Please Don't Take My Baby

by Cathy Glass

  ‘Is Jade home now?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes, about twenty minutes ago.’

  ‘That’s a relief. When she said she was going to the mall I was worried.’

  ‘The mall?’ I queried. ‘What time did she go there?’

  ‘About eleven thirty, I guess. Straight after we’d seen the doctor.’

  My heart sank. ‘So Jade didn’t spend all day with you?’ I asked quietly.

  ‘No. Why? Is that what she told you?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Jackie gave a small laugh. ‘I expect she thought you wouldn’t approve of her going to the mall after the last time. Oh well, no harm done.’

  ‘No,’ I agreed. ‘No harm done apart from Courtney being cold and hungry.’

  Later when Jade and I were alone I asked her: ‘Why didn’t you tell me you’d been to the mall?’ I was hurt that Jade had lied to me.

  She shrugged. ‘I thought you wouldn’t let me go in case I got into trouble again.’

  ‘And did you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Well, then.’ I paused and looked at Jade, an adult in some respects but in many others still a child. ‘Jade, love,’ I said, ‘I’m not an ogre. You know right from wrong. As long as you behave yourself, of course you can go shopping in the mall. Did you buy anything nice?’

  ‘Na. I was just window shopping.’

  ‘Well, next time I hope you will feel you can tell me.’

  ‘Yeah. I will.’

  Courtney began her vaccination programme at two months of age. I went with Jade to the clinic for the first vaccination and then Jade took Courtney by herself for the follow-up appointments – at three and four months. Also at three months we began giving Jade a bottle at 11.00 p.m. and over the next week she started going through the night to 5.00 a.m. without waking. Then when Courtney was four months old the health visitor said we could introduce a little solid food into her diet, to go with the bottles of milk. I bought some baby rice and showed Jade how to make it up and feed Courtney with a spoon, which was lovely to watch. Now Courtney was on some solid food she began sleeping until 6.00 a.m., which was fantastic. Jade usually gave her the late-night bottle before she went to bed and I gave her the early-morning one, although sometimes if Jade was very tired and asleep early then I fed Courtney both times.

  Rachel and Jill visited us regularly and Rachel made some unscheduled visits, which are known as ‘unannounced visits’. This is normal social work practice when a client is being assessed, as Jade was. As usual I left Rachel alone with Jade and Courtney for some of the time and when Rachel had finished talking to and observing Jade, she asked me some questions in respect of Courtney’s progress and Jade’s (and Tyler’s) parenting. I was always very positive, because as far as I was concerned they were doing well. Courtney was in a good routine of feeding and sleeping, and meeting the expected developmental milestones. Jade and Tyler were loving towards Courtney and learning how to be parents.

  With exams approaching we saw less of Tyler – two evenings a week instead of nearly every night, which arrangement he said would continue until he’d sat his GCSE examinations in May and June. I respected him for this and persuaded Jade not to keep phoning him in the evenings when he was studying. She still felt it was unfair that she had more responsibility for Courtney than he did, although I think she appreciated that what Tyler was trying to achieve – examination passes so that he could find a job – would benefit them all. Jade took Courtney on the bus once or twice a week to see her mother and she also went out with her friends once a week – usually on a Friday, while I babysat Courtney. There was no repetition of Jade arriving home drunk, so as far as I was aware everything was fine.

  It was therefore a huge shock when one Tuesday afternoon Jade arrived home in the back of a police car.

  Chapter Sixteen

  A Police Matter

  It was a mild spring afternoon at the end of May; the air was warm and the days were growing longer. Adrian and Paula were in the garden on their bikes, making the most of the good weather. It had been Paula’s birthday the month before and I’d given her a bike as a present, and she wanted to ride on it at every opportunity. Courtney was four and a half months old and Jade had taken her to see her mother for the day. I was expecting them home for dinner about 6.00 p.m., which was the time they normally returned after visiting Jackie. It was five o’clock and I was in the kitchen beginning the preparations for dinner when I heard the front doorbell ring. I stopped what I was doing, wiped my hands on the towel and went to answer it. A policewoman in uniform stood on the doorstep and immediately my pulse soared with anxiety.

  ‘Are you Cathy Glass?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes. What’s the matter?’

  ‘I understand Jade and Courtney live here?’

  ‘That’s right. I’m their foster carer. Whatever is it?’ And for a moment I thought there’d been a dreadful accident and they were in hospital or worse, until the policewoman said:

  ‘They’re safe. They’re in the car.’

  I looked past her to the police car parked in the kerb outside my house, where I could make out a male police officer in the driver’s seat and Jade and Courtney in the rear.

  ‘I think it’s best if we all come inside and I’ll explain,’ the WPC said.

  I nodded, not knowing what to think. I stood by the front door and waited as the policewoman returned to the police car and opened the rear door. My mouth went dry and my heart began beating faster as I watched Jade step from the car and on to the pavement. Whatever the reason for the police bringing them home in a police car, I was sure it wasn’t good. Jade reached into the back of the car and lifted Courtney out in the carry-car seat. The policewoman closed the rear door as the male officer went to the boot and took out the collapsible base for the car seat, which converted it into a pushchair.

  Jade didn’t look at me but kept her head down, her face expressionless, as she carried Courtney in the car seat up the path and past me into the hall. She threw her denim jacket over the hall stand, and then continued without speaking down the hall and into the sitting room. The policewoman came in and then the male officer, carrying the frame of the pushchair.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said, taking it from him and standing it in the hall.

  I led the way into the sitting room, where Jade was sitting on the sofa with Courtney in the carry-car seat on the floor beside her. Courtney was yawning and gradually waking from being asleep in the car. Adrian and Paula were still in the garden and I closed the French windows in the hope that they wouldn’t have to become involved in whatever I was about to.

  ‘Please sit down,’ I said to the police officers.

  The policewoman sat on the sofa next to Jade while the male police officer and I took the armchairs.

  ‘I’m WPC Wendy Banes and this is my colleague PC Clive Snowy,’ the policewoman said, introducing them.

  I nodded, and looked at her and waited, my gaze flickering to Jade and back.

  There was a pause; then Wendy said to Jade: ‘Do you want to tell your foster carer what happened or shall we?’

  My eyes shifted to Jade, who was still staring at the floor. She shrugged and then in a low, almost inaudible voice said: ‘You tell her.’

  A cold chill ran down my spine as I braced myself for what I was about to hear. Speaking in an even, almost matter-of-fact voice, Wendy said: ‘I’m afraid Jade was involved in a shoplifting incident this afternoon at the mall.’

  ‘Oh, Jade!’ I blurted. ‘You were supposed to be at your mother’s!’

  Jade didn’t look up or say anything, so Wendy continued: ‘Jade and another girl were stopped by the store’s security guard on suspicion of shoplifting when they tried to leave the store. They were taken to the manager’s office where a number of items they hadn’t paid for were found in their possession. Some had the security tags cut off while others were still intact. The store has a policy of prosecuting all offenders, so Jade and the other girl will be charged.’
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  ‘Jade! Whatever have you done?’ I said, for immediately I could see the consequences of her actions.

  Wendy looked at Jade, who was still staring at the floor, from shame or just trying to pretend this wasn’t happening – I didn’t know. Returning her gaze to me, Wendy continued: ‘The security guard has also stated that he had seen Jade and her friend in the store before today shoplifting. He has given us a list of the items she’s accused of stealing, so we’ll need to search Jade’s room.’

  I stared at Wendy, shocked and horrified. Then Jade said antagonistically, ‘You’ll need a search warrant first.’

  ‘We won’t need a search warrant if we have Cathy’s permission,’ PC Clive Snowy said to Jade, clearly irritated by her manner. Then to me he said: ‘Jade’s social worker has been informed of what’s happening.’

  I nodded and looked at Jade, who still couldn’t meet my gaze and had guilt written all over her face. I felt completely out of my depth. How much I would have appreciated a husband or partner by my side to help and support me now. I could have phoned Jill but I doubted she would be free at such short notice, and even if she was, Homefinders’ office was twenty minutes away and I could hardly keep the police officers waiting. I looked from the WPC to her colleague and then down the garden to where Adrian and Paula were playing, blissfully unaware of what was unfolding inside.

  ‘Jade,’ I said quietly, ‘I don’t have any objection to the police searching your room, do you?’ For there seemed nothing to be gained by prolonging the agony and insisting on a warrant; indeed it seemed to compound Jade’s guilt.

  Jade didn’t reply, so looking at the police officers I said: ‘You have my permission to search her room.’

  ‘I’m afraid we’ll have to search the whole house,’ Wendy said awkwardly, ‘in case she’s hidden stolen goods anywhere else.’

  My stomach churned and I felt like a common thief. I looked down the garden again to where Adrian and Paula were cycling. Just stay in the garden, I silently pleaded.

  ‘There’s no need,’ Jade said, suddenly jumping up from the sofa. ‘Everything you want is in my room. You don’t need to search Cathy’s house.’

  Jade stormed out of the sitting room and down the hall. PC Clive Snowy followed her while Wendy said to me: ‘Would you come too, please? As Jade is a minor we need you present.’

  I nodded. I felt I was playing a part in some dreadful television crime drama; it just didn’t seem real. I stood and then reached down and lifted Courtney out of her seat. She was wide awake – not crying for food but smiling and looking around her, as she often did now. My eyes filled with tears as I drew her to me and held her close, I couldn’t help it. So innocent and beautiful, and mercifully unaware of what her mother had been doing. I kissed her forehead.

  ‘She’s a cute baby,’ Wendy said, stroking the back of Courtney’s hand. ‘She was so good at the store. They were in the manager’s office for ages. Then she fell asleep in the car on the way here.’

  ‘What time did all this happen?’ I asked, as we crossed the sitting room to the door.

  ‘Jade and her friend were apprehended shortly after two o’clock, although the security guard said they’d been in and out of the store all morning.’

  I felt gutted as I realized Jade hadn’t been to her mother’s at all but had gone straight from me to the mall.

  ‘Do you know Jade’s friend, Chelsea?’ Wendy asked as we began up the stairs.

  ‘I haven’t met her but I’ve heard her spoken of. I understand she’s been in trouble before.’

  Wendy didn’t comment – I suppose confidentiality forbade it – but she did say: ‘As her foster carer you were presumably told that Jade had been warned about her behaviour by the police in the past?’

  ‘Yes, but I thought all that was behind her,’ I said sadly. ‘She has been doing quite well since she had the baby.’

  At the top of the stairs we continued round the landing to Jade’s room. I waited at her bedroom door with Courtney in my arms while Wendy went inside. There wasn’t enough space for the four of us with the cot up, but also I really didn’t want to see Jade’s disgrace. From where I stood I could hear her taking out various bags and items from the drawers and wardrobe – presumably the stolen goods the police were looking for.

  Eventually after another drawer had opened and closed I heard Jade say: ‘That’s everything.’

  Then I heard PC Clive Snowy ask: ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes,’ Jade replied. And I hoped she was telling the truth.

  The police officers came out carrying about six store bags. Jade followed, head down and in silence. I began towards the top of the stairs to go down, but Wendy called: ‘Could you wait there a minute, please, Cathy, while we quickly check the other rooms up here?’

  ‘I’ve given you everything,’ Jade said rudely.

  ‘Good. But we still have to take a look,’ Clive Snowy said.

  I supposed, as the owner of the house, they needed me present and I stayed where I was on the landing near the top of the stairs while the officers went in and out of each of the rooms, with enough time just to give each room a cursory glance. Possibly they didn’t make a thorough search because Jade had cooperated and given them the stolen items.

  ‘That’s fine. Thank you,’ Clive Snowy said, coming out of the last room – Adrian’s bedroom. I closed his bedroom door and we went downstairs.

  I waited in the hall with Courtney in my arms while the officers checked the front room, and then we went through to the kitchen and annexe. Jade had returned to the sitting room and Courtney began agitating to be with her. Leaving the officers in the kitchen I went into the sitting room, where Jade was sitting on the sofa.

  ‘When was she last fed?’ I asked Jade, as I passed Courtney to her.

  ‘About two o’clock,’ she said.

  It was now nearly six o’clock. ‘She’ll need some dinner and a bottle soon,’ I said.

  ‘Shall I get it now?’ Jade asked.

  ‘No, wait until the officers have finished in the kitchen. They won’t be long.’

  A minute later the officers came into the sitting room. At the same time Adrian and Paula ran up the garden and pressed their faces against the French windows. I opened one of the doors and they stared in and past me to the officers, their faces a mixture of shock and awe.

  ‘Everything is OK,’ I reassured them. ‘There is nothing for you to worry about, but could you play in the garden for a while longer, please.’

  ‘Hello,’ Wendy and Clive said with a smile.

  Adrian said hi while Paula stared at the officers and then at Jade. Adrian gave her a nudge and they turned and ran down the garden. What I’d tell them later I’d no idea.

  ‘Nice kids,’ Clive Snowy said.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘We’re all done here,’ Clive said to me. ‘So we’ll be off.’ Then to Jade: ‘We’ll need to take a statement from you. We’ll be in touch with your social worker to arrange an appointment.’

  Before we left the sitting room Wendy said to Jade: ‘You’ve got a nice home here and a lovely baby. Don’t throw it all away, Jade. You’ve hurt Cathy, and your mother will be furious when she finds out what’s happened. As if she didn’t have enough to worry about already.’

  Jade didn’t say anything but she looked close to tears.

  ‘Goodbye, then,’ Wendy said to Jade as we left the sitting room.

  I went with the officers down the hall to see them out.

  ‘Thank you for your cooperation,’ Clive Snowy said, opening the front door. ‘We’ll speak to Jade’s social worker and then make arrangements to take Jade’s statement.’

  ‘She’ll definitely be prosecuted, then?’ I asked, clutching to a tiny hope that she might not.

  ‘Yes, I’m afraid so. It’s the store’s policy.’

  ‘I dread to think what effect this will have on her parenting assessment,’ I said, voicing my worst fears. ‘And whether she’ll be able to keep he
r baby.’

  ‘Perhaps they’ll overlook it this once,’ Wendy offered.

  ‘Perhaps,’ I said, but I doubted it.

  The officers thanked me again for my cooperation, said goodbye and left. I closed the door and the tears I’d been holding back now fell. I hurried into the kitchen, pulled a tissue from the box and wiped my eyes. Just in time, for seconds later the back door burst open and Adrian and Paula appeared.

  ‘Have those policemen gone?’ Adrian asked excitedly.

  ‘Yes. I’ll explain later,’ I said. ‘You go and play and I’ll call you when dinner is ready.’ I needed to clear my thoughts before I talked to them.

  They turned and ran off down the garden just as Jade appeared in the kitchen. ‘Shall I make Courtney’s tea now?’ she asked, subdued.

  ‘Yes. But don’t leave her in the sitting room unattended. I’ve told you about that before. Bring the bouncing cradle in here.’ I was sharp with her but my nerves were on edge.

  Jade fetched Courtney while I surveyed the dinner I’d been preparing before the police officers had arrived. Mechanically, I picked up the peeler and continued peeling the potatoes, more as a displacement for my anxiety than from any real desire to eat. I wasn’t hungry but Adrian and Paula would be. Jade settled Courtney in the bouncing cradle at the far end of the kitchen, where we usually put her so that we could keep an eye on her but she was away from the dangers of cooking. In silence Jade began preparing Courtney’s baby food while I continued making our dinner. We worked around each other, my thoughts racing as I tried to think what to say to Jade.

  I’d just put the casserole in the oven when the phone rang. I answered the call in the kitchen but when I heard it was Jill, I said: ‘Hold on a moment, I’m going into the sitting room.’

  I took the handset through to the sitting room and pushed the door to before I spoke. ‘Have you heard what’s happened to Jade?’ I asked, guessing that was the reason for her phoning after office hours.

  ‘Yes. Rachel’s just telephoned me. Is Jade home with you now?’