A Heart's Safe Haven

10: New Begginings

Maureen wandered through the narrow and closed off corridors, the yellow wall paper fading and peeling away. She had been searching for Linda for a while now, and Lana was gripping to her hand tightly as she slowly knocked on the door of her office. When she got no reply she reluctantly pushed it open, not wanting to pry.

"Mummy, when can I go play," Lana whined and Maureen bent down to her level, looking into her green eyes.

"As soon as I find Linda, I'll take you to the other kids," she told her with a smile, and Lana jumped up eagerly. In the few months they had been in the foster home, Lana had grown extremely fond of the other girls who loved her too.

"Maureen," a soft voice called and she looked up to see Linda sitting behind the old wooden desk. Maureen noticed how Linda looked older than her 50 years, but the weary look in her eyes drew Maureen's attention. Linda always had a sparkle in her brown eyes, and a smile was always present.

"What's wrong Linda," she asked immediately and the older woman shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips.

"Nothing for you to worry about sweetie," she said, knowing Maureen had so much on her plate already.

"No, tell me," Maureen insisted, taking a seat and pulling Lana onto her lap. "You've listened to enough of my problems, it's time for me to listen to yours," she encouraged, and Linda gave in, leaning her elbows on the desk and her face in her hands.

"I might have to close the foster home," she said with a broken whisper and Maureen's eyes widened. "It's beating me financially. It has been for years, and don't give me that look Maureen. It has nothing to do with you and Lana, bankruptcy was already on the route," she finished with a heavy sigh, and Maureen leaned forward, clasping Linda's hand.

"I have something to tell you too," Maureen lied, and it left a sour taste in her mouth. "I'm moving out, I accepted Hannah's offer." When Linda opened her mouth to oppose what she just said, Maureen shook her head. "I'm sorry Linda, but it's for Lana. I need to enroll her in school once more, and Hannah and her husband have promised to help, she is their grandchild."

Maureen spoke with a heavy heart. Even though Linda had insisted that it had nothing to do with Maureen and her daughter, she knew better. Maureen had ran away with little to no money, and all this time Linda had been helping her. She couldn't use her any longer. She needed to send Lana to school, and she needed a job. She couldn't rely on other people.

The first thing Maureen did after leaving Lana to play with the other girls was to walk into the privacy of the empty yard and ring a number she never thought she would have to use.

"Binyamin household," a male voice answered and Maureen flinched at the familiar voice. She almost expected the man to scream 'I told you so."

"Isa, can I speak to your mother please," she spoke quietly, and she heard a sharp breath withdrawn.

"Maureen?"

"Yeah, can I speak to your mother? It's important," she said urgently, needing to get the conversation over with before someone overheard her.

"Sure, I'll be a minute," he replied and Maureen let out a breath in relief that Hannah was able to take her call. It wasn't long before she heard the familiar voice.

"Maureen, hi, I hope everything's okay," Hannah rushed out, and Maureen smiled.

"Hi Hannah, I just wanted to accept your offer, if it's still standing of course."

"Of course it's still standing," she exclaimed. "We're more than happy to have you and our precious Lana."

"I know you are, but I want to let you know now that I'm going to leave as soon as I get back on my feet, you don't have to worry about me overstaying my welcome," Maureen said firmly, fully planning to stick to those words.

"Sure Maureen," Hannah agreed and they set the date for her to move in, a week later. It wasn't long before Maureen finished the call and slumped against the brick wall, hoping with all her heart that she wouldn't come to regret her decision.

She already felt horrible for the situation she had pushed Linda into. Hopefully once she was gone, Linda would be able to get the foster home back on its feet. Too many young girls depended on Linda, and Maureen couldn't do that any longer.

That's how Maureen was in this predicament today. She stood with Lana outside the foster home, and she bid farewell with a heavy heart to the crumbling away building. Hannah was due to get her in a few minutes, and Maureen didn't want to make a bad impression by being late. She had already hugged Linda goodbye, and a bucket full of tears had been shed.

A black car pulled up to the curb, and Maureen felt her heart jolt in a mixture of fear and anticipation of what was to come. The passenger door opened, and Hannah walked out, her face covered in a veil that Maureen wasn't very familiar with. Lana watched her with awestruck eyes, and Maureen hoped she wouldn't say something rude.

"Hannah," Maureen greeted and was taken aback when the petite woman embraced her tightly. Not knowing what to do since affection hadn't been directed to her in such a long time, she awkwardly patted her back with one hand, holding Lana's with the other. Hannah pulled back from Maureen before letting out an excited squeal that surprised Maureen as she squeezed the living daylight out of her granddaughter.

"Hurry, both of you come in the car," Hannah said, motioning towards the parked BMW. "It's chilly here and I don't want either of you getting ill," she gushed, and her worry spread warmth through Maureen.

She was more than surprised when she saw the car seat for Lana, and Hannah helped her buckle the little girl in. She joined Maureen and Lana at the back, an older man in the driver's seat.

"That's my husband Binyamin," Hannah said, patting the seat.

Maureen smiled in his direction, "thank you so much for taking us in. I hope we're not too big of an inconvenience."

Binyamin shook his head immediately, "not at all, you're family."

You're family. The words echoed in her head. She'd never had a family, besides Linda. No, Lana was their granddaughter, she was their family. Not Maureen.

Author's Note:

Things are going to get interesting now! Please, please share your thoughts, a comment would mean soo much to me! Thank you!