'Dunno,' Jade said.

Fifteen minutes later the ambulance pulled into the ambulance park at the side of the main A&E entrance. Dave got out and opened the rear doors, and then he took out and unfolded the wheelchair. Lyn helped Jade off the couch and down the steps while I followed with Jade's coat, which she'd taken off in the ambulance. Once seated in the wheelchair, Jade took out her phone and was about to use it. 'Not in the hospital, Jade,' I said. 'It affects the instruments.' She sighed but closed her phone.

Lyn called a goodbye and stayed with the ambulance while I followed Dave, pushing Jade in the wheelchair. We went into the hospital, down a short corridor and into a curtained cubicle. A nurse appeared and helped Jade out of the wheelchair and on to the couch. Dave collapsed the wheelchair and said goodbye. I thanked him as he left.

'Is me mum here?' Jade asked the nurse.

'I'll find out in a moment,' she said, setting up the monitor.

'Shall I have a look?' I asked, to save her the trouble.

'Yes please, and can you register Jade at reception?'

I left the cubicle and went down the corridor that led into the main reception and waiting area. It was busy, with the rows of seats full of people waiting to be seen. As I appeared through the double doors Jackie rushed up to me.

'I've just arrived,' she said, breathless. 'How is she?'

'A nurse is with Jade now,' I said. 'I guess we'll know more when she's been seen by a doctor. I've been asked to register Jade. Can you come, as you know all her medical history?'

Jackie and I went to the reception desk, where Jackie gave the information that was requested, and then I showed her through the double doors, back down the corridor and to the cubicle where I'd left Jade.

'Oh Mum!' Jade cried as soon as she saw her mother.

Jackie went over and hugged her daughter, all previous hostility between them now gone.

'The doctor will be in to see Jade soon,' the nurse said, and left the cubicle.

Jackie pulled the only chair in the cubicle closer to the bed head and sat beside her daughter while I hovered at the foot of the bed. Jade seemed to be more relaxed now she was in hospital and had stopped groaning; I suppose she felt rea.s.sured. While I was more than happy to stay for as long as necessary, as mother and daughter talked I began to feel I was intruding and that perhaps I should offer to leave Jackie alone with her daughter for a while. I was thinking of suggesting that I sat in the waiting area when Jade looked up from the bed and said, a little rudely: 'You can go home now. Me mum's staying with me.'

'I can stay,' Jackie confirmed, glancing at me. 'Margaret is looking after the kids. She can stay all night if necessary.'

Had Jade been a younger child in care I would have had to stay even if the child's mother had been present; as the foster carer the child was my responsibility, and to leave her alone with her mother would have been unsupervised contact. But at Jade's age she could decide who she wanted with her in hospital and she wanted her mother, not me.

'All right, if you're sure,' I said.

'Yeah. I'll see what the doctor says and take it from there,' Jackie said.

'I want you to stay, Mum!' Jade cried theatrically, grabbing her mother's hand.

'Yes, I'm staying, baby,' Jackie said. Then to me: 'Give me your number and I'll phone you when there's any news.'

'Thank you,' I said, and gave Jackie my mobile number. 'Do you want me to get you a coffee or anything from the machine before I leave?'

'No thanks, love. I had one earlier.'

I said goodbye to Jade and Jackie and came out of the cubicle, still not really knowing if Jade was in labour. It was now after 9.00 p.m. and I went through reception and outside, where I stood under the canopied entrance and phoned for a cab. While I waited for the cab to arrive I phoned Homefinders. Jill answered and I updated her.

'Thanks, Cathy,' she said. 'Jade will be in the hospital overnight whatever the outcome, so go home and get some sleep and I'll speak to you in the morning.'

The cab arrived ten minutes later and so did Tyler, although he didn't see me, as he was in too much of a hurry, and ran straight past.

It was 9.30 when I arrived home and Adrian and Paula were asleep in bed. Sue was watching television. I told Sue I'd left Jade with her mother, who would phone me when there was any news.

'Jade's very young to be having a baby,' Sue said.

'I know.' Sue, like most of my friends, appreciated I couldn't discuss the children I fostered and didn't press me for more details.

I thanked Sue again as I saw her out. 'You're welcome,' she said.

I was exhausted but I knew I wouldn't sleep; I was still high on adrenalin. I made a hot drink and with my mobile on the sofa beside me I watched television until eleven o'clock. Then, more relaxed, I settled Toscha in her basket in the kitchen and went upstairs. I was asleep within minutes and I slept soundly until 6.00 a.m.

As soon as I woke, my thoughts went to Jade and I took my mobile from the bedside cabinet. A text had come through at 3.21 from a number my phone didn't recognize. I opened it: Jade had a baby girl at 3 a.m. Courtney. 6lb 8oz. They're both well. Jackie x

Chapter Eleven.

'Smelly Baby'

I thought 6.00 a.m. was probably too early to telephone Jackie, especially as she would have been at the hospital most of the night, so I texted: Congratulations! Love Cathy x. I texted the same message to Jade, who I guessed would have her mobile switched on at the hospital, I hoped on silent.

Before getting out of bed I telephoned Jill, who I a.s.sumed would just be finishing night duty. I was right.

She yawned as she spoke. 'Hi, Cathy. Any news?'

'Yes. Jade had a baby girl at three o'clock this morning. Courtney. Six pounds eight ounces. Jackie texted that they are both fine.'

'Fantastic,' Jill said, rallying from her tiredness. 'That is good news. Although at six pounds eight ounces she doesn't sound like a premature baby to me more like full term. Do you know if she's in an incubator?'

'Jackie didn't say. But I think she would have mentioned it if she was, so I guess not.'

'So it's likely Jade had her dates wrong. Oh well, at least they are both well. Do you have any other details?'

'No. Just the text message.'

'OK. I'll phone Rachel later when I've had a sleep. In the meantime let the agency know if you hear any more news, please.'

'I will.'

The arrival of a baby whatever the circ.u.mstances of its birth or the problems surrounding the mother is, I feel, a miracle. A new life is truly a wondrous occasion and guaranteed to raise the spirits and put a smile on anyone's face. As I showered and dressed that morning my heart was light, lighter than it had been since Jade had arrived, for I hoped no, believed that now Jade was responsible for a baby she would turn her life around and get back on track. I therefore envisaged a happy ending to what could have been a very tragic story.

I was still very light-hearted when I woke first Paula and then Adrian and told them it was time to get up and ready for school. 'Jade had her baby last night,' I said to each of them, smiling. 'She's called Courtney and they are both well.'

Paula was more impressed than Adrian and, grinning broadly, she said, 'I'm telling all my friends at school that our big girl has a baby.' And with a little clap of her hands she leapt out of bed.

Adrian was more reserved, natural for a lad of twelve, and said: 'I hope she's not bringing it here. Babies cry a lot and smell disgusting!'

'Adrian,' I admonished lightly, opening his bedroom curtains. 'You were a baby once. Just as well I didn't think that about you. Babies smell lovely. But no, Jade won't be bringing her baby here. Her social worker will have found her a mother-and-baby placement by the time Jade leaves hospital.

Just before I left the house that morning to take Paula to school I received a text from Jackie in response to the one I'd sent earlier, congratulating her: Thanks. Tkng day off work 2 go 2 the hospital. Which added to my feeling of well-being: now Jackie was reunited with her daughter and was supporting her, all would be well.

Let me know if there's anything I can do, I texted back.

Thnk u, came the reply.

For the same reason I hadn't stayed at the hospital the night before that Jade had wanted her mother I didn't go to the hospital that morning. After taking Paula to school I went home, got on with the housework and some foster-carer training I had been asked to facilitate, and waited for news. I didn't really expect to hear anything for a couple of hours, as Jill would be sleeping after being on night duty and Rachel would be busy arranging Jade's transfer. At some point I'd have to pack up Jade's belongings and either they would be collected or I would take them to wherever Jade was being discharged to. If I was honest, in terms of a fostering placement Jade's stay with me hadn't really been very rewarding; I didn't feel I'd achieved much. Rachel had asked me to teach her home-care skills, but Jade had hardly been at home, so that other than advising her about her diet fewer fry-ups and biscuits and more fresh fruit and vegetables teaching her anything hadn't really been possible.

By one o'clock I was expecting news at any moment, so when the phone rang at 1.30 I sprang to answer it. As I thought it might be, it was Rachel, and from the quick way in which she spoke I could tell she was very busy and stressed.

'Sorry I haven't phoned sooner,' she began. 'I've been on the phone all morning trying to arrange Jade's transfer. I've left a message with Homefinders and Jill will phone you later. We've got a problem. There's still only one mother-and-baby placement free at present and that is out of the county. The carer is a lovely lady and an experienced carer but Jade is refusing to go. I've just spoken to Jackie again and she says Jade is adamant she won't move out of the area, even for a few weeks.'

'So there's no chance of Jade going home, then?' I asked. 'Now she is reunited with her mother?'

'No. There isn't the s.p.a.ce. Also Jackie's at work for a large part of each day and has her other kids to look after. She can't give Jade the support and supervision she'll need; she struggled before. Now Jade has the baby she'll need someone with her to help and advise her.' Which I understood. 'I've spoken to the ward sister,' Rachel continued. 'And they're waiting to discharge Jade, but she's refusing to go if she has to live outside the county. She's really dug her heels in, little madam.' Rachel paused to take a breath and I thought she was going to ask me if I could go to the hospital and try to persuade Jade to go, but Rachel said: 'So I was wondering if Jade could come back to you? Just for the time being, until I can sort something out.'

'So the baby's staying in hospital?' I asked, misunderstanding what Rachel was saying.

'No. Courtney is healthy and nearly full term. There is no reason to keep her in hospital. They will both need to come to you.'

'Oh,' I said. 'Well, no. That's not possible. I don't have any baby equipment. And Jade's room isn't big enough for two. It's a single room.'

'Yes, I know, I've seen the room and it's big enough short term. There's enough s.p.a.ce for a cot, and Jade is used to sharing. I could speak to Jill about helping you get the baby things you need.'

I felt my pulse start to race. 'When? Which day is she being discharged?'

'She's free to go now.'

'But Rachel, it's after one thirty! I'll be going to school in just over an hour to collect Paula. I've nothing here ready for a baby. Nothing. Sorry, I can't do it.'

It went quiet at the other end of the phone and I hoped Rachel appreciated that her request was totally impractical, although I understood why she'd asked me. There are never enough foster carers, especially specialists who can take a mother and baby, and while I always tried to help the social services whenever I could this just wasn't possible.

'What if I asked the hospital to keep Jade and Courtney for another night?' Rachel now said, coming back on the line. 'Would that give you enough time to prepare?'

I was about to say no it takes weeks to prepare for the arrival of a baby but I stopped and thought. Then I made some funny umm and errr noises. I had a cot and pram packed away in the loft. They'd been Adrian's and Paula's, and I'd used them three years previously when I'd looked after Harrison (whose story I told in A Baby's Cry). At that time I'd bought a new mattress for the cot, and Rachel had just said she would speak to Jill about helping me with the other baby equipment I needed. I ummed and ahhed some more and then said: 'What time tomorrow? It can't be in the morning. I need time to prepare.'

'If I arranged their discharge for one o'clock, would that give you enough time?'

My thoughts raced. 'I'll need to know what Jade has and what I need to buy,' I said, thinking aloud. 'Then I could go shopping to get what I need first thing in the morning after I've taken Paula to school.'

'So is one o'clock all right with you, then?' Rachel asked, pressing me for a definite response.

'I guess so,' I said. 'Yes. All right.'

'Thank you. You're a star!' Rachel declared, sounding very relieved. 'I'll phone the hospital now and speak to the ward sister. Then I'll talk to Jade, Jackie, Jill, and get back to you.'

I didn't feel like a star; I felt panic-stricken. Whatever had I agreed to? I walked away from the phone trying to rea.s.sure myself that I liked a challenge and that I could rise to this one as I had risen to others. But fostering a teenage girl and her newborn baby was very different from the challenges I usually faced: children who were angry or withdrawn as a result of abuse or severe neglect. Was I up to it? Had I made the right decision? I sincerely hoped so.

Twenty minutes later I was releasing the loft ladders, ready to go into the loft to see what baby equipment was stored there, when the phone rang. Leaving the ladders in place, I went round the landing and answered the call in my bedroom. I was pleased to hear Jill in her best organizing mood.

'I'm making a list,' she began. 'Rachel's phoned and I've asked her to find out what Jade has at home so that we know what we need to get you. I've printed out the list of essential items from the maternity page of the hospital's website.'

'Thank you, Jill,' I said. 'That's a big help.' One of the great advantages of working for an independent fostering agency as opposed to a local authority is that their level of support is fantastic and practical when necessary. 'I'm just about to go into the loft and check what's up there,' I said. 'I'm sure there's a cot and a pram. Can I get back to you when I've had a look in about ten minutes?'

'Sure,' she said. 'Has Jade got any baby things with her at your place?'

'No. Nothing.'

'I had a feeling that might be so. OK. I'll let you get on and speak to you shortly.'

Returning round the landing I climbed the loft ladders, switched on the light and peered into the loft. Straight in front of me, wrapped in polythene to protect them from dust, were the dismantled cot and the three-in-one pram, which converted into a pushchair and a carry-car seat. I also spotted a bouncing cradle I'd forgotten I had, and the equipment I'd bought when I'd fostered Harrison: a new cot mattress, a baby bath, a changing mat and a sterilizing unit. All of which I'd packed away, intending to car-boot sale them at some point, never imagining I might need them again.

I carried them carefully down the loft ladders, one piece at a time, and stacked them on the landing. The cot would need a.s.sembling and I'd ask Adrian and Paula to help me later. It would be nice for them if they felt involved. Once I had all the baby equipment down I retracted the loft ladders and closed the hatch. Then I went round to my bedroom and phoned Jill. I went through the list of things I had, finishing with 'a cot but no bedding, and a sterilizer but no bottles'. For health and safety reasons to minimize the risk of spreading infection foster carers are advised to discard bottles and bedding once an infant has left them and not use them again for another baby, even though they will have been washed and sterilized.

'I've made a note,' Jill said. 'Rachel has spoken to Jackie and she says that apart from some baby toys and one packet of disposable nappies Jade hasn't bought anything. However, Jackie has. A few weeks ago she bought some first-size babygros, vests, socks and a shawl.'

'Sensible lady,' I said.

'Yes. Courtney will also need a warm zip-up suit to come home in from the hospital. It's cold. I've put that on the list. Also Jade says she doesn't want to breastfeed, so we'll need to get some bottles and formula milk.'

I gave a little sigh. 'There's so much to do and so little time.'

Then Jill said: 'We're reasonably quiet in the office at present. Shall I pop out and get you what you need now?'

'Oh, yes please, Jill, would you? I said, grateful. 'Thank you. That would be a big help.'

'Can you think of anything else?'

'Baby wipes and lotion?' I suggested.

'I've got those written down already.'

'I think that's all, then.'

I thanked Jill again and we said goodbye. I then went round the landing to Jade's bedroom, where I began preparing the room for Jade's return by first unpacking her case, which she'd never got around to doing. I stowed it out of the way on top of the wardrobe, made her bed, and folded away the clothes she'd left strewn across the furniture. I then pushed the bed to one side to make more s.p.a.ce in the room for the cot. Rachel was right: now the room was tidy there was s.p.a.ce for the cot.

On my way downstairs I took the sterilizing unit and bouncing cradle, and then returned for the pram, which I left in the hall. Seeing these items again sent my thoughts back to little Harrison and I remembered the apprehension I'd felt when I had first been asked to foster him a tiny newborn baby. I had worried then that I wouldn't remember what to do, as my last experience of looking after a baby had been with my daughter Paula five years previously. But of course I'd remembered what to do, just as I would remember when Courtney arrived, although this would be a little different, for it wouldn't be me who was looking after the baby but Jade. I would be on hand to advise Jade and keep an eye on the welfare of them both. And as I began to picture how I could help Jade look after Courtney my anxiety lessened and I found I was actually looking forward to their arrival. I just hoped Adrian and Paula agreed.

'Yippee!' Paula said when I told her that afternoon as I met her from school. 'I'm going to tell Sara and Maxine!' And she skipped across the playground to share her good news with her two closest friends.