A/N: Thank you all for your reviews on the first chapter. This story is definitely going to be emotional at times, especially with what I have planned for Jane and her children.
In reply to a few people who have asked about chromosome deletions, no they aren't a form of autism. In the simplest term, it's where a person is missing deleted DNA in a section of their chromosomes. For example, my child has one which is classed as a microdeletion: meaning she is only missing a tiny portion of DNA. Because these deletions are rare, not many people are diagnosed with them, and they haven't been thoroughly researched by geneticists, so they aren't usually named syndromes. For more information, you can go to rarechromo dot org (all together) which is a charity called Unique who provide support to families who go through this journey.
Also, chromosome deletions have links to autism and other conditions which will be explored through Lucy. However, please remember that autism isn't always caused by a person having a chromosome deletion.
The next chapter will be posted in two weeks.
Chapter Two
"Wish me luck." Elizabeth breathed nervously.
She was stood in the kitchen dressed in a black pencil skirt and white shirt tucked into the waist, with clear tights and a pair of small black high heels. Her mother was busy reading the morning newspaper whilst her father had turned around to hand Jane a freshly made cup of coffee.
"You'll be fine, Lizzy," her father said with a smile, "Just be yourself and be honest, and this Alice Reynolds will like you."
"We'll go out for lunch when you get back," Jane said supportively, "The twins won't finish pre-school until one, so I'll have some time to catch up with you properly."
"Don't you have a shift today?" Elizabeth asked.
"I don't do shift work that often. I go in occasionally to help Charlotte with the ordering but I'm more of a 'silent partner'." Jane replied.
"And by silent, you mean…?"
"Charlotte runs the bakery daily and I do all the admin, payroll, inventory, ordering from home. She does the practical running of the business and I do the paperwork side."
"Does Charlotte mind you are doing the paperwork side of the business?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
Jane shook her head.
"I'm lucky to have Charlotte for a business partner. She hates doing all the paperwork, gets her head muddled up apparently. She knows I'm better with the calculations and the computer side of it. And it's better for me because I can be flexible with it around the kids." Her sister replied.
Elizabeth nodded her understanding, feeling glad that her sister was still able to continue working despite Lucy needing full-time care. When Jane was twenty-two, she and their childhood friend Charlotte Lucas had taken over Thomas's bakery business when their father had suffered a minor heart attack brought on by stress. Thomas had signed over half of his share to Jane whilst Charlotte had bought her own share of thirty percent. The three of them had found a way to make it work. Charlotte ran the business, Jane did the administration side which earned them their own living whilst Thomas reviewed the accounts every quarter and had his share of the profits which covered the bills and mortgage on the house. It pleased Elizabeth that Jane and Charlotte had found a way of successfully working together, ensuring that Jane had the time to go to Lucy's appointments, therapies and meetings.
"How is the bakery doing?" Elizabeth asked.
"We're steady, same as always. Profits are up. We've worked out a system that works for us." Jane replied.
"Alright Lizzy, you'd better get going. You don't want to be late to your interview." Thomas said brightly.
Saying goodbye to her parents and sister, she took her dad's car keys and left the house. Once she was in her dad's car, she began to drive to the address she had been given by Alice Reynolds the previous day. She drove through the familiar streets of her home town, passing by the several places she used to visit before she had got married. She saw familiar people she had grown up with and some new faces. She drove past her family's bakery, deciding silently that at some point she would have to pop in and pay Charlotte a visit once she was sorted out.
She continued to drive until she reached a part of Meryton that she had rarely ventured to. It was the part of town which had been labelled as the rich part. The houses were large, easily five-bedroom minimum, with plenty of garden space to use. All the houses were detached with three-car driveways. As she turned into the road she had been given by Alice Reynolds, she drove slowly and parked the car by the pavement outside the house where her interview would take place. Elizabeth got out of the car, straightened her skirt and took a deep breath as she walked up the gravel path, reaching the front door and knocked three times.
The front door opened, and a woman around the same age as her father appeared in the doorway. She had a bright greeting smile to which Elizabeth returned. She noted that kindness that was evident in the woman's blue eyes.
"You must be Elizabeth Bennet?" the woman asked kindly, brushing a grey lock back into her fading black hair and cleared her throat.
"I am." Elizabeth confirmed, trying to steady her nerves.
"Hello, I'm Alice Reynolds, Come on inside." The woman said, opening the front door wider.
Elizabeth stepped inside the house, instantly overwhelmed by the openness and large space around her. A wide staircase stood opposite the front door, with a neat metal coat hanger on the wall inside holding up a few jackets and winter coats. The floor beneath her feet had a wooden laminated effect, matching the oak staircase that had been heavily carpeted. She followed Alice Reynolds to her right, into a large and open living room. The flooring matched the same as the hallway, with a large black rug covering the centre of the room. A small glass coffee table stood in the centre of the rug, just inches away from a large black fabricated corner sofa that sat along the back wall. Opposite, a mounted fifty-inch screen television sat above a stone fireplace. Whilst the room was completed with some oak side tables next to the sofa, holding up a few photographs and a bookcase that contained white and black cubed boxes for storage, sitting snugly inside the holes.
"Make yourself comfortable," Alice said warmly, gesturing to the sofa, "Can I get you a drink?"
"No, thank you. I've not long had a cup of tea." Elizabeth replied politely.
"Very well, dear. Shall we get started?" Alice asked.
Elizabeth nodded enthusiastically, both taking a seat on the sofa. She noticed the little folder that sat neatly on the coffee table and looked back at Alice nervously.
"The position, as you're aware, if for a full-time child minder. If you were successful for the role, you would be looking after an eight-year-old girl named Mia." Alice began, picking up the folder and taking out a photograph before handing it over to Elizabeth.
As she looked down at the photograph, Elizabeth took in the smiling little girl who she could potentially be looking after. The girl, Mia, was smiling toothily at the camera on a bright day, a few gaps missing due to losing some teeth. Her smile was wide with happiness and her brown eyes warm whilst her dark curly brown hair bounced around her face.
"She is a beautiful girl." Elizabeth complimented.
"She is," Alice said fondly, "Takes after her father."
"You must be very proud. Are you her mother?" Elizabeth asked.
Alice chuckled lightly and shook her head.
"No dear. I'm the housekeeper for the Darcy family but I've been working for them most of my life. My own children were raised alongside Mia's father and aunt. Mia is an only child, raised by her father William. I used to look after Mia as well as my other duties within my role but I'm getting older and can't keep up with the workload." The woman explained.
"What are the family like?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"Close. They have little traditions that have been going back generations. Trustworthy. Kind. William is a very generous and loving man, he absolutely adores his little girl." Alice replied fondly.
"Does Mia's mother have any involvement?"
She noted how the woman's smile quickly faded as she sadly shook her head.
"Mia's mother died in an accident when she was two-years-old." Alice explained.
"Oh…I'm sorry…"
"It was a sad time for the family," Alice sighed, "But Mia is a strong child."
"She looks very happy, if the picture is anything to go by." Elizabeth smiled, looking back at the picture.
"Oh, she is and she's a good girl. It's very rare for her to be in trouble." Alice informed her.
"It's nice to hear you speak highly of her." Elizabeth said admirably.
"I don't see William or his family as my employers, more like my own family," Alice said warmly, "Do you have any involvement with children?"
"I have a degree in Childhood and Youth Studies which required two placements during my time at university. The first placement was for one hundred days acting as an Early Years Practitioner in a pre-school setting. The second placement was for again for one hundred days, working for the charity Home Start which helps families who need extra support. The support came in many forms. Such as accessing local play groups, getting additional support for families whose children have SEN or are disabled. We also helped families access advice and support to help them children be ready for school." Elizabeth said proudly.
"Excellent. Do you have any experience outside your degree working with children?" Alice questioned.
Elizabeth hesitated, she only had used her degree a little.
"During my time at university I worked part-time in the evenings as a babysitter and I do have some references for you. But once I finished my degree, I didn't have the chance to use it to start a career. However, I have a four-year-old niece and nephew that I spend some time with." She answered truthfully.
"That's fine, dear. Life doesn't always pan out the way you planned. Now, you should be informed that Mia has epilepsy which requires you to be first aid trained in case she has seizure. Mia is also on daily medication to treat her condition. Are you trained in first aid?" Alice asked, reassuringly.
"I was first aid trained as part of my degree. But I may need to go on another course in case my qualification has expired." Elizabeth replied.
"That's fine. If you are successful in landing the role, you need to inform me, so I can arrange for you to go on another course. This would take place at the local sixth-form college prior to starting to look after Mia and will be paid for by your employer."
"Of course."
"The role requires you to work Monday-Friday. You would start by collecting Mia from the house at eight-thirty in the morning. She will be fed, dressed and ready to school upon your arrival. You would take her to school and sign her in; of course, you'd need to make yourself known to the school for security reasons. It's a safety issue, they need to be informed as to who is dropping of and collecting Mia every day. During the day, you would make sure her prescription is in date, put in her prescription requests at the doctor's surgery, collect any medication that has been approved. You would take her for any appointments she needs, such as hospital reviews and dental check-ups. You would also plan her after school routine by taking her to her ballet classes and find other clubs or activities she may enjoy. Then you'd bring her home, complete her homework and serve her dinner." Alice informed her.
Elizabeth nodded.
"Does Mia have any particular hobbies or interests, aside from ballet?" she asked.
"She's been doing ballet since she was three and now, it is the only after school activity that she does. But she is a very eager child and likes to try new things." Alice replied.
"Okay. Do I need to get her father's permission before I take her to any new clubs or activities?"
Alice smiled and shook her head.
"Just let me know and I'll pop it on the calendar, so William can see what she has coming up over the course of the week. He is supportive of his daughter trying new things, so I don't think you finding any new clubs or activities for Mia would be a problem."
"Is the working day a long one?" Elizabeth asked.
"You'd need to be here at eight-thirty and finishing times will vary depending on what time Mia's classes or activities are outside of school. The latest you'd finish is six-thirty. But the pay is generous. You may be required to work the occasional Saturday is William has a busy workload. However, you would be given plenty of notice and additional holiday allowance." Alice explained, handing over some paperwork.
Elizabeth looked down at the contract, reading silently as she scanned through the employment terms and conditions. The day would be long, but Alice was correct, the pay rate per hour was more than what the average childminder would receive.
"The pay is generous." Elizabeth muttered, her eyes widened.
"William believes in paying his staff well." Alice said reassuringly.
"I can see that." Elizabeth said breathlessly.
Her heart was hammering fast in her chest. In the pit of her stomach she was hoping for this job. It would be the start of a permanent change for her, proving that she could start fresh after losing everything she had spent the last five years trying to make work.
"Don't worry dear. If you were hired for the role, you would be well looked after. I'd be there to make sure you're bonding with Mia and that you both settle in well to a new routine." Alice said kindly.
"I love children and helping them learn. I certainly have the time and dedication to look after a child." Elizabeth said enthusiastically.
"I only have two questions left. The first is the one I dislike asking but I have to ask. Why did you apply for this role?" Alice questioned.
The dreaded question that all employers ask. Why do you want to work for the company/person? Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked at Alice directly.
"I'll be honest. I've recently found myself moving back home with nothing to my name. I don't just want a job. I want something that gives me purpose. Something to build my career on. I want to use my degree doing something I love, and I love working with children. Starting over is hard. But I want to use this fresh start doing something positive and I applied for this role because I believe I can provide a lot of care, time and dedication to Mia." Elizabeth answered truthfully.
Alice smiled at her, but this smile told Elizabeth that she understood that life didn't always go the way you expected. The way you wanted it to go.
"And my last question. Do you have any other questions?"
"What happens when Mia is on school holidays and what happens if I booked some time off?"
"We have an agency worker we use from time to time to cover. We would use this agency worker when you use your holiday allowance. In terms of school holidays, the schedule would be adjusted slightly but we have a few weeks before summer holidays start so if you were offered the role, you would be informed of the schedule change with notice." Alice explained.
"Good to know." Elizabeth smiled.
"Any others?" Alice asked.
"I suppose the only thing I can think of to ask if how soon I would start if I was offered the job?"
"I'd give you a call later this week to inform your if you've been successful and William would start the background checks to make sure you don't have a criminal record and you aren't on the sex offenders register. Once the checks come back, you'll be informed of a start date."
"Okay." Elizabeth breathed.
Alice gave her another reassuring smile.
"Relax, my dear. You've done well. I don't think you'll be waiting too long to hear back from us." The older woman said kindly.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said quietly.
Saying their goodbyes, Alice saw Elizabeth to the front door and she exited. Walking back to her car, Elizabeth pulled out her phone to text Jane and arrange a place to meet for lunch.
ooOoo
The two sisters entered the pub on the high street in Meryton, sitting themselves at one of the empty tables by the bar and picked up a menu each. Elizabeth started to look through the options, trying to decide what she fancied for lunch.
"I've missed doing this." Jane commented warmly.
"So have I. And now that I'm back, we can do this more often." Elizabeth said.
"That would be nice. But we'd have to see what my free time is like though. Looking after the twins is a full-time job." Jane sighed.
"I supposed even more so with Lucy's needs." Elizabeth said sympathetically.
Jane looked over the top of her menu.
"I won't lie, it's been hard." Her sister sighed heavily.
"Do you get enough help?" Elizabeth asked.
"I get what I can. Dad and Lydia help me out a lot and we have a part-time night nurse assigned through social services to help with Lucy, so Peter and I can get some sleep and she's trained to deal with Lucy's seizures and medication. Obviously, they are both in pre-school and Lucy has additional funding to help with her development. But it's hard. Because I've had to fight to get the night nurse and they rejected the application before I appealed and got it rewarded. But it's only four nights a week." Jane replied.
"Do you get enough time for Peter?"
Jane paused for a few moments before answering.
"I try my best. Lucy will happily be looked after by dad or Lydia but when I've tried babysitters, she's had a meltdown which meant my plans with Peter get put on hold. Routine is what we've established. On the nights when I have no night nurse, Lucy has an early bedtime because of the sleep disorder caused by her chromosome deletion. So, me and Peter tend to watch a movie or read a book together when she's in bed. But it's hard, Lizzy. When she's up six times a night and has multiple daily meltdowns, I feel like I'm not doing enough."
"If you ever want me to watch Lucy for an evening so you and Peter can have some time together, just ask me." Elizabeth offered.
"I appreciate the offer, Lizzy. I really do. But I can't leave Lucy with many people. She can be very hard to handle at times-"
"I'm sure I can manage." Elizabeth muttered.
"It's not just a case of managing, Lizzy. Her chromosome deletion has caused so many problems that need to be handled in the right way. Lucy has the developmental age of an infant! She can't potty train, she's non-verbal. She needs medication to control her seizures, which have reduced over time, but she still gets the occasional one and must have bed monitors which can go off during the night if one is triggered. She has a sleep disorder where she doesn't sleep through the night. She only started walking a year ago. She's under investigation for autism by the specialists involved with her. She needs constant supervision because she's impulsive and has no danger awareness." Jane ranted.
"Jane, I'm just saying that you need to take some time for yourself. And for Peter. And I'm offering to help!" Elizabeth said desperately, her voice on the verge of cracking.
"And I appreciate it Lizzy, I do," Jane said emotionally, "But I have had to change my whole path and experience things I never thought I would when I became a mother. All because my daughter has all these problems caused by missing a little section of DNA in one of her chromosomes."
"It's like you don't trust me or something." Elizabeth sighed.
"I do, I'm sorry that you feel that way. I didn't mean to make you feel like that. But you just got back after living away for the last five years. I know we talked a lot and emailed, and you visited at Christmas, Easter and birthdays. But the kids need to know you're familiar and once you're settled back in, I'll take you up on your offer. But I need you to realise that Lucy is hard work. I have four bolts on my front door because she would just bolt straight out into the road and get hit by a car. Even if it beeped at her, it wouldn't phase her." Jane replied gently.
"I just feel so bad," Elizabeth sighed, that familiar surge of guilt overcoming her, "If I had come home more and not gotten married at twenty, I could've understood and helped more."
"Lizzy, you were madly in love and married. Of course, you were going to move away with David. And it isn't your fault my life is this way. I love my children, more than anything. Of course, it's hard work with Lucy and I'm still trying to get my head around it. But I've never learned so much about anything before. Her diagnosis gave me answers why she couldn't do things as a baby that Peter could. And it means I can raise awareness about a rare condition." Jane said reassuringly.
"But don't you find it exhausting? You look so tired. And aren't you scared about what it means for the future?" Elizabeth asked curiously.
"I'm always exhausted. As for the future, because her chromosome deletion is so rare and there's few families with the same one, there is no 'worst case scenario' I can compare to. Lucy may be non-verbal for the rest of her life. She might never be able to look after herself. But at the same time, with the right support, she might progress. I have to take one day at a time. I can't plan because I don't know what Lucy might be like." Jane replied honestly.
"So, it's like having a big fat question mark hanging over your head?" Elizabeth questioned.
"That's a good way to sum it up." Jane chuckled.
Elizabeth bit her lip, debating whether she should ask her next question. Hearing her sister talk about her experiences with Lucy made her sympathetic but also angry. Jane had to do it all by herself.
"Ask me." Jane said sharply.
Evidently, her sister knew what she must be thinking.
"Doesn't George ever pay maintenance to help with the costs? He has a legal obligation to pay for his children." She said quietly.
Jane let out a harsh laugh and shook her head.
"I think George likes to live in a world of his own and pretend he doesn't have twins." Her sister said harshly.
"Have you ever thought about chasing him for child support?"
Jane shook her head.
"I don't want his money, Lizzy. I can raise the two of them by myself. The twins are well looked after."
"But I imagine it's expensive with the extra costs of Lucy's disability?" Elizabeth asked quietly.
"That's why I get Disability Living Allowance for her. The DLA is there to help with those extra costs. It pays towards her night nurse and other things that help her. It pays for the petrol to take her to her therapies and appointments. It pays for the upkeep of her tablet. It pays for the extra clothes she needs when she chews through the sleeves. It pays for her nappies." Jane replied.
"I think you're doing amazingly, Jane, but I also think that George should be accountable to his role as a parent." Elizabeth muttered.
Jane gave her a weak smile, reaching across the table to give her hand a squeeze.
"I loved George once but the only good thing I got from him were Peter and Lucy. He struggled to accept the fact that Lucy was different, and he couldn't bond with her. He didn't want to love her. So, I told him if he didn't want to raise a disabled child, he knew where the door was. I also told him that he didn't get to choose who he was a father to and who he wasn't. He had to be there for both the twins and not just one of them. So, he left. And I haven't seen him in two years." Her sister said, her voice somewhat positive.
"I just feel so bad for you, Jane." Elizabeth sighed.
"Don't feel bad for me, Lizzy. Life takes a lot of unexpected turns. Now, let's decide what we're eating. I'm starving." Jane said brightly.
Looking back at their menus, the sisters decided what they were eating for lunch and Elizabeth told her sister about her job interview, hoping that when she received that phone call from Alice Reynolds, it would be good news.