Bittersweet

~ ~ Shocks Ahead... ~ ~

~ ~ Jenna ~ ~

As expected, Ms Critchet from Child Services turned up at four on the dot.  Offering her a drink, which she politely declined, we all sat down.  I sat next to Gabe as our legs brushed up against one another; he reached for my hand, and our fingers entwined.  His anxiety was almost palpable, as was mine.

This was something we had both been expecting. Even so, I didn't want to believe we would have to return Elijah to his mother.  The thought was horrifying.

Jake and Janelle had thankfully stayed and were playing with the children outside in the garden. And I could hear Ava's giggles.

"It's a lovely home you have here." said Mrs Critchet, pushing her thin rimmed glasses up her nose as she surveyed our home.  She reminded me of an old schoolteacher. 

"Thanks, it has a great garden for the kids." I honestly don't know why I was telling her this, but it felt like we were under inspection.

"You needed to talk to us?"  asked Gabe obviously wanting to move this along.

"Yes.  We've had contact from Elijah mother—A Mrs Alison Martinez?" she double checked her file.

"That's not Al's name. What—Is she married now?"  he turned to look at me, shrugging.

"Yes, recently according to the notes logged by my colleague."

I couldn't believe in this short amount of time, she'd unloaded her child, disappeared without trace and got married?  Gabe had told me stories of some of the crazy things she had done—but this was just unreal.  I honestly didn't believe people acted this way.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"Seemingly... Mexico." She pushed her glasses up again as her lips drew into a thin line.  Apparently, Ms Critchet wasn't impressed either.

Gabe swallowed as he squeezed my hand. "So, she's turned up looking for Elijah?"

She shook her head.  "No, lawyers have contacted us on her behalf."

"She wants Elijah back, doesn't she?" I could hear Gabe's heart shatter as he gripped my hand a little tighter.

So many questions ran around my head.  Surely she couldn't just drop her child and pick him up when she felt like it.  There had to be some protection for Elijah?  "Can she do that—just turn up and demand him back?" My words came out in a rush. 

"What about the charges of child abandonment or endangerment?" My anger rose along with the pitch of my tone.  I side-glanced Gabe to see if he was thinking along the same lines.

"I'm sorry I'm unable to discuss her case. But I've been me aware they have dropped the charges against her."  Ms Critchet's mouth twisted in disgust.

Goddammit!  How had she managed that?

Gabe snapped me from my thoughts. "You said she's in Mexico... Will she be coming back to LA to live?"