On September 21st, Daisy Dale’s life with Joey changed forever. Two police officers showed up at her door and handcuffed Joey Piccolo as they arrested him for a long list of accused crimes; the rape and aggrivated assault of Alyssa Cavell, the attempted rape of Fiona Reinhardt, the attempted rape of Addison O’Brian, assaulting Noelle Peterson and the attempted abduction of Iris Page. Daisy almost fell over. These women were clearly setting up her Joey! He couldn’t have done all that! Thankfully Olivia wasn’t there to see him in handcuffs….but maybe that was all part of the plan. Social services had failed her on the inspection and they were now contacting her way too much wanting her to fill out little reports on her parenting and Olivia’s health, suggesting counselling and parenting classes? Oh please! And then Joey was gone….she could barely focus. She was at work on September 28th when she overheard her boss, Sherry Martin say “Joey’s out.” Like she was talking about the weather. Daisy asked to take her break right then and there and rushed to the police station.Who had posted his bail? She couldn’t. She saw him standing there collecting his personal belongings. “Who gave you the money?” Daisy asked in wonder. She was in her oldest jeans and a grey sweatshirt and white runners with her hair in a ponytail. Daisy had a hard time getting pretty these days since she was so sad about Joey.
Brooke Martin was sitting cross legged on one of the waiting area chairs but Daisy either hadn’t seen her or was too focussed on Joey. she was scrolling on her phone and cracking her chewing gum. Let Joey say it. It would be fun. Brooke was wearing a white dress that was really a large body bandaid with a cropped jean jacket over it and thigh high black boots. Her dyed blonde hair spilled all around her shoulders and she had bright red lipstick on.
Joey Piccolo stood, putting his personal effects back on his person. There wasn’t much, really. His wallet, which he only checked to make sure it had his monty still in it. It did. Then there were his keys. House and van, but his van had been impounded as evidence, which was more than annoying. He’d been sure he’d cleaned it out completely. As he put them in his jeans pocket, Daisy suddenly barged in, demanding to know where he’d gotten the money “Old friend.” he replied casually. “And they’re going to want me to pay them back. I’m not sure how, but it wasn’t for nothin.” he knew exactly how Brooke would want to be paid back and he would be more than happy to oblige her.
Now Brooke stands up and makes herself known to Daisy as she walks by Joey and pats his ass “You know how i like my payments Joey bunny.” She winks at Daisy “Nice of you to come say hello . He’s coming home with me. Actually ...he’s coming to the Olin….privacy...no parents and no little brats. You can keep the brat Daisy Dale…” And she sashays out the door.
Daisy looks stunned and then she stands there looking like she’s slowly beginning to boil like a whistling tea kettle. She huffs at Brooke a few times and as Brooke leaves she walks right up to Joey and winds up trying to slap him across the face if she can as she explodes on him “You lousy cheating motherfucker! How long has THIS been going on?!” One slap won’t be enough and she keeps advancing wildly swiping at Joey like she’s trying to possibly scratch his eyes out. Daisy is once again unhinged and it shows on her face. “You dumb fuck….she’s a fucking skank….you worthless piece of shit...I wish you were dead!” What am I going to tell our daughter you stupid asshole….”
As Daisy starts attacking Ryan Yamada jumps out from behind the counter and tries to restrain her “Miss Dale….Miss Dale...Daisy stop!” In the scuffle she manages to rake her claws down his face drawing blood “That’s enough already!”
Sam Wright comes out and physically restrains Daisy. “Daisy … damn it!” he can probably get her in a restraint and pull her away. “Come on …” he begins to drag her further into the station. “Yamada, your call on charges.” he calls as Daisy is likely still screaming.
Joey can't help but grin when Brooke pats his ass. Then that grin is smacked off of his face and he narrows his eyes. He doesn’t give her what she deserves, not right there in the police station. “I’ve been fucking Brooke for YEARS … since high school. Right along with you and Noelle. Brooke was just smart enough not to get knocked up and try to saddle me with a fuckin kid.” Daisy keeps trying to assault him, but he opens the cop shop door. “Tell her whatever you told her about all your other fucks, Daisy. With mommy, they cum and then they go.”
Daisy does get restrained by Sam but she is literally kicking and screaming, not even with words after Joey’s last words to her but more like a wounded animal.
Ryan puts a hand to his face and then looks at the blood on his fingers after as Sam has Daisy and Joey is still talking to her. Then she’s just screaming and he looks sorry for her “No charges... should we call the clinic?” Her reaction is straying beyond a woman scorned. Something is off.
Chris Peterson was making himself scarce as Joey was being released and doing some photocopying so he could face the other way but as Daisy freaks out more and he sees Joey leaving he begins to move towards Sam holding onto Daisy and Ryan standing there with his phone ready to call. Both he and Noelle’s foster parent applications had just been approved.
Sam struggles a bit and then is forced to wrestle Daisy to the floor. “Yea … call the clinic.” he handcuffs Daisy. He tries to get her up, but it’s no easy task. “Darcy. Lets get her there.”
Chris makes the call and then backs out of the way unless they need another person. He watches but doesn’t intervene if he can do that.
Daisy goes limp and then flails and shrieks. Her hair is about half out of it’s ponytail and her eyes are wide and wild. She’s a small woman but full of adrenalin right now.
Darcy goes to Sam and reaches to grab Daisy by one arm and shoulder “Jesus….between us...Daisy, please let us help you. You need help.”
Daisy glares at Darcy and then tries to both kick and headbutt her.
Darcy dodges both and then pulls out her taser and tases Daisy to incapacitate her a bit “I’m sorry about this.”
Daisy screams and convulses but her agility and reflexes are affected enough to be hauled to her feet and half walked half dragged to a cruiser.
Chris looks pained at how this has to go “Shit…..”
Ryan also shakes his head sadly. No one liked it when they had to force someone into a mental health crisis so they could get them the help they needed. He stood with Chris as Daisy was taken out. “She’s a friend of Noelle’s? And you guys have Olivia right now? Her daughter?””
Chris nodded “It’s been a complicated friendship but yeah. I’m glad Noelle’s not seeing this. It would be really upsetting for her…..she’s so out of reach. And yeah. We’re hoping to foster Olivia. I don’t think she can go home to Daisy until she’s gotten some serious help, maybe medication even.”
Sam worked with Darcy to get Daisy into the cruiser and down the street. He’d known Daisy for a log time and he’d never seen her like this. It was a little frightening.
Mary met the cruiser at the door to the emergency room. As she was brought in, Mary looked at Daisy. “Daisy. It’s Mary. Do you remember me?” it seemed a bit odd to ask to some, she suspected, as she lived two floors up, but Daisy appeared to be just that out of it.
Daisy has stopped lashing out but seems somewhat delirious. She looks at Mary like she doesn’t actually recognize her and shrinks away from her in fear “Get away from me you crazy bitch….” She tries to break free of the police but can’t until they’ve helped the clinic staff put her on a gurney. Then she struggles so much she rolls off the gurney and is on the floor.
Darcy sighs “I could tase her again but I hate to do it twice. I’m assuming you can sedate her Mary…”
Mary gets that Daisy doesn’t recognise her and has stood while Daisy flopped to the floor. She knows her limitations and at her height, weight and age, she has no business physically wrestling with the patient. “Dr. Rogers, could you help us please.” she knows Jasper is around, she just isn’t sure where and so she calls for him very generally. “MIlo, I’ll need four pont restraints once she’s on the gurney.” As she is giving the orders, Darcy offers to taser her again. She looks up at her, sharply. “You tased her?” she snaps. “That’s the worst thing you could do to her.” she is usually a very mild mannered woman, but now she is clearly angry. She snaps an order for a needle full of medication and looks at the officers again. “Tazing can make a psychotic episode worse, never mind the barbarism of the act.” she waits until they have her on the gurne, growling more to herself than to anyone. “Portable electrocution. Jesus Christ.”
Sam struggles with Daisy who has more energy than he ever thought possible. He can hear the doctors dressing down but only world to get Daisy on the stretcher where he cna help get her in the 4 point restraints.
Daisy is thrashing on the floor and still delirious “Where am I? Get the fuck away from me...stop touching me!” She’s loud and other patients waiting are staring with concern. As she lifted back to the gurney and restrained she starts screaming her head off like she’s on fire “You’re hurting me…..fucking assholes!”
Milo works with Sam to get Daisy into restraints but looks like he hates doing it “I’m sorry Daisy. We’re not trying to hurt you.”
Jasper has heard the cry for help from Mary as he was down the hall and cranes to see what he’s approaching. With a sigh he comes over. He’s seen this before, many times. He waits out the patient, Daisy who he treated for another recent breakdown, until she’s restrained because flailing she’s likely to just break off the needle and that won’t help anyone. He nods at Mary and Milo. reaching casually for the needle Mary has already, and the police and tries to speak to Daisy in a low and clam voice, despite her screaming “Daisy, no one’s going to hurt you here. You’re safe. You’re in the clinic. Try to find your breath…” Jasper has a very even way of speaking. He’s talked down prisoners from suicide attempts and talked others down from violent episodes of all kinds.
Darcy looks at Mary with pursed lips and then looks down at the taser on her belt “I wasn’t trying to make her worse by tasing her. I didn’t know. She was attacking officers who were trying to help her.” She lets out a humble sigh and stays out of it unless they need her. Darcy is aware she’s done more harm than good and she’s feeling the discomfort of it.
Jasper overhears the taser conversation and gives the officer in question a sidelong look of disapproval “Well that might explain the delirium..” He looks back to Daisy who is now restrained and then puts his hand on her arm soothingly before he gives her the shot “Just a quick pinch. You’re safe. We’ll help you….”
Daisy, now restrained, is just sobbing now but she eases slightly as she spoken to calmly, until she sees the needle and her eyes go wide again “No! Get the fuck away!” But then within a few moments she’s becoming sedate, in a drugged artificial calm.
Darcy looks at Sam with guilt and remorse.
Mary lets Jasper take the needle from her and give Daisy the injection. She double checks the injection site and sighs, moving some of the blonde hairs from Daisy’s face. “Alright, Daisy. I’m going to put you in Room 3 for a little bit and then we’’ll have a talk, okay. I’m Dr Henry. We’ve met before. We’ll work through it again.” she nods at Milo to take her into Room 3 and then looks at the cops once her patient is in the room. “Tasing isn't usually effective with a psychotic episode. It …” she stops herself. “I’m talking to the wrong people right now. I’ll be stopping by to speak to that Chief of yours before this day is done.” She is as small as Kaitlin Reinhardt, but can give a large presence and now she is. Blowing out a breath, she looks at the officers, now a bit calmer. “Tell me what happened, so I know in case Daisy can’t help herself right now.”
Sam blows out a breath. “We don’t get a lot of mental health training Dr. Henry.” he admits. “Just the basics on restraining belligerent suspects.” he glances at Darcy. “Well, it seems she came in either to bail out her boyfriend, or because someone else bailed him out…” he tells her what happened in the waiting area of the cop shop as Joey was being bailed out.
Mary sighs softly. “I understand that. You’re not unique. And I understand there isn’t time enough to decide if you're dealing with someone who is mentally ill or not. I just don’t care for portable electrocution devices.” she takes another deep breath. “Hopefully it isn’t too bad.” she listens to Sam and sighs. “Alright … I’ll also be calling Social Services.” she informs them. “Daisy will be here for a little bit. Hopefully no more than a 48 or 72 hour hold before I can release her. Involuntary, of course.” she nods. “If you will excuse me, I need to see to my patient.” and she slips into Room 3, unless someone stops her.
Milo wheels the gurney into room 3 and sets up Daisy in the space. She’s very docile now from both the sedative and possibly from her own exhaustion after her episode. He putters around and starts her a chart.
Jasper followed Milo to room 3 with concern for the patient. The sedative was taking hold and she was now drifting in and out of sleep. He was already gloved up from attending to her earlier. He checks her vitals as Milo works around him. This was Daisy’s second mental health crisis. She wasn’t much older than his own children. Jasper looked sadly at her, hoping they could help her more effectively this time.
Darcy stayed quiet as Mary and Sam spoke now. She was thoughtful. She nodded a bit as Sam spoke. They hadn’t had a lot ot training but Darcy felt like she should have known better and she was processing a lot of shame. She had PTSD herself and panic attacks. As Mary walks off she starts for the door with a slump in her shoulders. As they get out the door she admits regretfully to Sam “I fucked up.”
Jasper was still in room 3 as Mary came in. He head jutted at Daisy “She may sleep for awhile. Did the cops tell you anything about what happened?”
Mary enters and takes this newest part of Daisy Dale’s history into her hand, taking a pen and beginning ot make notes. She looks at Jasper. “Apparently she came in upset because a man named Joey Piccolo had gotten out of jail on bond … that another woman paid. Daisy attacked this Joey and the police tried to stop her. She became hysterical and…” she nods at Daisy on the gurney ties up arms and legs. “I don’t remember anyone named Joey … The last time she as he it was upset over a man named Seamus and his new girlfriend.” she sighs and looks at Jasper. “Apparently this Joey is the father of her daughter. And I called Social Services because she and the man she apparently moved in are not making a good home for the daughter. She’s 3. Daisy was pregnant at 15, had her at 16. She told me the father … Joey … didn’t want the baby. In any event … the child is possibly going to be removed from the home.” she tried to sort this new information to fit the last visit.
Sam pats Darcy on the arm. “You did what we are trained to do most of the time.” he argues, knowing that Daisy is well known in town. SHould they have known better to tase her when she was so upset? “Come on, lets go on our patrol. We can talk in the cruiser?”
Jasper listened with a frown to what Mary was unpacking about Daisy’s life and nodded along. His frown deepened at the information about the child and he looks at Daisy again, who’s now completely asleep “Does she know...I wonder….that she’s going to lose her daughter? I mean it sounds like there’s layers but that would make someone snap like that. I get that she’s responsible if they deemed her unfit. But if someone ever wanted to take my kids from me I’d probably lose it on someone too….”
Milo hangs the chart on the door and quietly slips out of the room. The doctors are deep in conversation and his tasks for now are completed in this room. He goes to other patients.
Darcy nods weakly at Sam and then gets in the car and leans her elbow on the passenger door letting her head rest in her hand after her seatbelt is on. “I should know better Sam…..I technically….I have a mental health condition myself.” She had never told Sam this directly though he may have guessed it at some point. “I have PTSD and panic attacks.”
Mary shakes her head. “I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. If she did know I can’t imagine her attacking the father of her child. That would be the exact opposite of what she needs to do. Then again ..” she looks at the young lady. “You would not, Jasper. You’d listen to what needed to be done to KEEP your kids and make the changes to improve your home.” she argues with him, but quietly with the sleeping patient in the room with them.
Sam shakes his head again. “As much as we might tease about how this person is crazy or that person is crazy … we never know.” he argues with her as he begins a slow circuit of the town. “We only have official diagnosis on one or two and Daisy isn’t one of them.”
Jasper shrugs “Sometimes people do the opposite of what would make sense. And I know I wouldn’t defy a social worker and lose my kids but I’m also not struggling with a mental illness. Maybe she can’t….maybe she can’t parent her child or keep her home in order.” His voice is quiet too. “I know you’re the psychiatrist, not me so let me know how I can best support you in her care.”
Darcy gives Sam a small smile for getting it “She might be after today. Chris said she had something like this before right? For some reason that wasn’t on my radar. I don’t know why I just thought it was an extreme emotional reaction to Joey and whatever his deal is with Brooke Martin. Joey has been like this force of evil it seems, for everyone his life has touched….I feel sorry for Daisy if she is….for some reason in love with the guy. For some reason I thought she was all about Seamus though. Maybe she’s just a mess outside of either of them.”
Mary sighs. “We’re working to make her a fit mother.” she explains. “But right now it looks like, oddly enough, if this Joey has broken up with her, that it could be a step in the right direction for her. It’s looking like she may need some help being independent. I’ve been getting from her that she tends to be very co-dependant with men. She wants to be loved and cared for.” she pauses. “Well, let's make sure she is physically healthy. I’ll have her here for a couple of days and then we can begin out-patient treatment.” she sighs. “Of course that was the plan the last time and she came to a session or two and then stopped. Cured … you know how that can be…” she looks at Daisy. “It’s a hard road. You can support me, by just being a friend. Alexandra has been so … busy … since I came here. It’s like playing catch-up, if that makes sense.”
Sam nods. “I’m afraid she will be. Daisy has always had extremes. Did she fall for Vincent? Hindsight being 20/20 he would have rejected her. I don’t know how that went. But … now we know.” he shakes his head. “She is a woman who needs a man … that’s sad to me, as a man. Most men don’t want that, I don’t think. I know I love how independent Kitty is.” he blows out a frustrated breath and turns a corner.
Jasper nods slowly. Listening. “Everyone deserves to be loved but it sounds like maybe she was looking in the wrong places. And you can’t make someone love themselves rither. I guess that’s the codependent thing...they need to get that from elsewhere but it’s like an endless pit. We’ll do the best for her physical health for sure. And I’m happy to be a friend Mary. It totally makes sense. It’s been a whirlwind for me too….in very good ways...but a whirlwind. Managed to find time to fall madly in love….but friends are needed too. Life balance.” He laughs lightly and then looks at Daisy “I hope we can help her find hers.”
Darcy looks thoughtful “I don’t know if she fell for Vincent or it was just infatuation. He had groupies. It was almost laughable because he wasn’t the type to be seeking that attention at all. Daisy was sort of a ring leader from what I remember and then as soon as he met Fiona that was it.” She nods about Daisy needing a man “That can happen with women and women too...equally unappealing. No one wants to be someone’s world, just share theirs with them. Did you know Daisy’s mom at all...I mean I know she died but I don’t really remember much else….I seem to recall a bit of a reputation. She may not have had a good influence on how to be...with anyone.”
Mary smiles at Jasper. “I saw you with your man walking near the beach.” she tells him. “You two look so sweet together.” she looks at Daisy. “I hope so too. This is such a place of support … she should have someone to help her out.” she sighs softly. “Of course, I want them all to have happily ever after, but some I am happy if they can just find a safe path to walk.”
Sam grins. “I remember those days. Only a few years ago, and now a wedding.” He smiles brightly. That smile fades a bit. “It can happen in any relationship, I know.” he turns another corner, making his way through the Bottoms. Kinzie … was basically just like Daisy. Got pregnant young, no father in the kids life, no real stability. She worked at the Blue Door and had a lot of … well for lack of a better word, boyfriends. A record of solicitation and not all of her boyfriends was gentle. A lot of calls to her house when he hit her or she hit him. Daisy always protected her mother and now she almost IS her mother.” he sighs deeply. “Olivia going to live with Chris and Noelle may be the only way she doesn’t turn into Daisy … break that cycle, you know.”
Jasper Can’t help but smile when Mary says he and Levi look sweet together and then his face turns serious again about Daisy and he nods along “Well you can lead her to the path...it’s up to her to walk it.” He sighs and then a health care aid called out loudly “Doctor Rogers, we need you in the ER!.” Jasper’s eyes lift to the vpice and he smiles “There’s my call. Take care Mary.” And he’s off to face whatever the day has in store next.
Darcy looks happy about the wedding “Yeah they’re excited. We all are.” She listens about Kinzie looking sad as Sam goes on. “It’s wrong that I want her kid taken away but if she can’t break the pattern someone does need to step in. And it seems like Chris and Noelle are basically already caring for her. It’s complicated though for Olivia…..if she’s placed with them but her bio mom is across the street. Maybe Daisy can at least get it together enough to be able to manage her own life.”
Chris jogged up to the daycare door and waited as the children started to file out, supervised by two of the workers to make sure they got to the right adults in their lives. The two he was collecting run at him like wild animals charging and almost made him lose his balance “Oooof...you two….Hi…..fun day?”
Blaze and Olivia delighted in charging at Chris and he scooped them both up, one on each hip. “Ok...Blaze said “Robbie stuck playdoh up his NOSE!”
Chris made a face “That’s not good. Did he get it out?”
Olivia smiled and nodded “He sneezed it…..all over…”
“Gross!” Chris exclaimed, feeling bad for daycare workers everywhere. “Blaze where’s your backpack dude?” Olivia had hers on.
“Uh oh!” Blaze wriggled until Chris put him down and ran back to one of the workers who took him back in until they returned with the backpack and Chris slid it on Blaze.
In the meantime Wendy Stanley was looking up her son’s nose “Robbie I swear you still have bits of blue up there.” She held a tissue to his face “Now blow….”
Iris and Katie passed Chris and the kids and Katie waved “Bye Livy...Bye Blaze!” Iris waved too and smiled as she took Katie’s hand.
There were still a few kids waiting for their grown ups as Chris began to walk with his crew. He had considered bringing the little wagon but figured they could walk. Of course he forgot how slow it was walking with two toddlers every time he skipped the wagon. They had to stop to pet at least 4 Brate cats, find the perfect stick, lose the perfect stick, console Blaze at the loss of the perfect stick while Olivia found a shiny beetle, convince Olivia to leave the beetle in the grass instead of making it a pet. She got so sad when they died in captivity after all. Finally looking still cheerful but a little harried, Chris herded the kids into the apartment and called out “Hello, we’re home!”
The children came in like a stampede and threw their belongings in all directions like they were shedding.
Noelle was home preparing the kids a snack. Enough for the two of them, since they usually had Olivia after day care. “Welcome home!” she called, perhaps a bit too cheerfully. She moves to Chris and kisses him on the cheek, then pauses to whisper. “Social workers are coming. Or just one. I don’t know. What happened today?” she tries to heep the anxiety out of her voice. They’d already been approved … were they already going to get Olivia? What had Daisy done this time? She puts the snacks out and the kids can enjoy.
Chris hears Noelle’s tone and gives her a knowing look after leaning into her kiss and putting his arms around her. The kids are distracted by the snack and he whispers back “It’s ok…...Joey got bail….but it was Brooke who paid it. Daisy came to see him as it was happening and had another sort of break down after attacking him….and then the cops. She might be in the clinic for a bit on psyche watch.” He pulls back from whispering and kisses Noelle on the forehead knowing what he said was likely in now way a relief to anxiety.
Blaze happily eats and hums a little song to himself as he crunches down a carrot.
Olivia tries to copy the song and the action, thinking it’s a game. Then of course it becomes a game of mirroring and gets very silly very quickly.
Noelle sighs and closes her eyes. “OH, Daisy…” it’s a mixed thing. She saw it coming … not the bail part but the heartbreak for Daisy part. “Well they’ll be here any minute now. I guess this means … Olivia is staying with us again?” she leads Chris into the living room. “We only have the two bedrooms Chris. Are they young enough to share a bedroom? I mean they do now, but that’s different, isn’t it?” she is afraid maybe they can’t with just the two bedrooms.
Chris nods “Yes she’s staying for now...and who knows what the rules will be for Daisy or what she needs to get stable.” He gets led and his face reflects the same worry “I don’t know. You know my parents haven’t managed to sell their old house yet...maybe they’d rent it to us if the room thing is a deal breaker?” He looks thoughtful “We’ll ask Lisette….I mean with two kids as they grow...we outgrow this place pretty quick.”
Now Blaze and Olivia come to the trian bin and start taking out tracks and trains and setting themselves up to play.
Lisette heads up to the second floor of the apartment building where Chris and Noelle Peterson live. She’s heard from her colleague that Daisy Dale failed her home visit inspection, but there were other things to worry about and she hoped this young couple was up to the challenge. She pauses at their door and knocks.
Noelle bites her lip. “Maybe they would. It would definitely help.” she looks at him. “You'd miss Patrick, though.” she teases a little when there is a knock on the door and she closes her eyes. “That must be the social worker.” she goes to open the door. “Oh, come in Lisette. I thought it would be the other one. I’m sorry. Please, come in and have a seat.” she still got nervous of authority, even though they had never been called on her before.
Lisette smiles and comes in. She can hear the kids in the dining area and turns towards the living room. “Thank you and … our area is so small we usually share the cases.” she sits. “How are you two doing?”
Chris nods and then smirks “Not as much as Pat would miss me….” He chuckles. Of course he’d miss Patrick but he couldn’t not get in a jibe. He heard the knock and tensed a bit. He was sure they were fine but still the feeling of getting a visit from a social worker was uneasy. But he gave her a friendly greeting “Hi Lisette.” He smiled. Then he sat with Noelle ready to have the talk with Lisette. “We’re ok. Curious as to how things might go?” He just gets to it right away. “With Olivia.” He says her name a little quieter but she and Blaze are in their own little world now.
Blaze ran to his room and came back with a bucket of farm animals to add to their game. “There’s a cow on the track…..we have to save it…”
Olivia stopped her train in front of the cow “Are you ok cow?”
Noelle takes Chris’s hand. She was also anxious to know how it would go, but could only sort of stare and squeeze Chris’s hand.
Lisette sits and blows out a breath. “You know that Daisy is back in the clinic again for psychiatric evaluation. Dr. Henry called us to tell us what she knew. And so, we have to put Olivia in foster care. The doctor said she will probably be out within 72 hours, but ….” she sighs. “Given her home visit and living situation … I think you may be keeping Olivia even after Daisy gets out of the clinic.”
Chris squeezes Noelle’s hand back and listens carefully to Lisette. He had expected some of it. “OK….we’re glad to of course. Is our living situation here acceptable? I mean we’ve both heard about the kids of different genders needing to have their own rooms…..we can work that out if we have to. Like today. I mean even if Noelle and I have to sleep in the living room a night or two…..but there’s a house we might be able to rent too….just probably not by tonight.” He sounds worried this may be a deal breaker.
Now the cow that was on the track is riding in a coal car….but there’s a bunch of pigs on the track that need to be rescued. Mostly vegan children playing with trains and farm animals…..
Noelle nods as Chris speaks. “We’ve had Olivia over many times and she and Blaze just stayed in the same room….”
LIsette smiles, trying to reassure them. “For now it’s fine. BUt if you could get her a room of her own as fast as possible, I know she’d benefit from it.” she listens for the kids and leans forward a little. “Right now we may consider this move a semi-permanent one. You are foster parents AND Blaze is Olivia’s half-brother. Now that you are married … the placement is about as ideal as it gets.” she informs them
Chris looks at Noelle and then Lisette and nods “Like I said, we can work that out. Semi permanent? OK…..” He exhales and squeezes Noelle’s hand glad for so many reasons now that they went ahead and got married sooner rather than later “It would be heartbreaking to separate them...for everyone. Sometimes I look at the two of them and see….well I’ma twin. I don’t know if you’ve met my brother, Patrick….but I know they're not twins but I see that….they way they’re so on the same page….aligned. I can’t explain it. I have that with my brother and I remember how it felt since we were kids. I love my sister too, don’t get me wrong. Just a unique connection.”
Olivia and Blaze add on to the game in all kinds of ways…..the cow is in the coal car. One of the pigs is clearly a conductor,,,,there’s a wagon full of chickens and they seem to be some sort of traveling choir. It’s a multilayered thing and they’re loving it.
Noelle smiles as Chris talks about his bond with Patrick. “They are only a day apart.” she explains. “Less than 24 hours, actually.” she sighs. “If we can keep them together, it would be great for both of them.”
Lisette smiles. “I don’t think I’ve met your twin, but it IS in the best interests to keep siblings together, if we can. And in this case…” she can hear Olivia and her brother laughing and playing together. “I would recommend that they be kept together, since Blaze has a loving and stable home and so, when she is here, does Olivia.”
Chris looks at Noelle and then at Lisette and nods “She does, they do. And that will always be our goal. How do we handle it if Daisy wants visitation when she gets out? I mean….if she’s well enough, not well enough…”
The chicken choir gets off the train at a station and now it’s a talent show with all the animals and the trains are the audience. The songs the kids come up with are made in the animal noises of course so it’s a little loud but they’re having so much fun.
Noelle leans forward while the kids get a little louder. That was just kids, she knew. They probably didn’t even realise it. She also wonders about things like visitation.
Lisette listens to Chris, just feeling happy that Olivia would have a good home to go to. “There was an emergency hearing earlier this afternoon, because of the hospitalization of Daisy. Right now the judge is giving custody of Olivia to you two. After Daisy gets out of the hospital, she will be allowed three supervised visits a week until we can evaluate her home and her therapy to make sure that she is fit for Olivia to live with. Those visits can be anywhere on the island and while either Tim or myself will be there, one or both of you are also allowed to be there.” she pauses. “Until we can ascertain Daisy’s fitness, I think Blaze should be kept from the visits, if at all possible.”
Chris leans in as well but the kids are a happy loud, which he figures should reflect well on their happy home. He and his brother and sister had been the same. He listens keenly about the hearing and nods along. “Maybe a neutral place would help Daisy be less defensive? Weather permitting….the playground maybe?” He looks between Noelle and Lisette “We can take turns with Blaze or even call in some babysitting. My parents love the kids. We’ve got Pat and Sajani right here in the building. They’re great with them. Maybe it should be both of us….I don’t want Daisy trying to ….well she has history with Noelle that might make her...I don’t know….Noelle what do you think?” He looks to her for her preference and perspective.
The kids get quieter as they decide to feed all the characters but the recipes are very interesting. Blaze feeds the chickens “They’re having carrots and apples...like stew.”
Olivia feeds the pigs “The pigs ate all the hummus...all of it…….Pig mouth smacking noises are made to illustrate this.
Noelle nods slowly, thinking. “Yes, and right now she is probably more mad at you than me, Chris.” she decides. “She … just crumbled. I don’t really understand it.” she admits.
Lisette nods. “Weather permitting. The playground, the Ice Goddess and Earthcakes are probably the most kid friendly places in town. And the latter two can be visited in all weather.” she pauses. “As long as Daisy keeps up with her therapy and house cleaning. It’s also possible that getting Olivia back is contingent on her being able to live without a man in Olivia’s life. Of course we can’t order anyone to stay out of a relationship, but it would help if the men weren’t exposed to Olivia … so to speak.” she realized at the last second what that could sound like.
Chris looks at Noelle with empathy. Her friend was unwell in a way they couldn’t navigate easily. “I suspect you’re right. But I’ll take the brunt of it if it helps you two salvage anything someday.” Chris cringes at the word exposed and nods “It’s possible that’s a legitimate concern….so yeah. Maybe no overnight company when her kid is home should be a requirement. We’re here for Olivia….for as long as she needs us to be. Whatever that means….”
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