Single Dad CEO Found a Little Girl Sleeping on Trash On Christmas Eve—The Truth Left Him Stunned…
An Emergency Christmas Placement
Rebecca a pediatric nurse didn’t hesitate. “Bring her here i’ll get things ready”.
At his sister’s house Rebecca immediately took charge checking Maya’s vital signs wrapping her in warm blankets and preparing hot soup. Tyler watched from the doorway his eyes wide.
“Dad who is she?” he asked. “Her name is Maya” andrew said “she needs our help right now”.
As Maya ate the soup with trembling hands Andrew called the police to report finding an abandoned child. They said they’d send someone to Rebecca’s house within the hour.
“Maya” Andrew said gently after she’d finished eating. “Can you tell me anything about your mother her name where you lived”.
Maya’s eyes filled with tears again. “Her name is Sarah sarah Bennett we lived in a place with a red door but then we had to leave”.
“Mama said we couldn’t stay there anymore. We slept in different places sometimes in the car but then the car stopped working and we just walked”.
And then her voice broke. “Then Mama said she had to go away that I’d be safe if I waited but she didn’t come back”.
Rebecca exchanged a worried glance with Andrew. This wasn’t just abandonment something else was going on.
When the police arrived they took Maya’s information and Andrew’s statement. They ran Sarah Bennett’s name through their system and found something that made the officers exchange significant looks.
“Mr hartwell,” one of them said “could we speak to you privately?”. In the other room the officer explained.
“Sarah Bennett was reported missing 3 weeks ago by her sister. She has a history of mental illness specifically bipolar disorder according to the sister Sarah stopped taking her medication about 6 months ago”.
The sister has been trying to find them but had no idea where they were. “So the mother is missing” andrew asked.
“Yes and given the information you’ve provided about where and when you found the child we’re going to need to file a report and get child protective services involved”.
Andrew looked back toward the living room where Maya sat wrapped in blankets. Tyler was showing her his collection of toy cars.
The little girl looked so small so vulnerable. “What happens to Maya now” he asked.
“She’ll be placed in emergency foster care tonight. Given that it’s Christmas Eve that might be challenging but we’ll find somewhere”.
Something in Andrew’s chest tightened. The thought of Maya being taken to a stranger’s house on Christmas Eve after everything she’d been through felt cruel.
“She can stay with me,” he heard himself say. The officers looked surprised.
“Mr hartwell that’s very kind but there are procedures”. “I understand that but I found her she knows me now trusts me”.
“Putting her with complete strangers tonight seems cruel”. He paused.
“Look I know this is unusual but can’t you do an emergency placement with me for tonight at least until you figure out a more permanent situation”.
“You can check me out i’m a single father i run Hartwell Industries i have no criminal record. My sister is a pediatric nurse and lives 5 minutes away maya would be safe and cared for”.
The officers consulted with their supervisor and with child protective services. After what felt like an eternity they agreed to a temporary emergency placement.
This was with the understanding that a social worker would visit first thing in the morning to assess the situation. That night Andrew took Tyler and Maya back to his house.
Rebecca had supplied him with clothes for Maya pulled from the donation bin at her hospital. They were a bit big but they were warm and clean.
“Maya,” Andrew said as he showed her the guest room “you’ll sleep here tonight. Tyler’s room is right next door and mine is down the hall if you need anything at all you come get me okay you’re safe here?”.
