Chosen Child Read Online Free

he said.
    ‘We can sell it. Two cars are a bit of a luxury, anyway. And
if we get her, I’ll want to give up working for a year or two. I’ve spoken to
Sheila West – the temp we had last year while Jill was on maternity leave would
like to come back, so I can stop anytime.’
    Rick grunted, and Ella sat thinking about the questions she
had for Mel. Soraya had been in care since she was ten months old, but had only
recently been released for adoption. Her current foster home was her sixth. It
seemed like a lot of being shifted around for a very young child who could have
used some stability.
    Mel’s home was a 1930s, detached house on the edge of the
Redruth. Soraya was standing at a downstairs window when Rick pulled up
outside. She immediately vanished, to reappear at the front door, and Ella’s
heart thumped uncomfortably as she and the child faced each other. Soraya’s
hair was in bunches today, and her black leggings and oversized t-shirt emphasised
her slightness.
    ‘Are you going to play with me?’
    Her eyes were huge, and the lump in Ella’s throat was so big
she could hardly speak. Oh yes, this was her child. Please, please, this had to
work out for them.
    She blinked hard and managed to speak normally. ‘We’re
having a chat with your Auntie Mel first, and then I’m sure we’ll have enough
time to play.’
    ‘Bum. I wanted a long time.’
    ‘You’re here!’ Soraya’s foster mother came up behind her.
‘In you come. Soraya, you’ve said hello, so off you go and do your homework
while we have a chat. I’ll call you down when we’re ready.’
    Ella smiled warmly at the child and followed Mel into a
sunny sitting room where three shabby sofas were grouped round a red brick
fireplace. The tightness in her middle eased when Ella saw that ‘Auntie Mel’
was pleasant and informal. The older woman talked about Soraya’s life in the
foster family, giving Ella the impression that the girl was a handful, but with
the right guidance an easy enough child to live with.
    ‘The thing to do with Soraya is set clear boundaries right
from the word go,’ she said. ‘She’s been here eight months and she’s really
come along well.’
    ‘Why has she had so many foster homes?’ asked Ella.
    ‘She was unlucky a couple of times – one set of foster
parents had to give up because of illness in the family, and in another place
Soraya had massive issues with the couple’s own child. For a long time the aim
was to reunite her with her mother, but she died last year. Soraya was sent to
us on a long-term placement, and if she isn’t adopted she’ll stay here.’
    Mel had given them a way out, thought Ella as she and Rick
went upstairs to Soraya’s room. Knowing the child had a permanent foster home
now would make it easier to step away. Would Rick still agree to carry on, knowing
Soraya’s foster mother thought she was a ‘handful’?
    The little girl danced around the bedroom she shared with
her eleven-year-old foster-sister, showing them her possessions and chattering
non-stop. Ella sat on the bed and devoured the child with her eyes. Did Soraya
know they were interested in adopting her? If she did she made no mention of
it. She produced a variety of soft toys for them to admire, and allowed Ella to
reorganise the doll’s house. Rick asked about reading and was shown a box of
picture books. He pulled out The Tiger Who Came To Tea ,
and Soraya sat on the floor while Ella read aloud.
    ‘Ever seen a real tiger?’ asked Ella, after the story.
Soraya shook her head.
    ‘Never been to the zoo?’
    Another shake. Then, heartbreakingly, ‘Who are you?’
    Ella reached out and squeezed the small hand. ‘We’re your
visitors. We hope we’ll be able to come again, and maybe you’ll visit us too.’
    ‘Like Auntie Mel?’
    ‘No, we’re not foster parents. We’re just – people.’
    ‘Can we go to the zoo, then?’
    Ella nudged Rick – this was supposed to be a three-way
conversation – but he made no