Necessary as Blood

home now, so you‘ll have to stay with someone else. Why don‘t we—‘
    ‘I want my daddy!‘ Charlotte‘s wail ended on a hiccuping sob, and when Janice Silverman reached for her, she threw herself at Gemma.
    Gemma gathered Charlotte into her arms, cradling her head and feeling the dampness of the child‘s tears against her shoulder. The girl smelled of the newly mown garden grass and, faintly, of chocolate. Tightening her grip, Gemma murmured, ‘You are a little love, aren‘t you?‘ and suddenly found she couldn‘t bear the thought of this precious child being turned over to a stranger.
    ‘Look, Mrs Silverman,‘ she said, ‘can‘t I take her? I‘m a police officer. I‘ve got two boys, and my — partner‘ — she‘d been about to say husband and realized she couldn‘t, not yet — ‘my partner and I could look after her until things are sorted.‘
    ‘She‘s obviously formed an attachment to you. Have you done any foster care?‘
    ‘No, but-‘
    Silverman shook her head. ‘Then you‘re not in the system. I‘m sorry, but you‘d have to be evaluated, and we need someone who can take her right away. I‘ll just-‘
    ‘Wait,‘ said Gemma as inspiration struck. ‘I know someone. Just let me make one phone call.‘

    ‘I‘ve a friend,‘ Gemma explained when the still-tearful Charlotte had been coaxed into Tim‘s arms. ‘She‘s fostered children before. If she‘s willing, would that be acceptable?‘
    ‘If she‘s in good standing,‘ Silverman said cautiously. ‘I‘d have to speak to her myself, and do a check.‘
    ‘I‘m sure she‘d be fine. She‘s the mother of the friend who helps look after our kids. She‘s great with them.‘ Gemma knew she was over-explaining, and that it was as much to reassure herself as Janice Silverman. Excusing herself, she walked to the back of the garden and looked out over the garage flat as she made the call, fingers crossed.
    When she heard Betty Howard‘s cheerful voice, West Indian accent still intact after more than forty years in Notting Hill, she breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Betty, it‘s Gemma. I‘ve a favour to ask.‘ She explained the situation as succinctly as she could.
    ‘Oh, the poor child,‘ said Betty. ‘I‘d be glad to take her, Gemma. Only thing is, I‘ve got the costumes for carnival—‘
    ‘We could help out,‘ Gemma offered. Betty had sewn elaborate costumes for the Notting Hill carnival since the seventies, and Gemma knew what a time-consuming job it was. ‘If that would make a difference.‘
    ‘Wesley should be able to pitch in a bit,‘ said Betty, in a considering tone. ‘Though it would mean less time with your two. But if you could take the child for the odd hour or two in the evening, I think we could just manage.‘
    ‘You‘re a dear, Betty. I‘ll let you speak to Mrs Silverman, then.‘
    When Betty had given her information to Janice Silverman, and the caseworker was calling her own office to confirm it, Gemma went into the house to put together Charlotte‘s things. She found Hazel in the kitchen, pouring orange squash into glasses that held a few meagre ice cubes.
    ‘This is all there is,‘ Hazel said. ‘Tim‘s run out of anything decent to drink. Not to mention he‘s forgotten to fill the ice trays. And I can‘t,‘ she added, her voice rising, ‘bloody find anything.‘ She opened the fridge door, then slammed it shut again.
    Gemma stared at her in surprise, but Hazel didn‘t meet her eyes. ‘Even water would be fine,‘ Gemma said after a moment, treading carefully, not sure what had triggered the outburst. ‘It doesn‘t matter, really. Hazel, I just need to get Charlotte‘s things together. Do you-‘
    ‘No. I don‘t know where Tim‘s put her things. I‘ve just said I don‘t know where anything is.‘ Hazel pushed the most recently filled glass into the others on a tray, causing them all to slosh, then went into the sitting room, wiping her hands on a tea towel. Gemma heard her say more calmly, ‘Holly, can you put Charlotte‘s things in her little bag? Is it in your room? Good girl. Just bring it down when you‘re done, and don‘t miss anything.‘
    Then Holly clattered up the stairs and Hazel came back into the kitchen, muttering,‘... herd of elephants.‘ Her eyes were red. ‘I‘m sorry,‘ she said to Gemma. ‘I didn‘t mean to snap, and at you, of all people. It‘s just that, last night, I thought Tim was manufacturing a drama. I never thought — poor little