The reports and proposals Frazer had clearly spent months on sat in Cora’s inbox, open for all employees to see. She’d read them. The work Frazer wanted to do was so necessary, exciting even. But really, what was it she expected from Cora? “The idea is a good one, Frazer.”
“I know.” Again with her arrogance. “But I think I was ambitious when I focussed it on my team.” For a half a second, Frazer paused and looked away, then caught Cora’s gaze again. “I want to combine forces.”
Cora stared at her. “Frazer…” She took a second to order her thoughts. “I’m already involved in a lot of programmes, with more down the road that I want to get started. I’m constantly fighting for more time, for more money, for things that can help the elderly patients that keep getting pushed into understaffed care facilities.” For a second, Cora could almost feel Mrs Stein’s papery skin under her fingertips, and she clenched her hands together in her lap. “And you want to add another programme to my ever-growing list?”
“Look, I know your department is busy. I know your focus is on the geris. I know. But you’re head of Social Work. You have employees who are involved in the cases that I see too. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get intervention happening, support for these parents before your department had to step in? Providing a mentor that is always with the parent as support? Prevention, rather than waiting to have to intervene later?”
Frazer was on a roll, her green eyes bright as she talked about something she was obviously passionate about. A soft flush clouded her cheeks. The darkness of her skin against the redness that was there now made her look almost delicate. “Long term, we’d be freeing up funds and people and resources,” she said. “With earlier intervention, we’d no longer be demonising these parents but helping them, getting them whatever help they need—ongoing care for parents and babies, support long after the baby is born, even long after the baby is given up or aborted.”
The fathers were going to be involved too? Both parents meant more time, more funding, more of the services needed. Frazer might be biting off more than she could chew. No wonder Alec was trying to crush it before it started.
But it was a programme that could change things. One that deserved a chance.
Finally, Cora asked, “You want to team up for this, pool funding from both our departments?”
Slowly, Frazer smiled. “Exactly.”
“And maybe use my connection with Alec.”
When Frazer’s smile grew, Cora nodded. She’d thought as much. Frazer thought that Cora would get some special treatment from Alec. If only she knew how Cora had to fight tooth and nail for what resources she was given.
But maybe with two of them behind this programme, Alec wouldn’t be able to ignore it.
“Cora, if we get this up and running over the next few months, I have parents whose lives I can change. We can be a go-between for them and shelters, ongoing health care, adoption agencies, abortion clinics. We can offer them counselling and support. All free. They can make informed decisions and, most importantly, have ongoing care after the baby is born, not support that just disappears after they leave the hospital or relies on them having transport or free time. Not care focussed on the baby, but on them. The key to this is the mentor programme.” The expression on Frazer’s face was all serious now. Her eyes were intent on Cora’s. “If we got some of your team on board, and mine, this could really make a difference. I just need the funding, and I need Alec to see the programme’s worth.”