John pulled up to the Orton's home, glancing back in the rearview mirror at the four girls who had been relatively quiet throughout the four hour car ride. Bayley, the youngest, had fallen asleep on her sister's shoulder. Sasha had stared blankly out the window, her other sister just stroking her hair the entire car ride. Sasha hadn't spoken in the last twenty four hours, something therapy would fix he presumed, along with the multitude of other problems these girls faced.
The younger social worker cleared his throat, putting the car into park as he glanced up at the house in front of them. "We're here," he announced quietly, the girls coming out of their trance as they realized the car was no longer moving.
John got out of the car, opening up the backdoor as the girls slowly piled out, the two oldest holding onto the two youngest. John grabbed the suitcases from the back, rolling them up the driveway as the girls followed suit, none of them saying a word.
Charlotte looked at Sasha who was currently clinging to her leg, her brown hair falling messily around her face, her thumb prominently stuck in her mouth.
"Come on Sash, take your finger out of your mouth," whispered Charlotte, scooping Sasha up into her arms. Sasha shook her head, placing her head on her sister's shoulder. Bayley was still asleep, Becky carrying her in her arms.
John stepped up on the doorstep, clearing his throat nervously as he rang the doorbell. He was good at his job. He liked his job. This case was getting to him though. News outlets were calling it the worst case of abuse they'd seen in the county in decades. The girls had only just been pulled from the home two days ago. Now here they were, standing in an unfamiliar place about to meet unfamiliar people, carrying more trauma and heartache than most people experienced in a dozen lifetimes.
He liked his job. He liked helping kids like these girls. He liked taking them to homes where he knew they would be safe. It just got to him knowing the uphill battle they still had to fight.
A younger, leaner, man opened the door, a wide smile on his face. Standing next to him was a short woman with long blonde hair with pink tips falling past her shoulders.
"Hey there, come on in!"
John nodded, turning and offering the girls a reassuring smile as they all piled into the entryway; both Alexa and Randy trying not to appear nervous.
"I'm Alexa, and this is my husband, Randy," began Alexa, offering the warmest of smiles to the girls standing in front of her. Randy shook John's hand, smiling as he looked past the social worker and towards the girls.
"Come on in, let's go to the living room," he offered, John nodding as they followed the young couple.
"So, um, this is Charlotte," began John, the tall blonde haired preteen shifting Sasha in her arms, reaching out shyly to shake Randy and Alexa's hand.
"And this is Rebeccah," continued John, Becky following Charlotte's suit and shaking their hand. "And these guys," he said, referring to Sasha and Bayley, "are the youngest. This one with Charlotte is Sasha and the one asleep is Bayley," finished John, Sasha lifting her head only slightly from Charlotte's shoulders to glance at Randy and Alexa.
As soon as introductions were over, John discussed a couple of things privately with Alexa and Randy before saying his goodbyes to the girls, exiting the house nearly as quickly as he had entered.
Leaving the four girls to start their new lives.
"Hey, why don't we show you around the house," offered Randy, trying to ease the girls into this new transition. Charlotte shrugged, smiling politely. "Okay," she whispered, all four of them following as Alexa and Randy showed them some of the downstairs.
"We can take you upstairs too. You girls can see your rooms," said Alexa, heading towards the stairs. She wanted the girls to feel as comfortable as possible. They were so quiet and so shy. Like they were afraid to take the wrong step or make the wrong move. As they got up the stairs, Charlotte and Becky looked around at the spacious hallway. It was a wraparound hallway with banisters lining the hall and rooms every which way the girls turned. Charlotte tried to keep the panic from rising as she realized how similar it looked to their own second story back home.
She shared an uneasy glance with Becky, whom Charlotte knew was feeling the exact same way.
"So, um, I know that you and Rebeccah are twins, but we thought that you guys would still like to have your own space so Randy and I made sure that you had your own rooms. I really hope that that's okay," said Alexa nervously, Randy offering her a show of support, wrapping his arms around her as they entered the first room.
Charlotte and Becky glanced around at the spacious area; a queen sized bed dressed in a plain light blue bedding. There was a dresser already set up as well as a few shelves hanging on the walls. Sitting on top of the dresser was a TV, and a couple of books on the nightstand.
"It's not really decorated right now. We're hoping to go out maybe sometime and find things that you girls like to decorate your rooms," said Randy, eyeing the girls as he watched the emotions play out. Charlotte couldn't turn away, shifting Sasha continuously between her arms as she stared at the room in front of her. It was twice the size of the attic, spacious, with windows, warm and inviting. She had never seen anything like it before.
"It's really nice," whispered Charlotte, offering a small smile to both Randy and Alexa. "Thank you," she whispered.
Alexa and Randy smiled, heading towards Becky's room next. The room was about as spacious as Charlotte's, decorated much the same way. They ended the tour showing them Sasha's room, slightly smaller but still spacious, several different types of toys lining the walls. Bayley's room was the same.
"Do you want to put her on the bed? Give your arms a rest maybe?" offered Alexa, glancing at Becky as the brunette looked down at her still sleeping sister.
"Um…."
Becky hesitated, not wanting Bayley to wake up in an unfamiliar bedroom without any of them around. "No, thank you. I would rather just hold her. She's not hurting me," said Becky, and Alexa just nodded in understanding.
"Okay. Well, why don't you girls get settled, get familiar with the house. Feel free to explore or come downstairs. Whatever you want. Randy and I will be downstairs getting some lunch ready if you girls are hungry."
Charlotte and Becky nodded, walking back out into the hallway, Alexa and Randy following suit.
"Okay. Thank you," said Charlotte, shifting Sasha once more before heading back towards her room, Becky doing the same.