Connie received a phone call that night telling her that the woman she had spoken too was going to come round tommorow so she had drawn up some plans on her laptop to show her that she would have no problem spending time with her children. She was Just pouring herself some coffee when Grace appeared at the kitchen door.
"Mum I can't sleep" she said.
"Oh sweetheart, well why don't we go watch some telly for a little while then" Connie said as this would be a good time to talk to her.
"Really" Grace replied sounding surprised her mum was letting her stay up.
Connie nodded and made her way to the living room Grace following her. Connie switched on the telly and they both started watching.
"Mum" Grace said.
"Yes darling" Connie replied.
"That lady we spoke to today why did we need to speak to her?" grace asked.
"Well she seems to think I'm not doing a very good job of looking after you, do you think I'm doing a good job?" Connie asked wanting to hear her daughters opinion.
"Well you just seem busy a lot and well Savannah says you don't care about us" Grace said quietly.
"Is that what she told you?" Connie asked.
Grace nodded and turned back towards the telly.
Connie went deep into thought, she knew Savannah wasn't her biggest fan but to tell Grace that Connie didn't care about them was way over the line but Connie did always did prioritise work and didn't spend a lot of time with the girls but that didn't mean she didn't care.
Connie came out of her thoughts and saw Grace fast asleep, she looked so peaceful that Connie didn't want to move her so she put a blanket over her and kissed her forehead before going upstairs to bed.
The next morning Connie woke the girls up and laid out some clothes and told them to put them on.
"Can't I wear normal clothes?" Grace asked as she stood in front of the mirror with Connie.
"Yeah I mean why do we have to dress in clothes like this" Savannah said.
Connie was about to reply when she heard a car pull up outside she walked over to the window and saw the woman step out of the car.
"Right go downstairs invite her in and ask if she would like a tea or coffee" Connie said to them.
The girls got up and made there way out the bedroom door. Connie stood in front of the mirror and smoothed down her clothes before she headed downstairs.
She mad her way into the kitchen and saw Savannah and Grace sitting at the table with the lady.
"Ah Mrs Beachump" the lady said as Connie sat down.
"Hello" Connie said as she sat down to join them.
"I must say you have two very polite girls" the woman said to Connie.
"Thank you, well I do try my best" Connie said smiling.
"So i gather you have drawn up some plans on how you can spend more time with the girls" the woman said .
"Yes" Connie answered handing the woman the sheets of paper.
"As you can see by revisiting my work patterns I have been able to maximize my time with the girls outside of hospital hours" Connie told the woman.
"You've clearly put a lot of thought into"the women said looking at the plans.
"How do you feel about these ideas girls?"
"There great aren't they Grace" Savannah said turning to her sister who wasn't really paying attention.
"Yeah" Grace said.
"So any further questions" Connie asked.
"I'd like to speak to the girls alone" the woman said.
"Okay, well I'll leave you too it shall I" and Connie got up and left the kitchen.
"I just wanted to double check that everything Is okay with you girls" the woman asked.
"Everything is fine thank you" Savannah said and grace nodded in agreement.
"Right and the incident in the hospital that was a one off?"
"Mum was just scared that Grace would get hurt" Savannah told her.
"Yeah she told me to stay away from him but I didn't listen" Grace admitted not wanting to cause bother this time.
"Right then ,I'll be off, bye girls" the lady said getting up and pitting on her coat before leaving the kitchen.
When she left Savannah got up and went over and poured some orange juice.
"Thank god she's finally gone, I really don't know who she thinks she is sticking her nose in other peoples business" Savannah.
"But I thought you would be happy mum was getting into trouble?" Grace asked.
"We'll I'd rather be stuck with a mum who doesn't give a damn than in a care home without one" Savannah answered and Grace went quiet.
Out in the hall Connie was talking to the lady.
"So what happens now?" Connie asked.
"Haven spoken to the girls I'm satisfied the incident in the take was a one off"
"So that's it then" Connie said.
"Not quite, we will close down the child assessment order but I'll be in touch in a few weeks time and if you need anything at all please give me a phone" the woman said passing Connie her number.
"Okay, thank you" Connie said leading her to the door and seeing her out.
She shut the door and headed in the direction of the kitchen just as the girls came out.
"We did it" she said to them smiling.
"Whatever" Savannah said.
"Can we go watch TV now?" grace asked.
"Yes of course" but before she could finished the girls had darted upstairs.
Connie sighed , she was loosing her little girls.
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