Heavy Rain
The heat was blistering. Summer seemed to have arrived all at once and the air smelled of softening tar mac and the lingering sour scent of warm petrol.
Connie could feel the heat through the bottoms of her Manolo Blahnik's as she walked from her car to the hospital. She looked up, the sun hung overhead, lazy and throbbing. She shielded her eyes with her hand, squinting against the glare as the sun glanced off the metal scaffolding that was being erected against one wall of the hospital.
She made her way across the car park to the hospital entrance, the air conditioning greeted her as she stepped through the automatic doors, the soft whirr and blast of it above her made the hairs stand up at the nape of her neck.
Across from reception Charlie passed by, raising a patients notes in greeting to her, she gave a slight nod of the head, smiling softly and making her way down the corridor to her office.
Inside, the office was muggy and hot, she exhaled, carefully taking her jacket off and hanging it on the peg on the back of the door. She moved to the window, prizing the rarely used catch and pushing the window so that it opened to it's maximum, a bare three or four inches.
Cursing health and safety under her breath she fixed the lock in place, catching a glimpse of the scaffolding below as she did so. She could see the top of a workman's head protected with the yellow plastic hat. He was passing long metal poles to someone out of sight.
A tap at the door made her turn.
"Come."
She called, leaning against the open window, grateful for the slight breeze that rippled beneath the sheer white of her shirt.
Tess pushed open the door, smiling an apologetic smile as she entered the room, pushing the door closed behind her.
"Morning."
She greeted, raising a hand and fanning herself with it.
"Gosh it's hot in here."
She puffed, still fanning herself.
"Mmm."
Murmured Connie absently, placing a hand on the catch that only allowed the window to open so far, wondering if she could knock it free.
"Sorry, I've got these for you to sign."
Tess paused, glancing up at Connie as she set the files neatly on her desk.
"I know. And it's only five past nine."
She smiled, Connie glanced behind herself as the soft clatter and clunk of metal grew gradually louder.
"Do you know what it is they're doing down there?"
She asked, watching as a second man joined the first and they began rhythmically assembling the long grey pipes, bolting them together with practised ease.
"I think they're going to re-paint..."
Tess spoke as she moved over to stand next to Connie, looking down at the workmen. The noise grew louder as they climbed higher.
"I wondered where my budget had gone."
Connie exhaled, the hint of a knowing smile at her lips as she pushed herself away from the window.
"That'll be interesting when they reach my level..."
She mused, settling herself down in the seat at her desk and pulling the files towards her.
Just the very beginning, to test the waters. Please let me know if you would like to read more. I will update again soon. x
