A/N: another short, filler update. I'm sorry. However it is rather important to connect us to the next parts of this story! Thanks for reading (:
Arrhythmia - Part 21
"One croissant and freshly squeezed clementine juice." Connie dropped the paper bag and bottle on the island counter in front of her daughter before perching on a pew opposite with her own coffee and croissant.
"Can't I have a latte?" The girl fluttered her eyelashes, gaze swivelling between the juice and coffee that lay on the polished surface.
"No." The one word was accompanied with a kind smile and she tucked a swirl of hair behind her ear and sipped at the steamy beverage. "I want to talk to you about something." Grace paused mid mouthful, placing the chunk of pastry back onto her plate and studied her mother's expression intently.
"I thought that we needed a fresh start." The brunette continued smoothly, "A proper fresh start. I don't want to mess things up this time. I quit my job a few weeks ago, as you know. And we're going to be moving away from London. To somewhere more rural and peaceful; a smaller city."
Grace's reaction followed a few moments later, "Is there decent wifi?" Priorities. She popped another piece of croissant into her mouth.
A small laugh hovered from her lips, "Is that all you kids think about these days? But yes, Gracie, I'm sure the wifi will be fine. We're moving to the rural outskirts of a downscaled city, not the middle of nowhere in the countryside."
"Which city?" She was curious, deep eyes narrowed inquisitively.
"Holby. In Wales."
The girl scrunched her nose up, exhaling a dramatic sigh, "But, Mum, it always rains in Wales!"
It was true. Every single time they had visited, it had rained. Connie's lips curled into a smile and a bubble of laughter followed, "It doesn't. We have just been unfortunate. Anyway, it rains a lot in London too, so what difference does it make? We move next week, and we are going to look into finding you a new babysitter and school."
"Babysitter?" Her orbs glittered, "Does that mean-"
"Yes. I am not spending you back to boarding school. You will always be living with me. Which is part of the reason I decided we should move. The hustle and bustle of London is not the place I desire to raise my daughter." The brunette was sure she could feel her heart clench in her chest at the pure excitement and happiness that adorned her baby girl's face.
She persisted to speak, "You can decorate your own room, with proper wall paint this time, though. Not poster paints."
"You're the best!" Grace grinned zealously, hopping off the breakfast bar stool and scooting round to envelope her arms around her mother.
"I have accepted a new job. Still in a hospital. But I won't be a surgeon anymore." It had been difficult to hand in her letter of formal resignation, with immediate affect. She loved her position as a talented surgeon, and she had worked hard to get to where she was now. But, that was what she felt had to give. It was time for a change. At least now she would not be in theatre for undefined hours at a time. Connie Beauchamp was always ready for action, though.