Nobody’s Son: Part 2 of 3: All Alex ever wanted was a family of his own

‘You can decide that with them. They will certainly take photographs, but they may put them in photograph albums. That’s what we do here.’

He nodded and snuggled down, and appeared to be taking the end of his stay with us in his stride. ‘Well, goodnight then, love,’ I said. ‘It’s a busy day for you tomorrow, so get some sleep. Would you like a goodnight kiss?’

‘No, thank you,’ he said with a small, embarrassed smile. ‘I’m saving all my kisses for my mummy.’

‘I know.’

He turned onto his side and with one arm around his polar bear gave a little sigh of contentment as he closed his eyes ready for sleep.

The following morning Alex was up and getting dressed when I went into his room. ‘It’s all right, you’ve got plenty of time,’ I said. ‘They’re not coming until ten-thirty, after we’ve taken Adrian to school.’

‘I know, but I want to be ready,’ he said excitedly.

‘OK. But stay in your room and play while I get Paula up.’ Which he did.

For Adrian it was another Monday morning, and because it was the middle of winter the dark and cold outside added to his feeling that he’d rather be in bed than getting ready for school. It took a few reminders before he was up and dressed and downstairs having breakfast.

‘This is my last breakfast here,’ Alex announced with a child’s ability to state the raw truth.

It didn’t help, and Adrian nodded glumly while Paula stared at Alex, not sure what to say.

In the playground I discovered that Paula’s nursery was closed until further notice due to a burst water pipe, so she would have to come home with me. However, a friend of Adrian’s handed him a party invitation, which brightened his spirits.

‘Can I go?’ he asked eagerly.

‘Yes, I should think so. I’ll check in the diary and then we’ll return the acceptance slip.’ Adrian would have done it there and then.

When the klaxon sounded for the start of school Adrian knew he had to say goodbye to Alex and he did so quickly. It was Adrian’s way of dealing with the separation.

‘Bye,’ he said. ‘It was nice having you stay.’

‘Bye,’ Alex said.

I said goodbye to Adrian, wished him a good day and said I’d see him at the end of school. He gave me a quick hug and then ran off to join his class, but I saw him turn round for one final glance at Alex. We returned home, where Alex played with Paula and her toys while I gathered together the last of Alex’s belongings and packed them in the cases. I could hear them laughing and chuckling as they played. Alex was very good with little children and I was pleased we were ending on a happy note.

At ten o’clock I made us all a drink and a snack, which we’d only just finished when the front doorbell rang – at 10.20.

‘That’s them!’ Alex cried. Slipping from his chair, he ran down the hall and then waited for me to open the front door.

‘Good morning,’ I said brightly to Rosemary and Edward. James was at school.

‘Good morning, Cathy,’ Edward returned equally brightly. ‘How are you?’ Rosemary said to Alex as they came in.

‘I’m good,’ he grinned, and gave her a big hug.

‘What a lovely welcome!’ Rosemary smiled, clearly pleased.

Edward was in his suit, so I guessed he was going straight to work after the move. We all knew we should keep Alex’s departure short, as it was generally felt that to prolong this final goodbye could be upsetting for the child – although Alex was so focused and looking forward to starting his new life that I didn’t think leaving us was going to be a problem for him. Not like some children I’d looked after, who for various reasons really didn’t want to leave and move on.

I waited with the children indoors while Edward and Rosemary loaded the car. Then, once it was packed, they returned inside and we stood in the hall ready to say goodbye.

‘Well, thanks for everything,’ Edward said, shaking my hand warmly. ‘Look after yourself and say goodbye to Adrian for us.’

‘Thank you, I will.’ Paula was holding my hand, so I told her to say goodbye to Alex.

‘Bye,’ she said sweetly and the adults smiled.

‘Bye, Paula,’ Alex said and gave her a little hug.

‘Goodbye then, love,’ I said to him. ‘It’s been great having you stay. Your mummy and daddy are very lucky to have you.’

He smiled.

‘That’s kind,’ Rosemary said.

‘Bye, Cathy,’ Alex said, and slipped his hand into his mother’s.

‘Thanks for everything,’ Rosemary said to me, kissing my cheek. ‘You’ll phone us in a couple of weeks?’

‘Yes.’ This had been agreed at the planning meeting. It was usual for a carer to phone at least once after a child left and to hopefully see them. ‘But do phone me if you have any questions or problems,’ I added. ‘Although I’m sure you won’t.’

‘Thank you.’

As it was cold outside I slipped Paula into her coat while we saw them off. We stood on the pavement just the other side of our garden gate and waved as the engine started and the car began to slowly pull away, Alex’s little face beaming at us through the rear window.

‘Bye!’ Paula and I called, waving.

We continued waving until the car had disappeared from view and then we returned indoors. Yes, I had a twinge of sadness that Alex had gone, but I knew he was going to the best place ever – a loving adoptive home. I also knew it wouldn’t be long before I was fostering another child, for sadly foster carers are always needed for children who can’t live with their own families.

I played with Paula for a while and then, as I was reading her a story, she dozed off on the sofa. While she slept, I took the opportunity to telephone Debbie to tell her Alex’s move had gone well.

‘Excellent,’ she said. ‘I was going to phone you later. So there weren’t any last-minute hiccups?’

‘No. It was a textbook move. It went perfectly smoothly.’

‘Good. I’ll let Lin know. She will be seeing the family regularly until the adoption goes through.’ This was normal practice.

Debbie thanked me for all I’d done and we said goodbye. I then telephoned Jill to update her, but she was out of the office, so I left a message with a colleague saying that Alex’s move had gone to plan. Jill telephoned back an hour later, by which time Paula was awake and playing with the building bricks on the floor of the living room, where I took the call.

‘So you survived your first placement after your break,’ Jill said lightly.

‘Yes, although it wasn’t much of a survival test. Alex was lovely and no problem at all.’

‘Even so, he could have become unsettled and angry after all his previous moves. It’s down to your good fostering that the transition to his adoptive family was so successful.’

‘Thank you, but I think it was the promise of going to his adoptive family that saw him through.’

‘Nevertheless, you played your part. And you’re ready to foster again?’