Do they have no relatives? Why did you bring them here? Its cruel you know whose We can barely fit ourselves in this flat! Call Childrens Services tomorrow, I told you! Let them sort it out!
James glared at his wife. She had just returned from the funeral of her best friend. It wasnt a solitary losstwo children stood beside her. Threeyearold Milly and thirteenyearold Harry lingered at the doorway, unsure how to react to the unwelcoming host.
Emily nudged the children gently toward the kitchen and, without raising her voice, said,
Harry, fetch a juice for Milly and a glass for yourself. Its in the fridge.
When the kids slipped out the door, she turned to her husband, anger flashing in her eyes.
Are you ashamed? Claire was my closest friend. Do you think Id abandon her children in distress? Imagine what theyre feeling now! Youre thirtyeight and you still run to your mother for everything!
Fine, fine, I get it, but youre not really planning to keep them here, are you? James asked, his tone softening.
I am! Im going to apply for guardianship. They have no one. Their father vanished; he wasnt even at the funeral. Claire lost both parents early. She has an aunt who refuses to take them inshes not young enough. And we have no children of our own.
Emily, Im your husband, remember? Dont you want to hear my side?
James, whats wrong with you? Youre a good man, I know you. Otherwise I wouldnt have brought the kids without asking. Are you scared of the costs? Well manage! The kids arent little anymore. Harry will stay at school, and well put Milly in nursery. Our lifestyle wont change much!
But my mother! Emily! Shell hear about Claire and think Im a failure. She constantly nags me because she has no grandchildren!
I dont think your mother needs to meddle in our affairs. We both wanted to adopt a child anyway. Why take a strangers? Harry and Milly know us, and we know them. Itll be easier for everyone.
Maybe youre right, Emily. But we wanted to adopt one baby, remember? One baby! Not a pair. Millys still tiny. And Harry? Hes a teenagertheres no trouble with him!
You, me, and everyone else were teenagers once. We solved our problems, grew up, and became decent adults.
Alright, well figure it out as we go. Let them stay for now
Emily pressed a warm kiss to Jamess cheek and smiled, trusting the man shed married. He was always the samegrumbling, complaining, then stepping up and helping her through everything.
She moved to the kitchen to start dinner, already planning the next day: a trip to Childrens Services, gathering paperwork from work and the bank, collecting certificates
And so began a relentless cascade of hurdles. In movies, orphaned kids instantly find families; in reality, mountains of documents and approvals are required.
Harry and Milly had even considered a temporary stay in a childrens home, but James and Emily pooled every ounce of resolve and secured the right to keep the youngsters with them.
Milly, at her age, easily shrugged off sorrow, finding comfort in new toys and treats.
Harry struggled more. James saw him on the verge of tears, fighting to hold his voice back. One evening James pulled him aside, placed a hand on his shoulder, and said,
Harry, I know it hurts. Im almost forty, and I cant imagine what would happen if something happened to my mother. But for Millys sake you have to stay strong. If you need to cry or scream, tell me. Well slip away somewhere no one can see you. You cant bottle that pain up, but you also cant let Milly see itshell get scared. Please, speak to me.
From that moment Harry treated James with newfound respect. Emily watched them disappear together and return, side by side, like the best of friends.
The family endured a series of inspections from every agency imaginable. To prove they could support the children, James and Emily even took out a loan, renovated a spare room, bought a cot, toys, and new clothes.
They needed a sum to place Milly in a nearby nursery, and when Harry confessed he missed his friends from the football club, they paid for his weekend training as well.
Finally, the trials were over. The children were officially placed under their guardianship. James picked up a second job to settle the debts.
Emily found extra work tutoring physics at a local school, offering private lessons for a fee. The financial strain eased.
A year passed. The children settled into their new lives, forming close bonds with their guardians. Milly began calling Emily Mum Emily. Even Jamess mother, Margaret, who had initially opposed the arrangement, grew fond of the kids.
Summer approached, and James suggested,
How about a seaside break? Not BrightonIm thinking Croatia! I saw a lastminute deal; Ill call now and book us.
Emily welcomed the idea. She was exhausted after a year of worry and craved a distraction. James quickly arranged the trip.
Later, a colleague called Emily for a chat, sensing her loneliness. Emily admitted they were heading to Croatia.
The colleague sighed,
Lucky you! Ill be stuck at the cottage all summer I cant afford anything. You must be getting a nice allowance from Childrens Services, right?
Emily froze, feeling the sting of being seen as greedy, as if shed taken the children only for the money. She voiced her thoughts to James, who reflected,
Ive heard the same nonsense. A mate told me I should have upgraded my car by nowsays I get a lot of money from the kids, yet I still drive my old hatchback!
And your mother keeps telling me I should start caring for my teeth now that my incomes up. She says if I dont look after myself, youll leave me for a younger wife and the kids. I think shes just angry and trying to needle me.
My boss warned me not to expect extra holidays because the children arent mine. He said benefits are only for those with their own kids! Can you believe that? I never even asked!
The neighbour on the landing said, Life must be easier now, huh? Look at all those shopping bags youre haulingmust be the benefits. I told her I have two men in the house now, so Im cooking more. Harrys always hungry, growing fast!
So everyone thinks we took the kids for cash?
Emily shrugged,
Let them think what they want!
But we cant go to Croatia! Theyll think were spending the childrens money! Everyone keeps asking if weve transferred the kids flat to our name. They feel sorry when I tell them Claire never owned a home.
What should we do then? Emily was at a loss.
They had never considered profit. The state allowance the children received after losing their
