariana said if I had nowhere safe to go then she knows the best place for me to be is here but she also said that if they could find a safe place for me then maybe it would be better if I went there. As much as it hurt to hear that I know that me being here has made the house very busy and cramped. After constantly running through what was said about me I almost ran away last night but at the last second I decided that for now I should stay, at least until I am feeling better and until I know for certain what is going to happen after this meeting.
This morning was the same as yesterday, everyone got ready for school, had breakfast and then left with Lena. With me staying at the house with just Stef today, Callie and Jude both tried to convince Stef and Lena to let them stay for my meeting but they insisted that it was too many people and that I would be here when they finished school. At least that made me feel a little bit more secure. Before Callie and Jude left they both gave me a big hug and promised me that whatever happens they will always be in my life and that they loved me, now that doesn't sound too promising.
My mind is all over the place now, I am sitting at the table with paper and pencils sitting in front of me, I have been trying to distract myself from thinking about this meeting by doing some drawing but it's not working. My anxiety is through the roof and I just can't seem to shake it off. I hear the front door open and Lenas voice radiate through the house "Stef, Charlie. I'm home" Stefs footsteps sound from the top story and make their way down the stairs "Hey love" Stef greets Lena, I can hear muffled voices so they must be whispering to each other about something, probably about me. A few minutes later they both walk into the kitchen "Hey Sweets, can we talk to you for a second before Tim gets here?" my heart automatically begins to race "um sure" I put my pencil down as Stef and Lena sit on the chairs beside me. Stef places her hand on mine, a gesture that I have since gotten use to whilst being in this home "We wanted to talk with you before we talked to Tim to make sure you know what is going to happen and you are not blindsided. We have talked to the family and we have gone over every option in our heads about what we think is best for you and for everyone else in this family. With this in mind we have decided that it would be best for you to stay with us for now until we can find you a safe forever home, so that could be a week or even months as long as it takes" my heart drops, I had a feeling this would be happening but stomach is still in knots hearing them actually say it out loud. Stef continues to talk, squeezing my hand as she does, I can feel her trying to make eye contact with me "but Charlie I assure you that you will only be going to another home when I know it is safe, when I know you will never be hurt ever again, okay?" I finally nod my head, it's not really sinking in but I need to make some kind of gesture that I am listening. Lena is the next to talk now "We have thought this over very throughly and we are going to make sure Tim listens to every word we say as we have lots of conditions" I am listening now "Conditions?" I ask quietly, looking up at Lena "Yes conditions, these being that whoever you go to must be close by, they must allow you to continue going to Anchor Beach Charter School and you are to have full visiting rights with us" I stutter out my next sentence "I..I'm going to your school?" Lena gives me a smile "I have your enrolment form in my bag, we have found you a space so you will just need to sit the exam" I smile back at Lena who embraces me in a hug, I feel Stef wrap her arms around us too "No matter what, you are still going to be a part of this family, even if you are not living under this roof".
The conversation with Stef and Lena didn't go as I would have hoped but surprisingly I'm not as much of a wreck as I thought I would be, they still want me to be a part of their family and they gave their word that I would be safe and for once in my life i am starting to believe it. Stef has just left to greet Tim at the door, Tim just got here and they are now making their way into the kitchen where Lena and I are already seated. Once in the kitchen Stef pours Tim a glass of water and they both sit down around the table, Tim hands my file over to Stef and they begin to talk about my situation, it almost feels as though I am not here rather just sitting here hearing about how my life is going to play out. Stef and Lena tell Tim about their conditions which at first he doesn't seem too keen on, maybe it means more work for him but it doesn't take long for Stef to convince him otherwise. Finally Tim turns to me "Does this all sound okay to you Charlotte? are you okay to stay here for now and agree to what has been said today?" "Umm yes, I guess so" "okay well I guess that is settled then, I will keep you all updated on the process of finding Charlotte a forever home" he goes to stand up, obviously ready to leave but Stef is quick to talk some more "Tim did you know that Charlie has not been to see her heart specialist in years?" Guilt washes over Tims face "It is not my duty to ensure appointments are made, that is of fosters parents duty" "even if it is a serious condition like that of Charlie's?" wow I wasn't expecting this to happen today, it feels weird to have someone stand up for me, especially in front of Tim, who now looks incredibly uncomfortable being here "well.. well I expect foster parents to be responsible and read the files of the children in their care" Tim says, pushing the blame off himself. Stef doesn't back down "you better hope that nothing is wrong after Charlie's appointment on Monday or you will be getting a call from my lawyer. Tim quickly picks up his gear "I'll keep you updated with Charlie's situation and yes let me know how Monday goes" this is the most awkward I have ever seen Tim, finally someone has put him in his place, I smile at Stef who smiles back at me. Lena walks Tim to the front door and makes her way back into the kitchen "Was that really necessary Stef?" "He is such and ass.." Stef begins to say "Stef!" "What he is" Stef says with a shrug. Lena walks over to me "You okay?" She says, "Yeah I am actually" she squeezes my shoulder "Now that you are stuck with us for the next little while we need to sort out where you will be sleeping" "I'm fine on the couch really" I say. Stef shakes her head "No way are we leaving you on the couch for any longer. Now we have already talked to the kids about this so don't think you are kicking anyone out of their rooms okay?" I nod my head "Jesus is absolutely stoked that he is going to be moving into the garage and if it's okay with you you can bunker in with Jude?" I let out a smile "If it's okay with Jude then its okay with me" "Great! I guess I will start moving some things around then" Stef replies with a big smile.
Stef POV
I am in the garage moving the furniture around to fit Jesus's bed and his many belongings, I will get Jesus to help me with the big furniture and the rest of his things this afternoon. I glad to have some time alone, Lena has taken Charlie into the school to sit her entry exam and show her around the school, she will bring her home with the rest of the kids at the end of the day.
Today was a hard day, I have built a strong connection with Charlie already and it feels like she is my child. It wasn't my first choice to have her not stay with us forever but I am not the only person in this family so the decision was made with each and every persons opinion but I was telling her the truth when I said she is not just going to anyone, I will keep her safe, I will forever keep her safe.
Once I have finished in the garage I decide to start going through Charlie's file, the best time is now when no one else is home. The folder starts off with the death of Colleen and Donald, this of which I have already read in Callie's and Jude's files so I skip past, The next page is Charlie's first foster family, the Morrisons, Sandra and Greg, reading through the details this must be the family that was planning to adopt Charlie. I have been wanting to know what happened with the adoption since we found out it fell through but now my heart drops at the thought of knowing. I take a deep breath before I flip the page over and start to read the intricate details. Once I get to the end I can feel tears welling in my eyes, how could they just leave her, leave her when she needed someone the most, they don't deserve to have someone as amazing as Charlie. Reading this just makes me feel even more guilty about telling Charlie that she will be going to another home, I will be making sure that wherever Charlie goes she will be wanted, loved and safe.
I continue reading through the file, there is a lot about Charlies medical history which surprises me because Callie and Judes had lost most of their medical history. I guess because it was a serious ongoing condition would be why it has managed to be upheld. I skim over this as I know I will find out more at Charlie's appointment on Monday. I move through to the list of families Charlie has lived with over the past 10 years, there are so many, I hate imagining her moving from house to house never having anything stable. Going through the list I quickly read the last names:
Morrison's
Harrison's
Drake's
Travey's
Yara's
When I get to the next name my heart skips a beat and I have to re read the name to make sure, my mouth opens, "oh my god" I say out loud before I read the name yet again.
Olmstead's.
Please keep reviewing. And stay safe everyone, the world is crazy right now.
