Page 6

It may not have been a long conversation, but at least it was a conversation. I look at Lara, giving her the nod that I’m ready to leave; or that I think Willow may be ready for me to leave. She stands, and together we walk back towards the door. The heat is stifling. I’m keen to get out into the fresh air.

‘What happens next?’ I ask.

‘Well, unless we can find a family member to take Willow in, he’ll stay in foster care until a family comes forward for him . . . Or not.’

‘Perhaps I could come again next week and visit, bring more brownies?’ I say, the idea suddenly blossoming. ‘Make it a regular thing. Maybe I could do some reading with him?’ I feel my part starting to make sense. Paddy would like that, I know. ‘I could even try and find some family photographs.’ I think of the boxes of photographs that all need sorting out anyway, ready for the move. ‘I could make up a photo album of any I can find.’ I smile at Lara.

But this time, she’s not smiling back.

‘Sadly, I’m not sure that will be possible.’

‘Why not?’ I frown. ‘You said you wanted to involve his extended family. Me.’

‘Willow won’t be here next week. He’ll have to move out of the area.’

‘What? Why can’t he just stay where he is?!’ I feel a little fire of outrage start to flicker in my stomach on Willow’s behalf. ‘He’s been through enough, surely. Isn’t it better to keep him where he is? Some sort of familiarity, even just with you?’

‘That would be good,’ she says evenly as we reach the door. ‘He’s a lovely lad and I hope to carry on working with him, looking after his wellbeing.’

‘So, then . . .?’

‘The problem is, Willow can’t go back to the foster home he’s been staying in. There was an incident the night before last, which is why he was in emergency foster care again last night, with me. But it’s far from ideal.’

‘An incident? What happened? What did he do?’

She shakes her head.

‘It wasn’t anything Willow did. It was the foster carer. I can’t go into detail, but Willow had to be removed from this foster home immediately. It seems that the foster carer said some things that should never have been said, referring to his mother and the condition he was found in. Willow was upset, and he ran. We found him, but he won’t be going back there. There is such a national shortage of carers, fosters and adoptive families, he’ll have to go wherever we can find space in the country.’

I say nothing.

‘Look, it’s okay. It’s okay not to feel you can take this on. It’s a huge ask. And you mustn’t feel guilty. He’ll be looked after. I’ll make sure of it.’

There is a ball in my throat, and it feels like it’s getting bigger.

‘Do we know where he’ll go? Can I stay in touch?’

She shakes her head.

‘I don’t know yet. But I can certainly pass on your details when he gets a new foster home, and you can send letters.’

Is that it? I think. Is that really all I can do? But it is at least something, to help this boy on his way to his new life.

‘How long before he finds a new permanent family, do you think?’ But even as I ask, I know the answer will be no more encouraging than what she told me yesterday.

Lara gives a tilt of her head and a little shrug. Her dark hair swings, and her kind mouth tries a smile.

‘It’s very hard to say.’

‘I see,’ I say, turning towards the door. The security man reaches out to open it.

As he does, other families start to move. It seems the session is over. The young man with the grandparents is already pulling out his vape and heading for the door. The man with the two girls is hugging them hard, and there are tears all round. What happens now? What’s life like after this bubble of a meeting place, back in the outside world? The grandparents of the toddler with the bear seem to be having an argument over who’s taking the bear home. A young woman, presumably the girl’s mother, has arrived and is refusing to take it, saying she doesn’t have room for it.

‘But it’s her Christmas present!’ says the older woman.

‘But I can’t get it home on the bus! Not with the buggy as well. And where am I supposed to put it? It needs a room of its own. Perhaps if your son would pay maintenance, I could afford a bigger flat for the bear to live in!’

It’s getting heated, and even hotter in there than before. A social worker has had to step in and help peel the young girls from their dad. The distress of everyone around me is palpable.