Chapter 10: Violet - The Foster Child

I’ve been thinking about my visit to Virginia Cottage all weekend. It was good to see Cora and Lori again and so nice to feel part of the family. I know it’s been fourteen years but I’ve never forgotten it and memories flood through my mind. I’d really enjoyed being fostered by them until Lori ruined it. I was looking forward to having a younger sister but it didn’t work out how I expected.

It was okay at first but Lori was so spoilt she hated Cora or Dale giving me any attention. I tried hard to be friends with her but all she wanted to do was play. I was nine, I was too old for playing, not that I’d had much chance to play with my parents. I was always tidying up, running errands, being their little slave while they drank themselves into oblivion. My nan looked out for me when I was little but then she died and I was on my own.

Lori didn’t know how lucky she was, she had a beautiful bedroom, full of toys and no one expected her to do anything. When she saw me helping, wiping up the dishes or putting the vacuum around, she tried to help too but she made a mess of it. That’s why she wanted to get me sent away, because she was jealous.

I just wanted Lori to like me, and to stop pretending she was scared of me. They all thought I was bullying her but I wasn’t. I was protecting myself.

I didn’t mean to hurt her, I just wanted to keep this lovely life that had suddenly been given to me. No one gave me a chance to explain or took the time to think about how I felt.

Cora is the only one who has ever been a mother to me and now I’ve found her again I don’t want to lose her.

I’m not at work at the hairdresser’s on Monday so I decide to write a Christmas card for Cora and Elliot and take it to her when she’s finished work. Then she might invite me in for a cup of coffee. Elliot will if he’s there, I’m sure. I bought a box of Christmas cards last week to send to the ladies at the salon, so I fetch them out. Then Anita rings me.

‘Violet, I have to take Tilly to the hospital, I think she’s sprained her ankle. Can you come over, please? I’m not sure how long we’ll be and I don’t want to leave Caleb alone. It’s teacher training day so he isn’t at school.’

Caleb’s thirteen and thinks he’s too old to have a babysitter but Anita won’t leave him in the house on his own, since the time he was making himself some toast and almost set the place on fire. It’s ridiculous really. I was making toast at seven. I had to if I didn’t want to starve.

‘Of course. I’ll be right over.’ I never mind going to the Taylor-Browns’. Their house is amazing, all the mod cons. And I can help myself to anything I want. Anita has given me a key so I can let myself in and often asks me to pop over and get some washing out of the machine and hang it on the line for her or do the kids some tea. I only work part-time at the hairdresser’s so it supplements my income. The kids are okay, Caleb is a typical teenager, always on his computer and never answers in a full sentence, Tilly is six and reminds me of Lori. She wants lots of attention and hates it when her mum or dad aren’t there. Lucky her. I was always better off without my mum and dad.

I shove the box of Christmas cards in a drawer and set off.

Caleb is out when I arrive so I open the fridge and pour myself a drink then put the TV on to catch up on a drama I’m watching on Netflix.

Caleb, dressed in his usual tracky bottom and hoody, comes in a bit later, with Duchess, their Dobermann. She’s very regal looking, the name suits her. She’s a red and rust colour and walks very gracefully. She runs over for a fuss as soon as she sees me.

‘Hello, Duch,’ I say as I stroke her. We all call her Duch for short. ‘Where have you been?’ I ask Caleb.

‘To see Nan.’ Anita’s mum lives in one of the bungalows by The Green, Caleb adores her and she spoils him. ‘What are you doing here?’ he asks.

‘Your mum asked me to come over. What’s happened to Tilly?’

He shrugs. ‘She’s hurt her ankle. Mum said it was all that school secretary’s fault.’

Cora? ‘Why, what did she do?’

Caleb shrugs again. ‘She was supposed to be watching her but was too busy on the phone. Mum said that she was lucky Tilly didn’t break her ankle.’

‘Oh no! Poor Tilly,’ I say sympathetically.

Anita returns with Tilly over an hour later. The little girl has a bandage around her ankle and is hobbling.

Caleb hugs her. ‘Does it hurt bad?’

Tilly nods, tears spilling out of her eyes.

‘That stupid woman should have been looking out for her, not chatting on the phone,’ Anita says, fuming. ‘She should get the sack.’

‘How did it happen?’ I ask.

‘According to the secretary, Tilly was playing up, then started rocking backwards and forwards on the chair and it toppled over. I don’t believe a word of it. Tilly never acts up like that.’

‘She’s nasty. She shouted at me,’ Tilly tells Caleb, tears glistening in her eyes.

Caleb’s eyes darken. He adores Tilly, he’ll do anything for her. And Anita looks furious. She isn’t going to let this drop.

‘I bought you a present, Tilly,’ I say, taking the gift I wrapped earlier out of my handbag.

Tilly’s face lights up in delight as she unwraps it. ‘A glitter unicorn bag charm! Thank you.’ She hugs me in delight.

‘You spoil her,’ Anita says but I can see that she’s pleased.

‘She’s worth it. She’s a good girl, aren’t you, Tilly?’

Tilly’s eyes meet mine and she nods.