Florence, Lorraine and Sian went up to the children's ward. Lorraine and Sian went into the relative's room to leave Florence with Harper. "Hey, baby girl," Florence said as Harper opened her eyes.
Harper reached for her oxygen mask. "I'm sorry, we were quiet and we tried to hide, but they found us."
"Don't talk, Harper. It's okay. It's my fault. But you're going to be okay."
While Florence was with Harper, Lorraine was talking with Sian. "I can't believe what she's just told us. I kept asking if she was okay!"
"So did I. She kept covering up and was eventually desperate. Why didn't we see this?"
"I don't know."
"Social services are going to ask questions, you know. Why didn't we realise sooner? But it's not about them, it's about her and her safety now."
"You told her that she's not going back to that family. She could stay with me?"
"Until they find a foster family?"
"No, until she's old enough and wants to leave home."
"Lorraine, you hardly know her."
"I know but, she deserves someone who can look after her, somewhere permanent and safe. Harper and Ethan can come and live there too, when they're better."
"If, they're better. But it's a good idea. Can you get it arranged?"
"Probably, I start working on it now."