She was feeling better by the day. Today was the first social worker visit. They were coming to see the kids after school and she was uncharacteristically nervous. She knew everything would be ok. The social worker was coming early to see her and Fletch.
Fletch's mum would be picking all the children up. She was going home tomorrow so this was good timing for the social worker.
She and Fletch sat nervously at the kitchen table.
"This is ridiculous" she said
"I know, there's nothing to worry about" he agreed "unless you've got some skeletons in your cupboard Ms Naylor" Fletch teased trying to lighten the mood.
"Well there are the ACTUAL skeletons of my serial killer past but I'm sure they won't worry about them"
Just then the doorbell went
"Hi, I'm Angela and you must be Ms Naylor. I met Mr Fletcher at the door"
"Please call us Jac and Adrian or Fletch. That's what everyone else calls him" smiled Jac
The social worker asked them about their relationship,how they got together, how long they'd lived with each other, how they dealt logistically with 5 children, how did they deal with disagreements in the house etc. Then she asked to meet with them individually.
Jac had to talk about her time in care homes as a child, she spoke with some tears about Jasmine but also emphasising how supportive Fletch had been. She spoke about her career, Jonny and her proudest achievement Emma. They talked about how much Emma loved Fletch, even before they were a couple. Jac told Angela how the little fletchlings started calling her mummy Jac without prompting from anyone. They talked about Jac and Fletch working together making it easy for each other to understand work related stress and be well equipped to support each other. Jac reassured Angela that they didn't bring work up in front of the children. They had support from Fletch's mum and sue next door. They also had Sacha and Essie who had been put down as character references. They also spoke of how Jac had supported the children when Fletch had his accident and how the family had coped with her recent surgery
" I think that's about all Jac" said Angela glancing over her form "as you know I have spoken to Mr Maconie who has not opposed the adoption but tells me that you intend to keep the current levels of access
"Absolutely, Emma has a close relationship with her dad"
"One final question then why get Adrian to adopt her?"
"I don't know if you know that we were both involved in the shooting at Holby City. I was shot, nearly died. Fletch's best friend was killed, our friend and colleague has been left with permanent brain damage. My sister,as I've told was stabbed at work. No one knows what is round the corner for any of us and we felt strongly that if anything happened to me it would be important for Emma to be able to legally stay in an environment where she was loved and was happy, where I was loved and by people who could tell her stories about me"
Angela smiled "thank you"
Angela asked Fletch pretty much the same he explained how his Dad had died when he was 3 yrs old and was close to his mum. They spoke about Natalie, their relationship, her death, how he'd dealt with their collective grief and how Emma and Jac had completed their family
"It just works Ang" he said. She smiled at the familiarity of shortening her name. He was definitely a charmer but a likeable character
Soon after the children arrived
Angela had a short talk with Julia who reassured her that she had come to view Emma as one of her Geandchildren
