Love is the Thing

Chapter 1

Briar leaned forward until her forehead hit the steering wheel of her car and sighed as a single tear worked its way down her cheek. She took a deep breath and looked in the visor mirror to clean up her makeup before exiting her car and walking across the parking lot into the office where she worked. Her job was a tough one, she worked with kids who had seen way too much in their short lives. She saw abused children, mothers, fathers, people haunted by the things that had happened to them, usually by someone who they thought they were safe with. Briar had recently been sent a really hard case that had gone horribly and ended in the most tragic way possible, the abuser had killed the kids and his wife and then turned the gun on himself. This was something that happened way too often and every time it did she had a little harder time moving past it. Most people in her profession became jaded, remained single, and retired young. It took a toll on someone to see what horrible things that people were capable of.

Briar walked down the empty hallway to the end where the door to the office that she worked in was. There were several offices on either side of the hallway, there was a doctor, child protective services, and a few other offices. She punched the code into the keypad and pulled the door open, once she was through she waited the click of the lock that let her know that the door was fully closed and locked before she walked into the main waiting area. They wanted to make sure that every single person that walked through the door felt as safe as they possibly could, and they didn't want people to be able to just walk into the office anytime that they wanted to. They often had people show up and demand to be let in because they were mad at their wife, child, husband ect, for finally telling someone about what was going on and seeking help.

"Hey Heather, what do we have this morning?" Briar asked the intern who was seated at the computer in the main waiting area. Heather had been working with them for a few months and had been catching on faster than most of the interns that they had in the past. She was amazing with the kids, and a huge asset for all of the staff that worked there. Briar was hoping that she would be promoted to a full time salary position soon. She leaned her shoulder against the corner while she waited for Heather to bring up the schedule for the day.

Heather pulled up the schedule on the computer and glanced over it, "We have the new girl that we just got the files on yesterday. She will be in at 9:00. Then Becca is back again at 2:30. She had a rough court date yesterday and her fosters need some help. That is all I have at the moment"

"Okay, thanks. Do you know if Dianne is bringing in coffee today?"

"Yep! She called a few minutes ago and said she is running a little late but only 5 minutes or so." Heather said, as she continued to type on the computer.

"Perfect" Briar looked around the room to make sure that it was clean and ready for anyone who may stop in during the day. They tried to make it very comfortable with a couple couches, bean bags and large overstuffed chairs. They had lots of toys for younger kids, books for all age ranges, an xbox and tv, as well as a large assortment of stuffed animals, blankets and other comfort items that children could take into the room when they were talking with the police, nurse, counselor or therapist and could also bring home if they wanted and if it was allowed where they are staying. Unfortunately some of the boarding schools, homes and mental institutions would not let the kids keep any items.

Walking into her office she flipped on the lights, sat at her desk and turned on her desktop computer. As it booted up she looked over all the notes that she had from the week so far. It was Friday so all of her case notes were due and she could already tell that it was going to be a long day.

Logging into her email she looked t through it replying to some quickly and others saving for when she had time. She forwarded a few to other people who it should have gone to and made a few phone calls, she was just trying to do all the normal office things that she needed to get done everyday. .