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It was the following week and Rachel had arranged to come around to Maria's house in order to do a home inspection and go through some questions with her. They wanted to get the ball rolling moving with having Grace returned to Maria.
Maria ensured that Liam was happy playing in his room before she continued to clean the house. She had gotten up early to go over the cleaning she had completed yesterday but she was still nervous, she just wanted to pass.
Rachel arrived at 2:30, and Maria let her in. Rachel could tell that the woman was nervous and did what se could to put her at ease.
"Can I get you're a drink?" Maria asked and Rachel nodded before telling Maria how she took it. They ten started with the home tour and Rachel made some notes and asked some additional questions.
"So this is Grace's room" Maria said showing Rachel into the room.
"It's lovely, has she seen it?" Rachel asked and Maria nodded.
"She slept in it last week when she was ill" Maria explained.
"Thank you for having her, you really didn't need to" Rachel said, and Maria shrugged.
"She's my daughter and she was ill. If it was Liam, I would have done the exact some" Maria explained, and Rachel smiled. Clearly Maria was a mother who really loved her daughter.
"She's my daughter and she was ill. I wanted to look after her" Maria explained, and Rachel smiled. Clearly Maria was a mother who really loved her daughter.
"How often has Grace visited you this week?" Rachel asked as they headed back to the living room and Maria nodded.
"She didn't come Wednesday night or Friday night as I was working. She came Thursday and Saturday night and then spent the day with us yesterday" Maria explained, and Rachel nodded.
"How do you feel about the increased contact?" Rachel asked.
"I love it, we are spending more and more time as a family and I feel I am really getting to know her. She's coming here after school" Maria said looking over at the clock and seeing that it was just after three o'clock meaning Grace would just be finishing school.
"Perfect, can you mind if I stay and see her?" Rachel asked and Maria shook her head.
"Of course, not" Maria said.
"I have some questions we need to go through anyway, so it'll be about half past that I finish anyway" Rachel explained, and Maria nodded. Rachel took a seat at the table while Maria quickly checked on Liam.
"Do you have anyone to support you with childcare if required?" Rachel asked.
"I do, my brother Kirk and then my sister in laws Michelle and Carla. As well as my friends" Maria said, and Rachel nodded writing it down.
"Do you have a partner?" Rachel asked.
"I have a boyfriend, Marcus but he doesn't live here" Maria explained, and Rachel nodded.
"You will need to introduce him gradually to Grace as she really struggles with men" Rachel explained, and Maria nodded.
"I will do" Maria said.
"Is he Liam's father?" She asked and Maria shook her head.
"I'm a widow" Maria stated, and Rachel nodded.
"I'm sorry" Rachel said.
"It's okay" Maria said wanting to change the topic. They moved onto some other questions and just as they were going over the last one the doorbell rang. Liam ran to the door as he knew it would be Grace.
"Hey give me a minute" Maria said as she lifted Liam up to press the button.
"Come in Gracie" Liam said on the speaker and they unlocked the door. Maria opened the flat door and Grace came running up the stairs.
"How was school?" Maria asked as she put her arm around Grace as she entered. Liam already had his arms around her waist.
"Fine" Grace said as she hugged her brother.
"Hello" Rachel said as Liam and Maria let go of the girl and allowed her to take her bag and jacket off.
"What are you doing here? I always tell my mum when I'm coming round, and I text Tabby house too" Grace said worriedly.
"Hey I know sweetie. I was just doing a home inspection which your mother has passed" Rachel said smiling at Maria as she hadn't been able to tell the woman yet. Maria smiled.
"How much longer until I can live with her?" Grace huffed.
"Hopefully, we will get it to the court for next month as this month's has to be in in less than 2 weeks so I'm hoping 6 weeks" Rachel said, and Grace rolled her eyes.
"Can't I just live with my mum now" Grace said snuggling into her mother.
"6 weeks isn't that long" Rachel explained, and Grace sighed. She just wanted her mother to herself now.
"How long will the transition be?" Grace asked.
"Well I need to speak to other people but you are spending so much time with Maria I'm sure it can be a week or two" Rachel explained and Grace nodded. That sounded better.
"See if all goes well, you will be here in plenty of time for your birthday" Maria said knowing that it was just less than 3 months before the girl's birthday. Grace nodded feeling slightly better now.
"And it'll be the Easter Holidays" Grace said, and Maria nodded. She was so proud of how face the two of them had come. They spoke for a bit longer before Rachel got ready to go.
"Can I check your planner and behaviour chart?" Rachel said and Grace nodded. She very proudly gave it to her social worker.
"Wow, I am very impressed" Rachel said noticing that the girl's behaviour had really started to improve.
"It really helps having my mum here because I feel more able to control my emotions and if something has annoyed me I speak to my mum about it and I feel better" Grace said before leaning into Maria. Maria knew this action meant that the girl wanted a hug. Maria put her arms around Grace who turned towards her mum.
"Grace, I am so proud of you. Think how you would have reacted a couple of weeks ago if someone hugged you?" Rachel asked and Grace nodded.
"I'm not like this with everyone but I am with my mum" Grace said "I really trust her"
Rachel smiled.
"I'm glad you feel that day" Rachel said before putting her jacket on.
"Well I'll leave you to it. Remember you can both call me anytime you need" Rachel said and both Maria and Grace nodded. Maria saw Rachel out while Grace disappeared to play with her brother. She usually did this after school.
Maria made dinner for them all and called her children through. She did not used to eat with Liam but having Grace there she now made a point of it. After dinner, Liam watched some TV while Grace did her homework. She did not have much, but Maria hovered over her to help with needed. Maria noticed that Grace seemed to struggle at school but was trying her best. She was unsure if it was due to her behaviour or if it was a learning disability. She added it to her list of things to ask Rachel.
Together they put Liam to bed and then sat and spoke for 15 minutes before Grace needed to get the bus home. Maria hated not being able to give the girl a lift home, but she could not leave Liam in the house alone.
Wednesday Night
Maria was just finishing with her last client when she heard her phone ring. She quickly excused herself and answered her phone. It was Rachel.
"Of course, you can come round" Maria said "I'm just finishing with my last client"
They finished the conversation and Maria quickly charged her client and tidied up before running up the stairs to her flat. Kirk had Liam tonight and he would drop him off at 6 o'clock just after he had had his tea.
Maria had just gotten in and put her bag down when the intercom went. She let Rachel and Grace in. Grace did not usually visit Maria on a Wednesday and Maria could see the girl was upside. Usually when Grace arrived she leant towards Maria but today she full on crashed into her mother.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Maria asked as she guided them to the sofa. They sat down and Maria looked between Grace and Rachel trying to work out what was going on.
"I had to go to Tabitha House today as the carers were very concerned with Grace's behaviour and she was being violent to others" Rachel said sternly.
"Oh Grace, you have had such a good week" Maria said disappointedly but not angry.
"I'm sorry" Grace said embarrassed that she had let her mum down.
"When I arrived, I spoke to Hailey but I was unable to get through to Grace. She was really upset and just wanted you, so I agreed to bring her and explained that I wanted her to tell me why she attacked Hailey" Rachel explained.
"Are you ready to tell us?" Maria asked and Grace nodded.
"All week, she's been making fun of me because you cuddled me in bed when I was ill. She was really getting at me and saying things about you that made me angry. She called her horrible names because you had me so young. Before she was just picking on me and I could handle that but today when she started calling you names it got me really mad" Grace explained.
"Sweetie, well done for telling me but remember you just need to ignore what everyone else says. You know the truth and that's all that matters. If they miss out then it's their fault not yours" Maria explained and Grace nodded. They spoke for a little bit longer before Rachel said they best be off. Maria knew it was because she had finished but she understood. It was almost 6 o'clock now.
"Call me tonight if you want" Maria said and Grace nodded. She gave her mother another big hug before leaving. Maria watched her leave. She wished for the day that this would become Grace's forever home. She hoped that it won't be too long.
