Ava

                                    

                                          
(Marjorie's pov)
"He's gone?" I question, and Deliah nods.
"He sent me over here to take you home, saying he may not be able to, and he wants to make sure you get home." she says, in her best attempt at a comforting voice.
"Oh uhm thanks Deliah. I think I'll just get a lift with Autumn. You have to go anyway." I say and she nods, walking back out.
"Me?" Autumn mumbles.
"Either you or dangerous deliah. We all know who I'm picking." I say, and she shrugs her shoulder and nods in agreement.
"Can I go now please? If that's alright. I'm just worried about him, and I wanna call him at home. I mean, what does he mean by 'he may not be able to'?? I'm worried Aut." I say, standing up and pacing around the room, my hands flapping everywhere.
"Margie!" A child yells, running straight into the office, and wrapping their tiny arms around my leg.
I lean down and pick them up.
"Hey there Ava!" I say, smiling at her.
"Margie." she repeats, snuggling into my neck.
"Where are your parents my love?" I ask, but at this point she has fallen asleep in my arms, snuggled into my neck.
Char comes running through seconds later.
"Hey have either of you.... Oh." She says, trailing off her sentence as she looks over to me. "Found her." she breathes a sigh of relief.
"Char. Explain."
"Well Ava here has been waiting for her mummy for a while now, about half an hour since closing. And she said she wanted to go to the toilet. So I said yes, and as soon as she got out the room, she made a bolt for it. I'm so thankful she came here." She explains, trying to catch her breath.
"Okay my love. Well she is safe. I'm gonna give her mum a ring." I say and she nods.
"You want me to take her?"
"Best not disturb her. I'll be alright." I say, walking back over to my chair, sitting down, Ava still in my arm.
Using my free arm, I reach for the phone, dialling her mother's number, letting it ring.
"Hello?" she picks up eventually.
"Hiya there. It's Marjorie from the nursery."
"Oh yes. Hi Marjorie." she responds, and I roll my eyes.
"We need you to come collect Ava. It's now half an hour past closing, and the poor sweetheart has fallen asleep, she is knackered." I explain, and her mother sighs.
"Not possible. I'm in another country." is all she responds with, before hanging up.
I look to Char, then Autumn, then down to the small child in my arms.
"Her mother left. To another country." I say, and they both gasp, eyes wide.
"What are we going to do?" Char finally breaks the silence.
"I have to call the authorities." I respond, and they both nod.
"Hiya this is Marjorie Knight calling from the Knight nursery. I have to report an abandonment of a child." I say, trying to hold back tears. These calls are always the worst.
"Okay. We can get someone over tomorrow, but for now, someone will need to stay with the child, or take the child home." A man says over the phone.
"Okay I'll take her. My name is obviously Marjorie Knight, and my husband is Reece Knight." I tell him.
"Okay I will note that down. And I will send someone over to the nursery tomorrow at some point. I trust you can take care of the child for a night." he says, before hanging up.
"So?" Autumn questions.
"I'm taking her home." I mumble, in shock.
"We are going what now?" A voice questions, and Char moves out of the way of the door, allowing them to walk through.
"Marjorie? What now?" Reece questions again.
"Reece!" I yell, mind quietly, as to not disturb the sleeping child.
I slowly get out of my chair, and walk to him, pulling him into a hug, being careful of Ava.
"Hey baby." I mumble, kissing his cheek. "You okay? The thing with Deliah, that was a bit odd." I ask.
"Sorry, something came up. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, and I did want you home safe." he explains, looking down at Ava.
"That's okay baby." I say, then look at him, following his gaze. "Oh yeah her. Well her mother abandoned her and went to another country. And the authorities can't get someone here now, so we are taking her home for tonight. Is that okay?" I question, realising I didn't even clue him in on this.
"I love your big heart. You hate working in the rooms, yet would gladly take a child home. Of course it's okay gorgeous." he replies, and I let out a huge breath, one I didn't even know I was holding.
He laughs, and wraps an arm around my waist, leaning down and kissing the side of my head.
"Shall we get this little one home then?" he asks, and I nod, handing him Ava.
"Can you hold Ava? I need to collect my stuff." I say, and he gladly takes her, and she snuggles into him.