Grace's stay with Linda went to fast for them both, they learned a lot from each other and they now felt they were finally connecting as a mother and as a daughter should.
Grace was back living with her Nan and of course Denise, Britney and Joe who she had missed a lot but she didn't miss the drama and it was nice to get away from them once in a while.
"Look at these amazing shoes mum got me" Britney said to Grace hoping it made her jealous and to Britney's delight it worked.
"Can't you asked your mum to get you some of these" Britney said modelling the shoes which clearly too high for her.
"I will ask me mum and she will totes get me a pair" Grace watched as Britney walked up and down the corridor as if she was something of the runaway in Milan.
"I bet she won't get you some, she's not cool like my mum"
"actually mum is way cooler than yours , I mean at least my mum has an amazing job and she always looks amazing" Britney soon shut her mouth and walked away leaving Grace feeling proud that she finally stuck up to her bragging cousin.
Grace grabbed her phone and dialled her mother's mobile hoping she wasn't at work. Grace waited she heard it ring and Linda finally answered.
"Grace, are you alright sweetheart?" Linda whispered
"Yeah I'm fine Mum. Are you at work?"
"I am sweetie it's alright"
"I was actually wondering if we could go shoe shopping tomorrow"
"Yeah that would be great but I'm really sorry sweetie I have to go. I love you"
"Yay thank you mum, love you to bye" Grace danced round her room getting excited about her shoe shopping with her mum and hoping to get the same shoes as Britney if not better ones.
The next day Linda finished work and Picked Grace up and they went into to town. Walking down the high street when Grace rushed over to a window display full of shoes.
"Mum. Can we go in there please" Linda nodded and they entered a shoe store only to walk out a few minutes later and the same thing happened in 5 other shoe shops until they walked into one shoe shop and Linda had enough of walking into a shop only to walk out a few seconds later.
"are you looking for something specific Grace" Linda asked as they walked round looking at shoe after shoe.
"I'm looking for... these. Aren't they cute" Grace walked over to a pair of shoes that were clearly to high for her and really weren't appropriate.
"I want these mum" Lind took the shoe and held it in her hand but she just wasn't convinced they were the right shoes for an 11-year-old.
"Grace Sweetie, I'm not getting you these shoes they are not the right shoes for you"
"Oh please mum, I love them. Britney has a pair, why can't I have them?" Linda hated to say no to Grace but those shoes were way too old for her and the fact that Britney had a pair made it worse.
"I'm sorry sweetheart you're not having those shoes and as much as you love them. You have been doing alright without them so far haven't you?"
"I thought you would want to keep me happy but obviously not" Grace stormed off and Linda followed only to see Grace sitting outside on a bench with her arms folded.
"I'm sorry Grace but that is my last answer, I can get another pair instead" Linda moved a loose strand of hair from Grace's face.
"Can we just go then please" Linda nodded and got up and placed her arm round Grace who was still sulking. The drive home was quiet Grace never said goodbye to Linda she just climbed out the car and walked into the house and rushed to her room.
That night Linda thought about today shopping and the more she thought about the worse she felt for saying no to her only daughter.
The next day was a big day for Linda she was being told that she will mentoring a junior nurse today so she made sure she was ready for him or her when they arrived.
"Ok, you each will pull a name out of a bowl and whoever you get that will be your student nurse for the next few months until they graduate" Charlie said holding what they use as a card board bowl they used for when people felt sick or were sick but this bowl had little bits of folded paper inside.
Fletch went first and got the name Aoife O'Reilly and next was Linda who pulled out a small bit of paper and then unfolded it to see she had student nurse called Robyn Miller and last but not least Lloyd got the name Jamie Collier.
They waited patiently at reception for the student nurses to arrive. Half an hour later 3 young students walked into the ED and introduced themselves.
"Hi there, I'm Aoife O'Reilly "the young dark-haired girl said with a thick Irish accent.
"Hi Aoife, I'm Fletch your mentor" Fletch held out his which she shook and they walked away from the group.
"Hi I'm Robyn Miller "Robyn said brightly smiling at everyone.
"Hi Robin, I'm Linda and I'm your Mentor "Linda said in her thick scouse accent.
Linda and Robyn walked into the staff room where Linda showed Robin her locker and gave her a quick tour of the ED.
12 hours later it was time for Linda's shift to end so she went to her locker got changed out of her blue scrubs with the others.
"Hi everyone just a quick message to say that we are throwing a little party in the function in the pub for the student nurses on Saturday after completing their first week here at Holby please come and you can bring your Kids too. That's all good work today everyone" Tess said smiling before she walked out of the room. Linda's arrived home she got changed and then grabbed a quick something to eat before she called Grace.
Linda called Grace's mobile to hear her answer on the 3rd ring.
"Hi mum" Grace was clearly still in a mood about yesterday.
"Hi sweetie, look I have been thinking, if you really want those shoes I will buy them for you alright"
"OMG Really" Grace yelled down the phone.
"Yes, I have something I want to ask you as well ok"
"Yeah what is it?"
"on Saturday everyone at the hospital are going to a party where children are welcome and I was wondering if you would like to go and I hope you would because I want people to know I have you Grace" Grace didn't even hesitate.
"I would love to come and can I wear those shoes? Thank you, mum I'm sorry for acting like a spoilt brat yesterday and well just now too. I love you mum"
"You can wear those shoes, I love you to Grace. Well sleep well baby and I will see you Saturday and I take it for staying with me too"
"Yeah of course I am staying" Linda ended the call looking forward to Saturday introducing Grace to people who didn't know Grace existed.
I hope that was alright for you WaterlooRoadSianandMadi who asked for an update :-).
