Maya's Next Step

Chapter 144

Maya POV

"Oh, here we go," I said to Carina as I looked in the mirror, pointing out that Elva was waking up.

"Well that nap could've lasted longer," she smirked as I pulled up outside of our apartment building.

"Ciao bambina," Carina said ever so softly, turning round in her seat to catch Elva waking.

Our sleepy girl looked to the empty space beside her and her face fell.

"Winter?" She said, looking between Carina and I for answers.

"We took her home Elvie, she said to say goodbye for her," I explained.

"But why isn't she here?" Elva asked, her eyes starting to water.

"Let's get inside baby," I said, taking the keys out the engine and climbing out the car.

I opened Elva's door and lifted her out of her seat, resting her straight down on my hip.

"Winter doesn't live with us just yet Elvie," I began explaining as we walked up to our apartment.

"When?" She asked, resting her head down on my shoulder.

"Mama and I are hoping it will be soon but I don't have an exact time frame for you," I told her honestly.

"Does Winter not want to stay here?" She asked as when Carina unlocked the door for us to enter.

"I'm sure she does bambina," Carina smiled, taking Elva's coat off while I still had hold of her.

"The social workers have to sort it all out properly," I said, managing to kick my boots off with her in my arms.

I moved over to the sofa and sat down, letting Elva sit with a leg dangling over each side of my lap facing me.

"Unfortunately bella, we can't just go and pick Winter up and move her in," Carina said before going into the kitchen to make us all a drink.

"But you and auntie Andy came and got me," she pointed out, playing with the buttons on my shirt.

I smiled slightly, she had a decent argument there.

"Auntie Andy and I weren't meant to do that," I winked, tickling her tummy a little.

"You broke a rule?" She asked me, her mouth forming an O.

I sighed and thought about how to explain this to a seven year old.

"You were a little different bubs, you ran away from your foster home and were living by the bridge remember?" I said, taking hold of her hands.

She nodded sadly.

"Winter is safe where she is now, she's in a house with other children and they get looked after. It's okay for mama and I to leave her there while we sort it properly with the social workers. Your old social worker Jane also wasn't very kind was she?" I reminded her.

"No, Jane hurt," she said quietly.

"Winter's social worker seems very supportive. He wants Winter to be with us and is trying to get it all sorted," I explained.

"So we just have to wait a little while bubs," I smiled, tilting her chin up to look at me.

"We wait," Elva smiled back.

Carina came back into the lounge with two drinks.

"Un caffè e un babyccino," she said brightly, placing them down on the coffee table before quickly going to get her own.