Please Don’t Take My Baby and I Miss Mummy 2-in-1 Collection. Cathy Glass

I’m staying, baby,’ Jackie said. Then to me: ‘Give me your number and I’ll phone you when there’s any news.’

      ‘Thank you,’ I said, and gave Jackie my mobile number. ‘Do you want me to get you a coffee or anything from the machine before I leave?’

      ‘No thanks, love. I had one earlier.’

      I said goodbye to Jade and Jackie and came out of the cubicle, still not really knowing if Jade was in labour. It was now after 9.00 p.m. and I went through reception and outside, where I stood under the canopied entrance and phoned for a cab. While I waited for the cab to arrive I phoned Homefinders. Jill answered and I updated her.

      ‘Thanks, Cathy,’ she said. ‘Jade will be in the hospital overnight whatever the outcome, so go home and get some sleep and I’ll speak to you in the morning.’

      The cab arrived ten minutes later and so did Tyler, although he didn’t see me, as he was in too much of a hurry, and ran straight past.

      It was 9.30 when I arrived home and Adrian and Paula were asleep in bed. Sue was watching television. I told Sue I’d left Jade with her mother, who would phone me when there was any news.

      ‘Jade’s very young to be having a baby,’ Sue said.

      ‘I know.’ Sue, like most of my friends, appreciated I couldn’t discuss the children I fostered and didn’t press me for more details.

      I thanked Sue again as I saw her out. ‘You’re welcome,’ she said.

      I was exhausted but I knew I wouldn’t sleep; I was still high on adrenalin. I made a hot drink and with my mobile on the sofa beside me I watched television until eleven o’clock. Then, more relaxed, I settled Toscha in her basket in the kitchen and went upstairs. I was asleep within minutes and I slept soundly until 6.00 a.m.

      As soon as I woke, my thoughts went to Jade and I took my mobile from the bedside cabinet. A text had come through at 3.21 from a number my phone didn’t recognize. I opened it: Jade had a baby girl at 3 a.m. Courtney. 6lb 8oz. They’re both well. Jackie x

       Chapter Eleven

       ‘Smelly Baby’

      I thought 6.00 a.m. was probably too early to telephone Jackie, especially as she would have been at the hospital most of the night, so I texted: Congratulations! Love Cathy x. I texted the same message to Jade, who I guessed would have her mobile switched on at the hospital, I hoped on silent.

      Before getting out of bed I telephoned Jill, who I assumed would just be finishing night duty. I was right.

      She yawned as she spoke. ‘Hi, Cathy. Any news?’

      ‘Yes. Jade had a baby girl at three o’clock this morning. Courtney. Six pounds eight ounces. Jackie texted that they are both fine.’

      ‘Fantastic,’ Jill said, rallying from her tiredness. ‘That is good news. Although at six pounds eight ounces she doesn’t sound like a premature baby to me – more like full term. Do you know if she’s in an incubator?’

      ‘Jackie didn’t say. But I think she would have mentioned it if she was, so I guess not.’

      ‘So it’s likely Jade had her dates wrong. Oh well, at least they are both well. Do you have any other details?’

      ‘No. Just the text message.’

      ‘OK. I’ll phone Rachel later when I’ve had a sleep. In the meantime let the agency know if you hear any more news, please.’

      ‘I will.’

      The arrival of a baby – whatever the circumstances of its birth or the problems surrounding the mother – is, I feel, a miracle. A new life is truly a wondrous occasion and guaranteed to raise the spirits and put a smile on anyone’s face. As I showered and dressed that morning my heart was light, lighter than it had been since Jade had arrived, for I hoped – no, believed – that now Jade was responsible for a baby she would turn her life around and get back on track. I therefore envisaged a happy ending to what could have been a very tragic story.

      I was still very light-hearted when I woke first Paula and then Adrian and told them it was time to get up and ready for school. ‘Jade had her baby last night,’ I said to each of them, smiling. ‘She’s called Courtney and they are both well.’

      Paula was more impressed than Adrian and, grinning broadly, she said, ‘I’m telling all my friends at school that our big girl has a baby.’ And with a little clap of her hands she leapt out of bed.

      Adrian was more reserved, natural for a lad of twelve, and said: ‘I hope she’s not bringing it here. Babies cry a lot and smell disgusting!’

      ‘Adrian,’ I admonished lightly, opening his bedroom curtains. ‘You were a baby once. Just as well I didn’t think that about you. Babies smell lovely. But no, Jade won’t be bringing her baby here. Her social worker will have found her a mother-and-baby placement by the time Jade leaves hospital.

      Just before I left the house that morning to take Paula to school I received a text from Jackie in response to the one I’d sent earlier, congratulating her: Thanks. Tkng day off work 2 go 2 the hospital. Which added to my feeling of well-being: now Jackie was reunited with her daughter and was supporting her, all would be well.

      Let me know if there’s anything I can do, I texted back.

      Thnk u, came the reply.

      For the same reason I hadn’t stayed at the hospital the night before – that Jade had wanted her mother – I didn’t go to the hospital that morning. After taking Paula to school I went home, got on with the housework and some foster-carer training I had been asked to facilitate, and waited for news. I didn’t really expect to hear anything for a couple of hours, as Jill would be sleeping after being on night duty and Rachel would be busy arranging Jade’s transfer. At some point I’d have to pack up Jade’s belongings and either they would be collected or I would take them to wherever Jade was being discharged to. If I was honest, in terms of a fostering placement Jade’s stay with me hadn’t really been very rewarding; I didn’t feel I’d achieved much. Rachel had asked me to teach her home-care skills, but Jade had hardly been at home, so that other than advising her about her diet – fewer fry-ups and biscuits and more fresh fruit and vegetables – teaching her anything hadn’t really been possible.

      By one o’clock I was expecting news at any moment, so when the phone rang at 1.30 I sprang to answer it. As I thought it might be, it was Rachel, and from the quick way in which she spoke I could tell she was very busy and stressed.

      ‘Sorry I haven’t phoned sooner,’ she began. ‘I’ve been on the phone all morning trying to arrange Jade’s transfer. I’ve left a message with Homefinders and Jill will phone you later. We’ve got a problem. There’s still only one mother-and-baby placement free at present and that is out of the county. The carer is a lovely lady and an experienced carer but Jade is refusing to go. I’ve just spoken to Jackie again and she says Jade is adamant she won’t move out of the area, even for a few weeks.’

      ‘So there’s no chance of Jade going home, then?’ I asked. ‘Now she is reunited with her mother?’

      ‘No. There isn’t the space. Also Jackie’s at work for a large part of each day and has her other kids to look after. She can’t give Jade the support and supervision she’ll need; she struggled before. Now Jade has the baby she’ll need someone with her to help and advise her.’ Which I understood. ‘I’ve spoken to the ward sister,’ Rachel continued. ‘And they’re waiting to discharge Jade, but she’s refusing to go if she has to live outside the county. She’s really dug her heels in, little madam.’ Rachel paused to take a breath and I thought she was going to ask me if I could go to the hospital and try to persuade Jade to go, but Rachel said: ‘So I was wondering