and asked me to tell Stevie. I had no idea prior to last night that Stevie had been seeing Kiri and Liam. I thought he understood he wasn’t to see them while the police investigation was ongoing.’ I felt I should make that clear in case Verity was under the impression I had colluded with them in seeing each other, which would have probably resulted in me being barred from fostering.
‘I’ll see Stevie tomorrow,’ Verity continued. ‘I won’t have time today. Can you send me the dates and times of when Stevie saw his grandmother? Also, any relevant information surrounding those meetings. What he said and so forth.’
‘Yes.’ This is one of the reasons why foster carers are expected to keep accurate log notes.
‘Email them to me, please, as soon as you can.’
‘I’ll do it now,’ I said. ‘Peggy and Stevie are very sorry for what they’ve done.’
‘I know. I understand that Stevie gave his grandmother his old phone and they have been in touch that way.’
‘Yes. Peggy told me you were thinking of taking Kiri and Liam into care.’
‘We will be. That’s what the meeting was about. They’ve given us no choice. If you could send through the details of when they saw each other as soon as possible that would be good. Sorry to rush, I’m really pushed for time.’
I replaced the handset and went into the front room where I sat at the computer, tears welling in my eyes. The decision had been made: Kiri and Liam were being taken into care. I tried to focus on the job in hand. I opened my log notes and did as Verity had asked, and typed the details of when Stevie had seen Kiri and Liam with his gran into an email, then sent it to Verity. I knew why she’d asked about Peggy having Stevie’s old mobile phone – in colluding in the deception of contact, it raised the possibility that she may have colluded with him in other matters. Now under suspicion, it was likely her phone would be examined by the police, and she and Fred interviewed. It was a shocking mess, and what had once been a stable, loving family was now being torn apart.
There wasn’t much else I could do now but wait, and then be ready to support Stevie when he returned from school or phoned during the day. I felt I needed to be active to escape from my troubled thoughts, so having cleared up the house I went into the garden and set about some gardening, my mobile phone close by. At 12.30 Stevie phoned during his lunch break (when they were allowed to turn on their phones). ‘Have you heard anything?’ he asked, his voice tight.
I went indoors to take the call so that any neighbours in their gardens couldn’t overhear. ‘Verity phoned,’ I said. ‘She’s listened to your voicemail message.’
‘Will it be OK then?’ he asked naively, believing his admittance of guilt and apology were enough to keep Liam and Kiri out of care.
I didn’t want to tell him now and have him upset at school where I couldn’t comfort him, so I said, ‘Verity was in a hurry and couldn’t talk. We’ll know more later.’
‘But she listened to my message?’
‘Yes, she did.’
‘Shall I phone her again and see if she’s there now?’
‘It’s up to you, Stevie, but I doubt it will make any difference to the outcome.’ A young person in care has the right to talk to their social worker whenever they want; it’s not for the foster carer to dictate.
‘Yes, I’ll do that now,’ he said. ‘I’ll phone her.’
‘All right, but make sure you have some lunch too. You didn’t have any breakfast.’
‘Yes,’ he said unenthusiastically, and ended the call.
I returned to the gardening and channelled my mounting anxiety and worry on the weeding and snipping. An hour later Edith telephoned and again I stepped indoors to take the call. ‘I understand Stevie’s siblings are coming into care later,’ she said.
‘That’s right.’
‘We are thinking of placing them with Terry and Bridget.’ I knew the couple, who, like me, were local-authority carers. ‘I’ve been looking on the map and they live about a mile and a half from you,’ Edith continued. ‘That should be far enough. You’re not likely to bump into them, are you? Stevie isn’t to have contact with his siblings.’
‘That should work,’ I said. ‘I’ll be vigilant.’ I knew carers were in short supply so there wouldn’t be much choice, but it was prudent of Edith to check. In the past I’d had a child placed with me whose mother had lived in the next street and we were forever bumping into each other, which was upsetting for her and the child.
‘Can you tell me a bit about Kiri and Liam so I can pass it on to the carers?’ Edith asked. ‘It will help Terry and Bridget to settle the children in.’
Clearly Edith had forgotten what I’d told her when I’d updated her. ‘I’ve never met them,’ I said. ‘But I’m sure Terry and Bridget will know what to do. They’re experienced carers, although Liam and Kiri are likely to be very upset.’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘So you don’t know the children’s routines, likes and dislikes?’
‘No.’
‘Why can’t they see Stevie?’
‘Because he is under investigation for taking and distributing indecent images of them,’ I said, reminding her of what I’d previously told her. Each supervising social worker is responsible for at least twelve foster carers, so perhaps it was asking a lot of her to remember all this information, although Jill would have, I thought churlishly.
‘Will they be seeing their grandparents?’ she asked.
‘I assume so, but you’ll have to ask Verity.’
‘I’m calling her shortly to confirm the placement. Verity is hoping to place the children at Terry and Bridget’s between five and six this evening, so they will be there for dinner.’
My heart clenched as the details brought the reality that much closer.
‘All right,’ I said. ‘Will you keep me updated? I need to tell Stevie what’s happening when he comes home.’
‘Yes.’
I returned to the garden but was unable to take any pleasure from the warm May sunshine, pretty flowers, birdsong or the effects of my gardening. At 3.30 Stevie phoned again, having just come out of school.
‘Any news?’ he asked.
‘Edith, my supervising social worker, called. I’ll tell you what she said once you’re home. If you get on the bus now, I’ll see you in half an hour.’
‘Can’t you tell me now?’ he asked. I could hear street noise in the background.
‘No, I’d rather wait until you’re home.’
He cut the call. I quickly cleared away the gardening tools, dumped the weeds in the green bin and went indoors, where I washed and changed out of my dirty clothes. At just gone four o’clock the doorbell rang and I immediately answered it, my mouth dry and my pulse raising.
‘What’s going on?’ Stevie demanded, his face set.
‘Come and sit down.’
He dumped his school bag in the hall, kicked off his shoes and, throwing his jacket over the hall stand, followed me into the living room. We were the only ones home. I sat beside him on the sofa and turned slightly towards him as I spoke.
‘Stevie, I’m sorry, but Liam and Kiri will be going into care today.’
‘Why?’ he said, his eyes filling. ‘I told Verity it was my fault and it won’t happen again. I left her two messages. They’ve done nothing wrong.’
‘I know.’ I went