Please Don’t Take My Baby and I Miss Mummy 2-in-1 Collection. Cathy Glass
it’s Cathy, love,’ I said, hoping she’d realize she was supposed to be home by now.
‘Oh, yeah?’ she said nonchalantly.
‘Have you forgotten the time?’ I asked gently. ‘It’s 9.30 now.’
‘Oh, yeah,’ she said again easily. ‘I won’t be long.’
I heard another burst of laughter. ‘Where are you, Jade?’
‘At me mum’s. I told ya. I’ll be back soon. Bye!’ And amidst more laughter and shouting she hung up.
I sat for a moment with the phone in my hand and wondered. Possibly I’d heard something in her voice or in the laughter, something that didn’t quite ring true. It could have been her brothers and sisters, but it sounded more like teenagers to me, and all girls. I sat for a moment longer and then reached for my fostering folder. I opened it at the essential information pages, as I knew Jackie’s mobile number was listed there. I hesitated again, and then keyed in Jackie’s number. If Jade was at home with her mother I’d simply say I wanted to confirm what time Jade would be back.
Jackie’s phone rang a couple of times and then a female voice answered. ‘Yes?’
‘Is that Jackie?’
‘Speaking.’
‘Hello, it’s Cathy, Jade’s carer.’
‘Oh yes. How are you?’ she asked pleasantly.
‘I’m all right, thanks. And you?’
‘Not too bad.’
‘I was just wondering if Jade was with you?’
‘No. I haven’t seen her.’ My heart sank. ‘I take it she’s not with you, then?’ Jackie asked.
‘No. She left me this morning and said she was visiting you. I phoned her mobile just now and she said she was still with you.’
‘No. She hasn’t been here since she collected her things with you on Tuesday. She’ll be with her mates.’
My heart sank further. ‘Sorry to have troubled you.’
‘No worries. I hope she hasn’t been drinking again.’
‘So do I.’
I replaced the receiver, closed my fostering folder and stayed where I was on the sofa. Jackie hadn’t sounded anxious or worried at the news her daughter was missing and possibly drinking, but I could appreciate why. Jackie had had to deal with Jade’s behaviour for months, probably years, as well as working and bringing up her younger children. Now Jade was in foster care she no longer had that responsibility. Jade was my responsibility and I was very worried and also angry.
‘You silly, silly girl!’ I said out loud. ‘Whatever do you think you’re doing?’
Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I keyed in Jade’s mobile number. Her phone was answered, but amidst the laughing and shouting I couldn’t be sure it was Jade.
‘Is that you, Jade?’ I asked.
‘Yeah, who’s that?’ she shouted over the laughter. My number was permanently set to private so it hadn’t appeared on her phone.
‘Cathy,’ I said evenly. ‘I’ve just spoken to your mother. Where are you, Jade?’
‘Who?’ she shouted over the background noise.
‘It’s Cathy,’ I said, louder.
It went quiet and when she spoke again there was no background noise or laughing: I guessed Jade had either covered the mic on her phone while she silenced her friends or gone outside, for it was very quiet.
‘I’ll be back soon,’ she said, subdued.
‘You’ll come back now. Straightaway,’ I said. ‘If you’re not here in thirty minutes I’ll phone the social services, and then the police to report you missing. Do you understand?’
‘Yeah, I’m coming,’ she said. ‘I don’t feel so good.’
‘I’m not surprised, drinking in your condition. How much have you had?’
‘Dunno.’
‘Are you able to come home by yourself?’ I asked, concerned.
‘Yeah.’
‘Now then, please. Right away.’
The phone went dead and I replaced the receiver. I then spent an anxious half hour waiting for Jade to return. I was angry and also very worried. Jade had lied to me, which I wasn’t happy about, but I was more concerned that she’d had a lot to drink again. Jade couldn’t have listened to any of the warnings Tyler, his mother, Jackie, Rachel or I had been giving her. Bad enough if it was only her body she was destroying, but she was carrying a baby, a vulnerable little baby who didn’t have a say in Jade’s lifestyle or what she drank, and who deserved better treatment than this. I didn’t know what else I could say to Jade to make her change; she seemed set on a path of self-destruction.
When I heard a key fumbling in the lock of the front door I went down the hall and let her in. She was very pale and her clothes and hair were dishevelled.
‘I really don’t feel so good,’ she said, stumbling in and leaning against the wall.
‘I’m not surprised,’ I said, going to her. ‘Drinking to excess makes you ill.’
‘Ah, don’t go on,’ she said, rubbing her stomach.
Although I was annoyed with Jade, my immediate concern was for her health. She looked dreadful. ‘Do you need a doctor?’ I asked.
‘Na. I’ll be OK,’ she said, still leaning against the wall for support.
I wasn’t convinced she’d be OK. ‘When you say you don’t feel so good, what exactly do you mean?’
‘I feel sick,’ she said, rubbing her stomach again. ‘It was that cheap vodka from the corner shop. It doesn’t agree with me any more.’
‘Of course it won’t agree with you!’ I exclaimed. ‘Alcohol in large amounts acts as a poison. You’re carrying a baby, Jade. That baby eats and drinks everything you do. You shouldn’t be drinking at all.’
‘I know, I know,’ she said, waving me away. ‘I won’t do it any more.’
I’d said it all only a few days before; there was nothing else I could say. I helped Jade out of her coat and then followed her upstairs, making sure she didn’t trip or fall. We went into her bedroom, where I laid out her nightdress and told her to change while I fetched a bucket from downstairs.
When I returned Jade was changed and climbing into bed. ‘Are you going to have a wash?’ I asked.
‘Na. Tomorrow. I feel sick.’
I waited until she was in bed and then I placed the bucket within reach. ‘I’ll leave your door open. Call me if you’re unwell in the night,’ I said.
Jade nodded. She was on her side and under the duvet. ‘Can you pass me Chi Chi?’ she asked, referring to the panda, which sat with the other soft toys at the foot of her bed.
I handed her the panda and she tucked it in beside her on the pillow. She put one arm around its neck and then snuggled her face into its fur, as a young child would. It was a touching and a poignant reminder of how young Jade really was. ‘I love Chi Chi,’ she said gently. ‘And I’m going to love my baby.’
‘Oh, Jade,’ I sighed. ‘I wish you’d listen to what people are