Smothered Shadows - Part 4

"Does it really matter how I know? The relevant information right here is that I know." The tiny blonde folded her arms exasperatedly, dark orbs enhanced with a bitterly ominous glow, "I know that I am currently looking at the woman who is my so called mother." The words dripped from her gritted teeth.

Connie scoffed adversely, eyes rolling dramatically, "Don't be ridiculous, Rita!"

"Me ridiculous?" Her abhorrence was escalating rapidly, malice scorn lacing her words with a humourless laugh, "So you are not Mrs Constance Beauchamp, formerly identified as Miss Constance Chase? Date of birth 17th of May 1982. Location of birth London; you have a southern accent. Location of my birth Holby. And guess where we live? Holby. That's hardly a coincidence."

The social worker remained uncharacteristically silent, propped against the wall for support as her knees buckled. Her reaction was delayed; she didn't know how to respond, "That information is confidential and you are not supposed to know." She murmured feebly, hands tightly interlaced as her palms turned clammy.

"But I do know." Rita was stubborn, "All I want to know is why. Why did you dump me into a care home? And why have you kept this from me for so long? I've been under your care for the last seven years so don't say you hadn't found the right chance!"

The brunette battled internally to grasp some form of composure, flinching at the use of the term dump. She cleared her throat and flicked her curls over her shoulder before speaking, "It wasn't like that. I was young, naive and stupid, although I know that is absolutely no excuse but it's the only excuse I have." Her shoulders twitched into a futile shrug.

"What about my father? What do you know about him?"

"Not a lot really." She admitted truthfully, "We were both eighteen. You were the result of a one night stand and he left when he discovered I was pregnant. I haven't had any nature of contact with him since. I have no idea where he is now or what he is doing."

The adolescent appeared satisfied with the newly acquired knowledge about her dad and shrugged, "Oh well, men are jerks anyway!" Her focus was diverted back to the - non existence - relationship with her mother, "So what happens now? Do we get the opportunity to reconcile?"

Connie pursed her lips, expression blank, "No, most definitely not." Her cool and icy tone had been readopted with a passion. "It wouldn't work, anyway."

"Why?" The question retort came instantly, cutting and pressing, "Robyn and Max are having the chance to re-bond with their real mother after all those years!"

"This is different." The woman stated sharply, "It wouldn't be practical of functional, so there is no point. My job is demanding and I don't have time to accommodate with all the needs that come with being mother to a teen. You deserve - need - a devoted, loving family who can cater specifically for your requirements, exactly like your previous foster family."

"But-"

"No. This subject is finished." She stamped her authority harshly and paced towards the door, "You can forget that we ever even had this conversation, because, it is never going to happen, Rita," The door slammed and the blonde was left alone.

Rita exhaled a riled sigh hinted with traces of misery while she flopped back against the bed. Her contemplation on whether to roll over and resume her slumber was soon disrupted by her phone bleeping, indicating a new text message. She flicked the screen on and clicked on the new message, grumbling as she was requested to be somewhere urgently.

The teen exchanged her crumpled clothes that reeked off cheap and nasty vodka for a fresh pair of jeans, t-shirt and hoodie. Next came the challenging part of sneaking out again without Connie noticing. It wasn't too tricky, though, as the brunette was occupied with a conversation of her phone and the girl slipped out of the care home.

Approximately an hour subsequently, the head social worker received an incoming call from an unknown number, "Hello, Mrs Beauchamp speaking. May I ask who is calling?"

"Yes, my name is Louise Tyler and I'm the receptionist as Holby City emergency department. I am calling to inform that a resident of your care home, Miss Rita Freeman, had just been admitted following being brought in by ambulance."

A/N: Firstly, thank you for the reviews. This chapter has revealed who Rita's birth mother is and coming chapters will reveal her father! Sorry it's rather short, though. Will try not to keep you waiting an update too long! xx

~Mini Peacelet~