“Is there anything else I should know?” Heather asked, trying to keep the mild irritation out of her voice.

Rose stayed silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. “I’m sorry if I’m being pushy.”

“I could be wrong, but It’s almost like you don’t want me to take her.” Heather admitted.

“No no, it’s nothing like that!” Rose said, waving her hands back and forth. “ My biggest fear is that, you’ll take her, decide you can’t handle her and bring her back. It would crush her. She’s been through so much. I want her to have a stable family. ” Rose paused and twirled a finger through her brown curls. “Ella is…” She paused again, seemingly fighting to find the right word. “Young for her age.”

Heather nodded. She took another sip as an awkward pause filled the small break room. “How young?”

“Well, she’s two years behind in school, but since she came back. I don’t know, I’m not a psychologist.”

“If you had to guess.”

“Six or seven. The stress you know, of whatever happened. Finding a good child psychologist in your area would probably be a good first step.”

Heather nodded. This she agreed with.

“Have social services been by yet?”

“Yes, all the paperwork’s been signed. Charlie, Danielle and I are ready.”

“Shall we then?”