Chapter 10
This chapter shows the baby scan with Grace, visiting Elliot Hope and Grace's Friend Maria. Sorry this chapter is late but I've been really busy.
It was the morning of Connie's 16 week baby scan so she had to be awake early to ensure that she'd be ready in time. Grace had once again climbed into Connie's bed during the night, although Connie hadn't realised, so she left Grace sleeping as she went to have a shower.
Connie picked out a black tank top and a blue shirt to go over it, as well as a pair of black trousers to wear, as she knew a dress would be a bad idea at a baby scan. Her plan was to go to the scan, visit Elliot, have lunch at home, and then take Grace to Maria's house.
Connie had a long, hot shower and left the bathroom to see that Grace wasn't in her bed anymore. Connie walked towards Grace's bedroom and knocked on the closed door.
"I'm just getting dressed." Grace's voice called sweetly to her mother.
"Okay, I'll just start breakfast then. It will just be cereal today as we have to go out soon." Connie replied.
"Okay, thanks mum." Grace called back, getting dressed into a pair of jeans and one of the t-shirts that she had bought the previous day.
In the car Grace stayed quiet as she was still quite tired, and didn't have a lot to say. She sat next to her mum and stared out of her window, occasionally turning her head to look out of the front window. The radio played unnoticed as background noise for Connie and Grace.
Connie was thinking about Grace, social services, and the scan. Although it was her week off work she still felt that there was a lot to occupy her mind and keep her busy. She hated to think of her unborn child's future but it would come a lot sooner than she'd realize and if she was seen as an unfit mother she could face losing her child forever.
Connie sat in the waiting room with Grace, a few minutes before the appointment was booked for. Due to the early hour, there were not many people waiting to be seen in the waiting room. There were only 4 families, including Connie and Grace. Connie noticed that two of the other pregnant women, both a lot further along in their pregnancies, had their husbands with them. The other pregnant women seemed to be sat with her son and another woman, who Connie presumed was her wife as they both wore wedding rings and were holding hands.
Connie's name was called first so she stood up and held onto Grace's hand as she walked towards the small room.
"Hi, this is my daughter Grace. She's staying with me this week." Connie explained to the midwife, who smiled at Grace.
"Hello Grace. I'm your mums midwife. I'm going to make sure that the baby is okay until it is born." The midwife explained, still trying to work out how old Grace was and how much she understood about children and babies.
"Hi." Grace replied sweetly, smiling at the midwife.
"Okay, Connie. Would you like to get onto the bed and I'll check you over." The midwife said, turning to face Connie.
Connie went over to the bed and sat against the back of the bed as the midwife felt the bump.
Grace sat on a chair next to the bed, which Connie presumed was usually for the father of the babies, and watched curiously as the ultrasound picture showed up on the screen. Grace couldn't help but smile as she saw the picture of the small baby. The sound of the heartbeat was the only sound in the room at the time.
"The baby has a very good, strong heartbeat." The midwife commented, watching Grace's face as the smile spread.
"Thank you." Connie replied, fixated on the image on the screen besides her.
The midwife finished the scan and printed out two pictures, as Grace had requested one to keep for herself.
"Come in!" Elliot called as he heard a knock on his office door.
Grace entered first, followed closely by Connie.
"Hello Grace." Elliot smiled, happy to see the little girl again.
"Hi Uncle Hope." Grace replied, smiling sweetly. "I'm staying with mum this week so we came to visit you."
"I can see that, it's good to see you." Elliot said, digging into his drawer. "Would you like a doughnut?" He asked pulling out a box of Krispy Kreme donuts.
"Yes please!" Grace replied, taking one from the box.
"Connie?" Elliot asked, holding the box out to the older brunette.
"No thank you." Connie replied politely, as she hated the thought of eating donuts and cake, although she would occasionally.
Elliot took a doughnut from the box for himself and placed the box back in the drawer, under a pile of papers that he also kept in the drawer.
Connie and Grace arrived home after talking to Elliot for a short while. Grace was, of course, doing a lot of the talking whilst Elliot listened and Connie zoned out as she had heard everything that Grace was saying at least 3 times already.
"Shall we have beans on toast for lunch?" Connie asked, putting her bag by the front door as she took off her shoes.
"Yes, please." Grace replied, copying what her mum did with her shoes as she put them on the shoe rack.
"Okay. I'll put it on now." Connie replied, going into the kitchen as Grace turned on the TV in the living room.
After lunch Connie and Grace got ready to go out as Connie was driving Grace to her friend's house. When Grace was with her friend Connie would be shopping for food as she knew what Grace liked and disliked to eat.
Connie drove to Maria's house, which wasn't very far away; with the radio playing in the background quietly, neither Connie nor Grace spoke as the silence was comfortable.
The moment Connie pulled up outside Maria's house Grace hopped out of the car and ran to the front door, knocking excitedly. Connie followed behind as Maria's mum opened the door to let Grace inside.
"Hi." Connie said, unsure of how to greet Maria's mum after not seeing her for a long time.
"Hi, would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?" Sarah asked hearing Grace and Maria's reunion in the living room.
"Not right now, thank you. I'm going to do some shopping." Connie replied, deciding that it was best to leave Grace to play with her friend for a bit.
"Okay, well it was nice to see you anyway." Sarah replied.
"Yes, you too. I'll pick her up in a couple of hours." Connie replied.
"Okay." Sarah answered, shutting the door as Connie walked back to her car.
Connie drove back to Maria's house after she had gone shopping and gone back home to put the food away. Connie had left Grace for 3 hours, but she trusted that Grace would behave and that Sarah would be okay to look after her for the afternoon.
She pulled up outside the house for the second time that day and walked up to the front door as she knocked 3 times.
Sarah opened the door and smiled, calling Grace to tell her that her mum had arrived. Connie smiled as she saw Grace come into the hallway to put on her shoes and coat.
Grace hugged Maria and said goodbye, promising to keep in touch with her. Connie bid goodbye to Maria and Sarah before taking Grace's hand and walking back to the car.
Once Connie and Grace had eaten dinner Grace sat on her mother's knee as they curled up and watched a film together. It had been a long, exciting day and Grace was very tired, despite the fact it was only 9pm.
When the film was half over Connie noticed that Grace had fallen asleep on her knee but she didn't want to move her away as she looked sweet and Connie was unsure whether she'd be able to move Grace without waking her up.
Once the film had finished both Connie and Grace were asleep so they spent the night in front of the television in each other's arms.
Sorry this chapter isn't very detailed, but tell me if you'd like more detail, longer chapters, shorter chapters, ect. This took me a while to write and I've been very busy with work the past couple of weeks. I'll be at my Grandma's in the Lake District from the 13th so I'll probably have a bit of time to write then but I hope to get something up before I go, even if it is just a short chapter.