by Rosie Lewis
Despite the cuts and bruises, Jimmy was clean-shaven and bright-eyed, a different man to the defeated one who had turned up unannounced on that day back in early March. Since then he had dedicated every waking moment to finding a home for himself and the children and, after getting the all-clear from Danny, had finally paid the deposit on a three-bedroom flat, close to Millfield Primary. Their regular attendance, extra support in the form of a TA especially for Bobbi and the SENCO’s interventions were beginning to pay dividends, the children finally making friends and even bringing classmates back for tea in the last couple of weeks. Staying at the same school gave them the opportunity to build on the social progress they’d made and, still adjusting to the loss of their mother from their lives, it was one less upheaval for them to cope with.
At Jimmy’s invitation, I had taken Archie and Bobbi for a tour of their new home. They had charged delightedly through the empty, echoey rooms while Jimmy explained his predicament – Tracy had changed the locks on the house they’d shared, and was refusing to even allow him access to retrieve his personal belongings. As soon as the court approved the move, the children were supposed to move in with Jimmy, but there wasn’t a stick of furniture in the place. The children and I met up with Naomi that afternoon, and Archie told her all about it.
‘What, nothing? Absolutely nothing?’
I shook my head. ‘I’ve been collecting a few things here and there – some utensils, plates and saucepans – so at least they can eat,’ I told her with a rueful smile, ‘though they’ll have to sit on the floor to do it.’ In reality, I suspected that Danny wouldn’t release the children to Jimmy’s care until the flat was habitable, but I held off voicing my doubts to the children until I heard otherwise.
Naomi spent the next forty-eight hours mobilising the congregation at the Sally Army. Within a few days they had collected enough household goods to furnish the entire flat – beds for Bobbi and Archie and a double for Jimmy, a sofa and two armchairs, a fridge, and even a small television.
Their willingness to help put me in mind of an article I had read about innate goodness and the longing most people have to express the loving kindness that is so often crowded out by modern life. It was reassuring to know that society had a safety net, and that humanity won out in the end.
‘Have you remembered your rucksack, honey?’ I asked Archie, who was hovering beside me in the hall. The suitcases stood upright between us, along with two large holdalls and a colourful plastic box full of books.
He nodded and pointed to the gap between the suitcases. ‘It’s there,’ he said quietly. His chest was puffed out with emotion, his arms glued to his sides in that buttoned-up way of his. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
‘Archie,’ Jimmy said, noticing him for the first time. ‘This is it, son,’ he said, opening his arms. ‘A new start.’
I watched father and son hugging each other, swallowing down the lump in my throat. ‘Rosie,’ Jimmy said when they pulled apart. He gave my hand a powerful shake. ‘I can’t thank you enough, darling.’
‘Pleased to help,’ I said, trying hard not to cry myself. I hated goodbyes, especially when I knew it was more than likely that we would never see each other again.
‘We’ll stay in touch,’ Jimmy promised, before carrying the children’s belongings to his car.
Emily and Jamie, home for the day, joined us on the drive. We all took turns to hug each other, Jimmy watching and, I have to say, looking a bit teary-eyed himself. Instead of a hug, Jamie gave Archie a playful shove in the chest and clapped him on the back, a grinning Archie meeting his hand in a high five. When it came to Megan and Bobbi’s turn, they almost fell over sideways, so enthusiastic was their embrace. We all laughed, and then Jimmy lifted Bobbi onto his shoulders. ‘Right, come on then.’
‘Bye bye, Rosie. Rosie, bye!’ Bobbi called out as they crossed the drive. I gave Archie’s shoulder one last squeeze and then he followed his father and sister across the road. He paused before getting into the car, then turned and waved. I smiled and waved back, hoping with all my heart that the family would find happiness together. What Archie and Bobbi had seen could never be undone, but I hoped that their father’s love would restore their faith in the world, redressing the balance and showing them that many more good things happen in life than bad.
Emily smiled and sniffed and dabbed her eyes on her sleeve. Jamie picked Megan up and the three of them walked back into the house, Mungo following closely at their heels. I stood on the drive for a few moments longer, waiting until Jimmy’s car had disappeared around the corner of the road.
‘Mummy?’ came Megan’s voice from the hall. ‘Mummy, come and play!’ I smiled to myself and turned back to the house.
Epilogue
Just over a week after the children had moved on, Naomi called and asked us to join her at the beach for the day.
‘Guess who turned up at church yesterday,’ she said, as we stretched our picnic blankets over the sand. It was Monday 6 April, and, unusually for a bank holiday, there wasn’t a drop of rain in sight.
‘Who?’
‘Jimmy and the children,’ she said with a smile. She slipped off her shoes and we sat together on the blanket. At the shore, Megan, Toby and Skye were holding hands and jumping barefoot over the surf. A few feet away, looking a little lost, stood Aiden.
‘Really?’ My heart lifted at the news. Danny had called a few days earlier after paying a visit to Jimmy, and told me that all seemed well, but most people worked hard to put on a show if they were within fifty yards of a social worker. The fact that Jimmy was up to socialising with the children spoke volumes about how they were really doing.
Naomi nodded. ‘Archie and Bobbi brought Easter eggs for your three. Jimmy asked me to pass them on, but I left them at home in the fridge.’
Jimmy struck me as an unlikely churchgoer, but I think he and the children probably found comfort in the strong sense of belonging provided by the Sally Army’s close-knit community. He became a regular visitor to Naomi’s church and I still hear news of the family that way. Up to the time of writing, the three of them were doing amazingly well.
Helpful Reading
Inside I’m Hurting by Louise Bomber
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene
Creating Loving Attachments: Parenting with PACE to Nurture Confidence and Security in the Troubled Child by Kim S. Golding and Daniel A. Hughes
The Primal Wound by Nancy Verrier
From Fear to Love: Parenting Difficult Adopted Children by B. Bryan Post
Bubble Wrapped Children: How Social Networking is Transforming the Face of 21st Century Adoption by Helen Oakwater
Trying Differently Rather than Harder by Diane Malbin
The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce D. Perry
My Underpants Rule by Kate and Rod Power
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