Everyone knew Mollie's grandmother wasn't well and could barely look after herself, let alone a mother and baby! The outside of the house was run down. Plants were growing wild in the garden and the drain pipes could do with a clean. Tiles were falling from the roof and the little path was cracked and jagged. Paint was cracked and peeling from the blue door, missing its letter box and a smashed window had been boarded up. "Sorry it's a bit of a mess," Mollie called as she turned the key in the lock.

The inside wasn't much better. Old, dated wall paper was peeling from the wall, revealing mould in the dark, damp corridor. There was no carpet on the dirty floor and no electricity because the meter had run out and there was no money for more. The main room were much the same, covered in dirt and damp. An icy cold wind whistled through the house.

Rachel took Mollie to one side, away from others. "Mollie? You live… here?" questioned Rachel in disgust. She knew some of her pupils lived in deprivation, but surely not like this? It was so different to her own home.

"Yep. Home sweet home," replied Mollie sarcastically with a disappointed sigh.

"Mollie, this is no place for a baby, not with all this damp around. She'll end up ill!"

"I know, but I haven't much choice, have I? I have to help my grandmother, there is no one else! The only relief I get is when she's in hospital and I'm at yours. Please don't take Charli away…"

"I'd never do that Mollie. You're a good mum. How about you and Charli come and stay with me?"

"What? Like Poppy?"

"Sort of. I'm only looking after Poppy until she can return home. I could privately foster you, as a mother and baby placement. I've still got a spare room. It could do with redecorating but we can sort it."
"Really?"

"Yeah, I could get started today for you."

"But… I can't. I've got to look after my grandmother."

"Mollie, you should not be expected to look after her. Your 14, and you're not qualified. This house is not safe for you, Charli or your grandmother. Please, please let me help you. Let me get you out of here."

Mollie took a moment to consider her options. She loved her grandmother, who'd looked after her since she was 4 years old. But she desperately wanted the safety and security that Rachel offered. Poppy was happy and healthy at Rachel's, and Mollie wanted her young baby to be the same.

"Okay," she said. "Me and Charli will come with and stay with you."

"Alright. Mollie, let Charli come home with me tonight. You stay here and look after your grandmother. Pack up your things and I'll collect you in the morning."

"You're splitting us up?"

"I don't want to, I want to be able to take you both home with me now. But someone needs to look after your gran tonight."

Rachel took Charli home, before notifying the authorities of her decision to remove a young person and baby from their home. It was a difficult night, the first Mollie and Charli had ever been apart. Charli cried for her mother most of the night. As promised, Rachel returned to collect Mollie and their belongings the following day and Mollie began to settle and be part of a real family, one of the many experiences that both Mollie and Poppy had recently discovered.