The Girl Who Wanted to Belong, Book 5 Read online

  After falling out with her mum, Gemma left home at sixteen and went to live with her boyfriend’s family. At the same time Lucy was offered the chance of a summer job, working at some stables on the other side of the country. She jumped at the chance. Lucy was sixteen now too, and about to leave school. We spoke to Social Services and were told that if she took up the position her placement with us would have to officially come to an end, as she’d be away for at least three months and out of our care. When we explained this to her she announced, ‘It’s OK. I’ll just go home afterwards.’

  It transpired that Lucy had spoken to Wendy and Dean about this possibility already. They had told her they would be happy to have her back once she’d left school, as long as she paid keep. Lucy was confident she’d pick up work locally after her summer job ended and she agreed to pay them a certain sum each week. Incidentally, we found out later that Gemma had fallen out with Wendy over money, preferring to stay with her boyfriend than pay Wendy the cut of her hairdressing salary she asked for each week.

  Jonathan and I were very concerned about how the arrangement would work out once Lucy finally moved back home – if she ever did. She’d pined for years to do this and now her childhood was almost over. It smacked of too little too late, and I didn’t like the fact she could only return if she paid her way. Lucy wouldn’t be earning much, however hard she worked. Of course, we didn’t interfere. Lucy was very happy with the turn of events and her attitude was, ‘I told you all along I was going home!’ We didn’t want to burst her bubble and kept our worries to ourselves. As for her seemingly blasé reaction to leaving us after all these years, we understood Lucy didn’t mean to hurt our feelings. Deep down she cared a great deal about us; we knew that and that’s what mattered. She was young and making her way in the world, and we had to put our feelings second.

  Lucy had a fabulous summer and gained valuable work experience. Unfortunately, just as we feared, things started to unravel not long after Lucy finally moved back in with her family. She rowed with Wendy from the word go and within a few months she asked if she could move back in with us. After checking with Social Services we welcomed her, of course, despite the fact we were no longer her foster carers. We set about helping her find a place in supported lodgings nearby, which are provided by Social Services to help children leaving care to live semi-independently. Lucy moved into her own flat when she was seventeen, and for her birthday we bought her a course of driving lessons. I sat with her every night for weeks on end to help her through the driving theory test, which she found very difficult. Happily, she passed both the theory and the practical test first time and from that moment on began working even harder than before, doing whatever manual work she could find so she could buy her first car – a red Polo that was constantly breaking down! Lucy loved having her head under the bonnet as much as she loved driving and eventually she took a mechanic’s apprenticeship and did day release at our local college.

  Today, Lucy is 30 years old. She runs her own MOT business with her partner Michael and they are expecting their first child next year. They have settled in a town many miles from us but we still see Lucy at least once a year. The last time was at a reunion party we held at home just a few months ago, and she always calls in to see us if she’s in the area or passing through. She also phones us every week, without fail. She is still in regular contact with her family too, but she is not close with any of them and, from what she tells me, she has no expectations any more. She never did see her birth mother again, despite several years of broken promises made to Social Services, when Noreen agreed to supervised contact sessions then backed out and made excuses at the last minute. Lucy took it all in her stride, just as she eventually learned to do with the rest of the family.

  ‘That’s the best way,’ she said to me, when we had a quiet moment together at the reunion party. ‘I’ve learned that from Michael. He made me see that you can’t change people and you just have to get on and do the best you can. All I can do is be myself. I accept that Wendy won’t ever change, or my dad, or anybody else. I don’t know why they’re the way they are, but that’s how it is. I’m doing OK despite them. It’s their loss.’

  I was the first person Lucy called to share the news of her pregnancy. I was thrilled to bits for her and Michael, and I told her I felt very honoured to be the first to know.

  ‘You deserve it. You and Jonathan are diamonds, and I’m going to be taking all my parenting tips from you when this little one comes along.’

  It was a heart-warming compliment and brought a tear to my eye. I can’t wait to see Lucy in action. I’m sure she’ll be a wonderful mother and I can’t put into words how happy I am that she will finally have a family of her own – one to which she belongs, unconditionally.

  Other stories by foster mum Angela Hart. . .

  The Girl With Two Lives

  A Shocking Childhood. A Foster Carer Who Understood.

  A Young Girl’s Life Forever Changed

  As I stepped back into the kitchen, Danielle looked very proud as she held her notepad up for me to see.

  ‘Finished!’ she declared cheerfully. I was surprised to see that the surname Danielle had printed wasn’t the one I’d seen on her paperwork from Social Services, and so I asked her casually if she used two different names, which often happens when children come from broken homes.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘But this is the surname I’m going to use from now on, because it’s the name of my forever family.’

  Danielle has been excluded from school and her former foster family can no longer cope. She arrives as an emergency placement at the home of foster carer Angela Hart, who soon suspects that there is more to the young girl’s disruptive behaviour than meets the eye. Can Angela’s specialist training unlock the horrors of Danielle’s past and help her start a brave new life?

  Available now in paperback and ebook.

  The Girl and the Ghosts

  The true story of a haunted little girl and the foster carer who rescued her from the past

  ‘So, is it a girl or a boy, and how old?’ Jonathan asked as soon as we were alone in the shop.

  My husband knew from the animated look on my face, and the way I was itching to talk to him, that our social worker had been asking us to look after another child.

  I filled Jonathan in as quickly as I could and he gave a thin, sad smile.

  ‘Bruises?’ he said. ‘And a moody temperament? Poor little girl. Of course we can manage a few days.’

  I gave Jonathan a kiss on the cheek. ‘I knew you’d say that. It’s exactly what I thought.’

  We were well aware that the few days could run into weeks or even longer, but we didn’t need to discuss this. We’d looked after dozens of children who had arrived like Maria, emotionally or physically damaged, or both. We’d do whatever it took to make her feel loved and cared for while she was in our home.

  Seven-year-old Maria holds lots of secrets. Why won’t she tell how she got the bruises on her body? Why does she run and hide? And why does she so want to please her sinister stepfather?

  It takes years for devoted foster carer Angela Hart to uncover the truth as she helps Maria leave the ghosts of her past behind.

  Available now in paperback and ebook.

  The Girl Who Just Wanted to be Loved

  A damaged little girl and a foster carer who wouldn’t give up

  The first time we ever saw Keeley was in a Pizza Hut. She was having lunch with her social worker.

  ‘Unfortunately Keeley’s current placement is breaking down,’ our support social worker, Sandy, had explained. ‘We’d like to move her as soon as possible.’

  We’d looked after more than thirty youngsters over the years, yet I never failed to feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of caring for another one.

  Sandy began by explaining that Keeley was eight years old and had stayed with four sets of carers and been in full-time care with two different families.

  ‘Why have the plac
ements not worked out?’ I asked.

  ‘Both foster carers tell similar stories. Keeley’s bad behaviour got worse instead of better as time went on. That’s why we’re keen for you to take her on, Angela. I’m sure you’ll do a brilliant job.’

  Eight-year-old Keeley looks like the sweetest little girl you could wish to meet, but demons from the past make her behaviour far from angelic. She takes foster carer Angela on a rocky and very demanding emotional ride as she fights daily battles against her deep-rooted psychological problems. Can the love and specialist care Angela and husband Jonathan provide help Keeley triumph against the odds?

  Available now in paperback and ebook.

  Terrified

  The heartbreaking true story of a girl nobody loved and the woman who saved her

  Vicky stared through the windscreen, her eyeballs glazed like marbles. She was sitting completely rigid in her seat, frozen with fear.

  I took a deep breath and then asked Vicky as gently as possible, if she was alright.

  ‘I’m here, right beside you Vicky. Can you hear me? I’m here and I can help you.’

  She still didn’t respond in any way at all. Her normally rosy cheeks had turned ivory white and the expression of terror on her face was like nothing I’d seen before: I had never seen a child look so scared in all my life.

  ‘Take a deep breath, love. That’s what I’ve just done. Just breathe and try to calm yourself down. You’re with me, Angela, and you’re safe.’

  Vicky seemed all self-assurance and swagger when she came to live with Angela and Jonathan as a temporary foster placement. As Vicky’s mask of bravado began to slip, she was overtaken with episodes of complete terror. Will the trust and love Angela and her husband Jonathan provide enable Vicky to finally overcome her shocking past?

  Available now in paperback and ebook.

  The Girl with No Bedroom Door

  A true short story

  Fourteen-year-old Louise has been sleeping rough after running away from her previous foster home. Unloved and unwashed, she arrives at foster carer Angela Hart’s door stripped of all self-esteem. Can Angela’s love and care help Louise blossom into a confident and happy young woman?

  Available now in ebook

  First published 2018 by Bluebird

  This electronic edition published 2018 by Bluebird Books for Life

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan

  20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-1-5098-7487-3

  Copyright © Angela Hart 2018

  Cover image: photo posed by a model plainpicture/Image Source/Emma Kim

  The right of Angela Hart to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Certain details in this story, including names, places and dates, have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.

  Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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