A Family Holiday by Bella Osborne Page A

door. Sure enough, there, on the doorstep, was a petite woman with an insipid smile and very floral clothes. She was most definitely a social worker and, unfortunately, one of those who could have been made with a cookie cutter. Sometimes you had one who was bright, cheerful, knew a bit about the world and then there were the rest; this woman was most definitely one of the rest, decided Charlie.
    ‘Hi,’ said Charlie, stepping back to let her in.
    ‘Hello, I’m Camille,’ she simpered and Charlie inwardly sighed. ‘Would you like to see some identification?’ she asked.
    ‘No, it’s okay. You’re from Social Services. We’re expecting you.’
    ‘I am,’ said Camille, looking totally surprised.
    ‘Although you’re a little early.’
    ‘So I am,’ said Camille, without looking at her watch. Charlie was already suspicious. Was this an attempt to catch Charlie off guard? Charlie showed her through to the living room and shut the door.
    Charlie went down the stairs at speed, through the kitchen and into the playroom. George and Millie were play wrestling and Millie’s hair looked as if a troupe of monkeys had rampaged through it.
    ‘George, Millie! Stop it now,’ said Charlie, trying not to shout. Millie jumped up and promptly stomped on George’s groin.
    George let out a yelp. ‘My testicles!’ said George, nursing the front of his trousers.
    ‘George!’ Charlie pointed at Millie and tried very hard not to laugh.

Chapter Seven
    For the first fifteen minutes the meeting with Camille went fine. Camille had introduced herself and gone through what usually happened in this situation and the process they would need to go through. Charlie had given her the children’s birth certificates so that she could copy down their details correctly.
    ‘I see that Edward is Mrs Cobley’s child from a previous relationship.’ It didn’t bode well for them that, despite her appearance, this social worker was on the ball.
    ‘Yes, Ted was the result of a relationship at university, as I understand it,’ said Charlie. ‘His father doesn’t keep in touch and Toby always brought him up as his own.’
    ‘However, this does mean that technically he isn’t orphaned, so if his father was able to look after him that would be an option for Edward.’
    ‘Ted is sixteen in September, he doesn’t know his father at all and Mr and Mrs Cobley wanted the children to stay together. It specifically stated it in their wills.’
    ‘Yes, of course, but Edward’s father should be made aware of the situation.’
    ‘Okay. I’ll tell him,’ said Charlie, who had absolutely no intention of doing so. ‘I know that it’s not straightforward having joint guardians so we wondered if Helen’s father, Roger Talbot, could be the children’s guardian instead?’
    ‘Oh, I wasn’t aware there were any other family members?’ Camille seemed to brighten up, as she poised her pen over her notebook. ‘How old is Mr Talbot and where does he live?’
    ‘He was seventy last year, they had a big party for him at the nursing home,’ said Charlie and she saw Camille’s brightness fade. ‘He has all his marbles, he’s only there because he’s got really bad arthritis.’
    ‘I see,’ said Camille as she made some notes.
    ‘Will I be able to stay on after the guardian is appointed?’
    ‘I don’t know, that would be up to the guardian, but what if you get a better job offer? What then?’
    ‘I stay here,’ said Charlie bluntly. ‘It’s not just a job to me.’
    ‘Yes, of course, but people’s priorities change and I need to check that everyone understands the implications of any arrangements. And, as I explained, the final decision will rest with a judge.’ She gave a weak smile and Charlie started to feel sweat form on her top lip.
    ‘Have the children returned to school?’ asked Camille.
    ‘No, not yet but both the schools have been really supportive. The tutors are in regular contact and have sent work across so that they