Finding my mum

29- will the social say yes or no

After weeks of meetings, supervised visits and I don't know how many questions being asked, today was our social meeting to find out if I could spend time with Janette without Bex being there.

I got ready then went downstairs for breakfast. Ashley was back with us now and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. It felt like he'd broken my trust so I was really careful around him. Chloe and I couldn't have been closer if we'd tried. The whole situation had definitely brought us closer. Only Ashley was in the kitchen so I knew that breakfast would be interesting.

Me: "where's Chloe?"
Ashley: "still asleep"
Me: "ok. Are you coming today or is it just Chloe?"
Ashley: "do you want me to come?"
Me: "if you want I'm not going to stop you"

Before he could reply I could hear footsteps on the stairs. I turned around, saw Chloe and went to give her a hug.

Chloe: "what was that for not that I'm complaining"
Me: "just felt like it"
Chloe: "you're nervous aren't you"
Me: "terrified"
Chloe: "this calls for one thing"
Me: "your magic toast"
Chloe: "is coming right up"

I felt so much better after eating Chloe's toast. We got in the car to go to the building where the meeting was happening. Bex was meeting us there. As we arrived I spotted Janette, Aljaz and they'd brought Noah with them. I went over to say hi and Noah's face lit up; it was the first time I'd seen him in ages and he'd grown so much. Aljaz passed him to me and we all went inside to find out what the social panel had decided.

All the butterflies came back as we entered, Noah had fallen asleep in my arms. Aljaz tried to take him but I said don't as he was obviously happy plus he'd scream the place down. I sat next to Chloe who was trying to calm me down but having Noah asleep on my lap was helping.

A panel of three men and women entered. Bex was next to Ashley who was next to Chloe. As one woman started talking I stroked Noah's hand who had decided that now was the perfect time to wake up. As soon as he knew that his parents were still there, he went back to sleep.

After everyone had said what they had to, we broke for lunch so they could decide what happened.

Lunch felt like it went on for ages. Chloe, Ashley and I sat with Janette, Aljaz and Noah. Bex and I took Noah to get some air while Janette, Chloe, Ashley and Aljaz sat on the steps watching us and talking.

Janette: "congratulations"
Chloe: "thank you"
Aljaz: "when's your honeymoon?"
Ashley: "tomorrow"
Janette: "what's happening with Ava?"
Chloe: "she was meant to be staying with her friend but now she can't, Bex said that she could stay with her"

Aljaz and Janette looked and nodded at each other.

Janette: "if we get a yes to unsupervised visits, she can stay with us"
Me: "who can stay with you?"
Chloe: "you know Ashley and I go on honeymoon tomorrow"
Me: "how could I forget"
Chloe: "it's only for a week then I'll be back"
Me: "I know. What were you going to say?"
Chloe: "we've all been talking and how would you feel about spending the week with Janette instead of Bex?"
Me: "you serious?"
Janette: "yeah, Aljaz and I would love to have you, plus a certain monkey on your lap wouldn't say no to the extra attention"
Me: "what do you say little monkey, do you want extra cuddles with your sister?"
Noah pulled his monkey face
Me: "I think that answers the question"
Chloe: "we'll get your things after this and drop you over later"
Bex: "they've made their decision. Time to go back in"

On our way back in, I tried not to get my hopes up in case it didn't end the way I wanted it to. We took our seats to wait for the outcome. The men and women re entered and sat down.

The woman from earlier started talking and all I wanted to know was what they'd decided not whatever she was going on about. Eventually she said there decision was that I could have unsupervised visits. Bex would still be involved but she didn't have to come with us anymore.

We went back to the cars to go home to pack.

Me: "I'll see you later my little monkey for more cuddles"

I passed him to Janette which caused him to start crying. I didn't like it but I knew that I'd be back with him in a few hours.

Janette: "see you later"
Me: "bye"