My missing puzzle piece 🧩

Due

After the adoption fair Maya and Carina contacted their social worker immediately and explained how Eleonora seemed like a potential match. The social worker agreed and arranged a meeting for the DeLuca-Bishop's.

"So Eleonora then" The social worker, Leanne, said sitting down at her desk in front of the wives.

"Yes" Maya smiled.

"So Eleonora is originally from Italy as Carina you know. She's 11 and autistic, diagnosed level 2 support needs" Leanne explained.

"Sorry what does that mean?" Maya questioned

"Level two support needs usually means that she has difficulties with social interaction and requires a good amount of support, but she's verbal right?" Carina said.

"Yes, well she can speak English and Italian however she stopped speaking about a year ago" Leanne explained

"How come?" Carina asked

"Well Eleonora, or Nora as we call her, came to us from Italy at the age of 5, her Mum explained that she couldn't provide her with the life she deserved. She stayed in the care home until she was 9 and then was put on a foster to adopt program with a nice family. I'm not entirely sure what happened but she didn't feel comfortable and was brought back into care and she stopped speaking. She now lives in foster care with Jasmine, who you met at the social"

"Who was her mum?" Maya asked.

"She's been put down as anonymous" Leanne stated.

"So if we want to you know foster or adopt her, how would that go forward?" Carina asked

"Well that's what we're here to talk about now. From what Jasmine said to me Nora seemed to be ok in your guises company which doesn't happen often. What we will do is arrange a day where you will spend with Jasmine and Nora at their house. If all goes well there we will try somewhere like a park, then your house. Then if all of that goes well Nora will spend the day with you guys at your house, to see if she is ok with it. Furthering that she'd spend a night with you and at jasmines and alternate until she's staying with you guys full time" Leanne explained

"That's uh a lot!" Maya said referring to the information

"It is!" Leanne laughed "we have to be very cautious with the transitions as Nora is autistic, she can easily become overwhelmed"

"Does she go to school?" Carina asked

"She does not. She was in school for a while because she loves learning and has a brilliant mind, but the school in the district wasn't suit to her so Jasmine decided to homeschool her" Leanne said "do you guys have any other questions? Or are you ready to start this process?"

Maya and Carina looked at each other a smiled before they nodded.

***
Back at home Maya and Carina were in bed snuggled up under the covers.

"Hey Carina" Maya whispered

"Sì bella?"

"We have busy jobs" Maya said

Carina gave her a confused look "sì?"

"I mean, we're potentially taking in a child. That's already a lot of added stress and responsibilities, but a child with special needs? Are we, can we give her the life and support she deserves?" Maya said sitting up

"Maya"

"No I mean like this kid is gorgeous and from the half an hour we spent sitting with her on the grass I fell in love and she just deserves the world, can we give that to her? Or are we out of our depth, I don't know if I can be the mother she deserves"