Serena had found herself grateful for Bernie's presence as the next two weeks passed, since she was more than willing to help her pack everything up in the little house Serena had been renting. Between their two vehicles, they managed to get everything ready to go back to Holby. And then, it was the last night she would spend in her little house, and Serena found herself feeling like she was coming apart at the seams. Ruth had seemed to pick up on her angst, as she became very fussy, even when Serena was cuddling her close to her chest.
"It's like she doesn't want to say goodbye," Bernie said as she came up to Serena, slinging her arm around her waist as she let her head come on Serena's. "What do you think might calm her?"
"A walk by the sea." Bernie nodded and took Ruth from her arms. Serena gave her a grateful smile as she went over to the coat hooks, shrugging into her coat as she stepped into her boots. After tying them, she reached for Ruth, getting her into her coat before heading outside. As she headed for the beach, she could hear Bernie closing the door before jogging to catch up with her. "I didn't expect you to come along," she murmured as they climbed over the rocks to get as close to the water as possible.
"I didn't realise that I wanted to until you were heading down the steps. And then it felt like I had to join you for some reason." Serena nodded as she reached a spot as close to the water as she could get without getting wet before taking a seat. She knew that it would be a bitch to get the sand out later, but she wanted to spend as much time near the water before they had to start for home the following day. Bernie settled down next to her, cuddling her close in order to share her body heat as the wind whipped past their cheeks.
"I didn't think that it would be so cold out," she said, trying to be clear, even though her teeth were chattering quite badly. "I've only been out here for fifteen minutes, and I can't really feel my feet."
"There were nights like that in the desert," Bernie said as she rubbed her hand briskly up and down Serena's arm. "The wind would just cut right through you, reminding you that even though it was so damn hot in the morning, you could still feel like you could freeze to death while sleeping. Would you like me to get a blanket from inside so that we can be out here longer?"
"That might be nice, darling."
Bernie nodded as she got to her feet, brushing her bum off before jogging back to the house. Serena turned her attention back to the water, watching the waves lap at the shore. It was a surprisingly sunny day, after all the gloom of the winter, and she turned her face up to the sun, allowing the light to soak into her skin. She felt so at peace here, like she had found her joy once more. But she supposed that she could take what she had found here and apply it to her life back at Holby. After all, Henrik had said that her position was waiting for her as soon as she got back, since they were still chronically understaffed, though she had been warned that some things were precariously perched, given the power struggle that was going on between him and Nina Kartik. She wasn't ready to head back into that fray, she mused.
Ruth fussed in her arms a little, and she turned her around so that she could view the sea as well, pulling her daughter close against her chest as she rocked them back and forth a little. "Ruthie, I hope that I'm making the decision here. This is all you've ever known, and now I'm bringing you into a totally different environment. I promise, though, you'll love my friends, and my nephew, your cousin. Jason's amazing, he had to overcome so much in his life already, that he'll be able to help you when you get older and are navigating your way through the world."
Serena let out a little sigh as she rested her chin lightly on top of Ruth's head, letting silence slip over her as easily as the water slipping over the shore. There was something about the water that soothed her, much like it soothed Ruth, and she wondered where she might find that solace once she was back in her home. There weren't any great bodies of water like this, after all, the closest lake was small in comparison. Her reverie was broken when a warm blanket was dropped around her shoulders, and she watched Bernie take a seat next to her once more, wrapping her end of the blanket around them all as they turned their gaze to the water once more. A deep sigh tore from her throat as she rested her head on Bernie's shoulder, drawing in the scent of the sea, and she allowed her eyes to flutter closed as she soaked in the ambience.
"We should probably head inside," Bernie finally said, getting to her feet. "This blanket is warm, but not enough to keep the wind out for much longer."
Serena nodded as she held up her hand, letting Bernie pull her to her feet, even as she held Ruth close to her chest. They linked arms as they walked back to the house, and as she crossed over the rocky barrier, she paused to turn and take one last, longing, look back at the ocean, almost certain that she had heard someone whisper her name. There was no one there, but she could see the faint splash on something slipping beneath the waves once more, and she shook her head, trying to push out the insane notion that she had been given the blessing of whoever had left her care over Ruth out of her brain.
"Serena?" She snapped her head around to see that Bernie was watching her intently, a questioning look on her face. "Is everything okay?"
"Oh, yes, I just thought I heard someone call my name there for a moment. It's silly, I know. There's no one around, but…"
"It felt so real." From the way Bernie's eyes took on a far away look, she knew that she was remembering a time she had felt the same eerie feeling. "There were times in the desert that I thought I could hear someone call my name as well. It creeps you out the first time, but then you hear whispers around camp that others have heard something on the wind as well. You learn not to listen to the wind whisperers. Nothing good comes from them."
Serena shivered as she nodded, allowing Bernie to wrap the blanket around her shoulders once more as they made their way across the road and into the house. "Maybe it's a good thing, then, that we're going back to Wyrven and leaving this place behind." Bernie gave her a small nod before closing the door and leading her into the living room, starting a final fire in the fireplace to warm them up before one of them would have to pull together lunch. And as the crackling sound of the fire filled her senses, Serena tried to focus on the warmth emanating from the hearth, telling herself over and over that this was the best thing for her and her family.