Colette's Secret

Sunday 23rd August 1988

Colette lies awake in bed looking around the room she was tired and exhausted she had just give birth to a baby girl who lay in the coat next to her, It was raining this day and the rain was hammering hard down the window. Colette sat up in her bed and knew that this baby would stop her from doing what she wanted to do most in her life that was nursing, she looked across at the baby lying in the coat gurgling and kicking her legs like a normal healthy baby.

Colette paid special attention the her dark brown hair and her light blue almost grey eyes she knew that her parents wouldn't let her keep this baby let alone keep in contact with her but she did the right thing at the time that was giving her away to the father of her baby and his wife, Colette knew the farther really well but she knew he would be sent to prison because he was 27 at the time and Colette couldn't face her daughter being sent to a foster home. So on the 29th August 1988 she gave her unnamed child away to the father probably never to see her again.

22th August 2014

Colette is now 44 years of age which meant her daughter would be turning 26 tomorrow she knew she was still alive somewhere out there but she wasn't sure where, She had searched Facebook over a million times to see if she had kept her last name 'Sheward' but there was no look she even tried her father's last name but no luck, Colette finally gave up and knew she wasn't going to be able to find her.

At Holby City hospital where she know works, Colette was like a mother figure to most student nurses and doctors she helped them though some really thought times like when Mary-Claire had to treat a fellow college Chantelle Lane after a serious car accident.

One Day Colette was sat at the nursing station with Gemma Wilde and Mary-Claire Carter on their break, Gemma was talking about her son Finn and how well he was getting on at school when she turned to Colette and said "Have you got any children?" Colette didn't know what to say she didn't want to tell the nurses that she gave her baby away because she to young so she said "No, I never thought of the idea to be honest" Mary-Claire laughs and says "Oh right, I really want children when I find the right man" Colette notices Mary-Claire eyeing up Dr Harry Tressler and says "Mary-Claire if you are thinking of tying to pull Dr Tressler think again her is way out of your league" Mary-Claire pulls a face at Colette and bobs her tongue out "But he is well fit" Mary-Claire adds on.

Later on that day Colette is sat in her office which she shares with Guy Self and starts to think what it would of been like if she had kept her daughter she always wanted to know what they called her but Colette had her heart set on Jenna or Louise but she knew that the baby's father would come up with a unique name for her something that would stand out from the crowd when her name was called out at school .

Colette was deep in thought about her child when Guy Self came in and said to Colette who looked surprised to see Guy and said "Would you mind signing this card for Zosia it's her birthday tomorrow, everyone on Darwin, Keller and AAU have signed it apart from you so would you mind?"

Colette didn't know what to do how could Zosia have the same birthday as her daughter but it was very easy everyone shared a birthday with someone in the world even if they were the same age. Colette quickly signed the card away 'Happy 26rd Birthday Zosia, With Love Colette xx' Colette passed the card back to Guy who smiled and said "That's all for now Nurse Sheward I better be going back to Keller".

Soon after Guy had left their office Colette went back onto AAU to start her rounds again and to wake Mary-Claire up who had fallen asleep at the nursing station. Once Colette's rounds were underway she was approached by Dom Copeland who said to her "It's Zosia's birthday meal tonight are you coming it's at Horse and rider pub round the corner?" Colette hesitated before saying "yeah sure would love to, Do I need to get Zosia a present?" Dom nodded before walking away to tell the rest of the nurses that knew Zosia quite well.

After Colette's shift had ended she went back to her house to get ready for Zosia's birthday meal that was due to start in 2 hours so Colette had plenty of time to get herself ready. Colette had a shower and put on her purple silk dress that came up the her knees and she put her hair up in a curly bun. When Colette went looking for a pair of shoes under her bed she came across a box that said 'Baby Sheward born the 23rd August 1988' Colette decided to open it after she found her shoes and placed it on her bed. Once she had found her purple high heels she sat on the bed next to the box and slowly opened it. She found a few remaining photo's of her baby in her arms she had also cut a lock of hair off her head and platted it a placed it in her box, she came across a pair of woollen gloves that she never wore.

Colette began to cry sitting on her bed and decided enough was enough and placed the box back under her bed. Colette noticed the time and quickly grabbed her things and a bottle of wine for Zosia's birthday present and walked round to the pub as it was only a 3 minute walk from her house.

6:39pm Colette had made it just in time and went over to Zosia and gave her the bottle of wine which was wrapped up in wrapping paper and placed in a wine bag and said to Zosia "Happy Birthday Zosh, Had a nice day? Zosia laughed and said "Oh Colette you didn't have to, also If you class a nice birthday as having 2 people being sick down the front of you and another projectile vomit over you then Yes it was a lovely day.

6:58pm everyone sat down for the meal and Colette went and sat next to Zosia as it was the only space left next to her. Though out the meal Colette kept thinking to herself "It can't be can it? Zosia could be? The only way I will know is if she has a birth mark on her back in the shape of a circle". Too Colette's surprise Zosia leant over to get something out of her bag Colette glanced at Zosia's back and saw the birth mark and said with tears forming in her eyes "Sorry I have to go", Colette quickly stood up and ran out of the restaurant.

When Colette got home she was a mess she had makeup running down her face and her hair was know down around her shoulders. Colette quickly slammed the room and ran up her stairs to her bedroom where she took off her shoes and lay there crying into the pillow, She couldn't believe it Colette had found her daughter but she wasn't sure because she knew Anya Zosia's mother when she worked at St James and clearly remembers little Zosia coming into the staff room with Anya only knowing a few words of English as she lived in Poland from when she was one until she was six.

Meanwhile back at Zosia's birthday meal everyone had got worried about Colette running out in a state, Dom said to Zosia "You do know before she went off crying she was looking at you back?" This didn't make any sense to Zosia neither did it to anyone else apart from Guy who know what had happened 26 years ago between him and Colette but Colette couldn't remember Guy's face that well as it wasn't a really romantic relationship more like a one night stand. Guy told Zosia not to worry and he would go and find out what was up with Colette.

Guy made his way to Colette's house, when he got there her knocked on the door but there was no reply so he got out the key that he was meant to give back to Colette at the pub as she forgot it at work and opened the door. He slowly closed the door behind him and made his way up to the source of the crying. Guy sat down besides Colette and says to her rubbing him on hand against her back "I know what happened in the pub today and I think you have been desperate to find out what happened to you daughter, Well If you want to know more back Zoshie ask me" Colette rolls over and sits up against the head board and says "Does she know?" Guy replies "No she doesn't I think it would break her heart we have just lost Anya over a year ago and Zosia isn't coping well" Colette smiles and says "I really need to know though Guy if she is actually my daughter and that this is just a dream" Guy laughs and says "You are tired Colette go to bed and we can talk tomorrow in my office okay?" Colette nods before climbing into her bed and Guy leaves the room heading back to the pub.

23rd August 2014

Colette woke up and looked around the room to find herself still single and without children (But not Zosia) She sighed and got out of bed, she went and had a shower then after her shower she got ready for work and bracing herself as it was the 26 anniversary with her daughter being with her even though she thought that Zosia might be her daughter she carried on her daily activities as usual.

When Colette arrived at work she was bombarded by paper work and also had to go and do patient's blood tests while she was at it. Zosia was working today so she made up an excuse to Zosia to make her have a blood test as it was compulsory to have an drugs blood test when you are a junior. Zosia agreed to the Blood test and when she sat there on the bed Colette looked into her eyes and she could see a 10 year old girl terrified of the needle even though she was used of giving other people needles. Once the test was done she told Zosia she would have the result after lung of her 'Drug test'.

Colette quickly ran up to the labs and told them she needed a DNA test as soon as they could she told them it was for to people down on AAU, Colette handed her and Zosia's blood tests over but with a different names printed on them for Colette's she but Claire Holder and for Zosia's she but Zoe McFadden.

24th August 2014

The next day Colette was worried about the results and for the rest of Colette's shift she was never nervous about the test and was worried if Zosia went up to the labs to ask for the tests and saw the results so as soon as it was hand over time Colette grabbed her bags and ran up to the labs and told the female lab technician that she was here for Claire Holder and Zoe McFadden's DNA results, The female lab technician handed over the results and Colette went running down to her office where she quickly opened the results to see that her and Zosia had them same DNA and at the bottom of the test it said "100% correct, Claire is mother of Zoe"

Colette didn't know what to do but as soon as Guy walked into the office she shoved the results into her draw beside her and she didn't see that Guy noticed her panic and shove something into the draw then he said "Colette, Are you hiding something from me?" Colette shifts in her chair and smiles at Guy and says "No Guy I mean Mr Self why would I do that?" Guy quickly walks over to Colette and says "So what is in the draw?" He quickly flings the draw open and grabs the result and said "Well Colette I did realise you were that intrigued about you daughter who you gave away do you really think Zosia is going to want to talk to you once she finds out you have her away?" Colette began to cry and says "Well at least I know my daughter is ALIVE!"

Guy and Colette suddenly burst out into argument over Zosia and Colette kept trying to tell him that she didn't have a choice she was only 19 and was too young to be a mother but Guy was 27 and nearly a complete man. During the argument Zosia walks into the office to see what is going on she was also followed By Mary-Claire, Adele and Gemma who wanted to see what Guy and Colette were arguing about. When Zosia tried to separate them from potentially killing each other Guy accidently said "It's not my fault you gave her up is it?" Guy made eye contact with Zosia and Colette turned to look at Zosia who looked very confused Colette then said "I never gave my baby up I stopped her from getting harmed she is 26 know Guy she is my daughter but I know I was never there to see her... Sorry Zosia!"Zosia started to worry and said "Dad what is she on about? I thought she never had any children?"