It had been a while.
Years in fact, she'd finished her shift at the ED, glass of wine in hand. The emotional pull of half a bottle, had lead her here. Thoughts creeped unwanted but willingly in to her mind. The what if's, the maybe's. No. She reassured herself that she had done the right thing that day.
Darwin is still standing today. Thats all the ressurance she needed.
She balanced herself on the edge of her bed, she could see the box on top of the cupboard. Her nimble frame reached over and slid it off, regaining her balance she slowly lowered herself on to the bed.
Her finger slid over the top, the layer of dust signalling to her that she should be probably cleaning her house more.
Opening the box she took another gulp of wine. A selection of wedding photos staring up at her. Both smiling away as they were pictured exiting the church, light behind thier eyes.
A sense of guilt washed over her and for the a spilt second she wondered what it would be like to get back into contact.
She stayed with this thought for a few minutes, it nearly running away with her until the familiar sound of a key turning in the lock signalled that Sam was home. She closed the box and popped it under her bed. What would he think of her, half a bottle of wine down, looking at her previous wedding photos, from a previous life.
She'd only tied the knot with him just over a year ago now. Mr and Mrs Strachan always had a nice ring to it.
She heard the keys clatter on the sideboard. "Connie?" She noted the tiredness in his voice.
Connie slid off the bed and as she walked though the landing took another sip of wine.
"Hi, how was work?" The brunette made her way downstairs to greet him.
"Hmmm, busy, as per" He pulled her into a hug. "You smell of a very expensive red wine"
She pulled away and pointed in the direction of the kitchen where the bottle sat on the middle of the island.
"Care to join me?" Sam stifled a yawn.
"I dont know how you did it?" He followed her into the kitchen.
"Did what?" Connie sat on the window seat, Sam swiftly joined her.
"Darwin clinical lead.." Sam trailed off standing up he got a wine glass out the cupboard and poured himself a drink.
Connie smirked. "Stamina, Sam"
He sat back down on the seat next to her and massaged his head with his fingers.
"I feel like i have someone in that office every five minutes that im having to tell, to iron thier uniform, keep thier pagers on them or not to eat biscuits in front of nil by mouth patients" Sam let out a sigh.
Connie pushed her tounge to the side of her cheek. "Oh..sounds familiar dont you think?!" She let out a small snigger. "And who is eating biscuits on the ward and not in the staff room?"
He took a sip of his drink. "One guess?"
"Donna." They both said in unison. "Hows Grace, sorry i forgot to ask as soon as i came in?" Sam enquired a concern etched his words.
"Your Mum rang earlier, Grace said she wanted to stay, she seems to think she has viral tonsillitis so shes given her some neurofen to help stabilize her temprature, we can always take her to the walk in clinic when she gets back"
Sam nodded. "She probably doesnt want to come back because Mum spoils her something rotten"
"Would you like me to run you a bath?" Connie stood up and drained her glass. "You do look exhausted"
Sam nodded. "Please"
Connie turned on her heel and headed towards the door, turning back she watched him drain the last of his wine.
"Are you waiting for me?" Sam asked wearily.
"I wanted to ask you something" she leant against the door frame. "How would you feel if i got back into contact with Michael?" She made eye contact, she blurrted it out quicker than intented, wine fueled, perhaps. A him a flash of uncertainty crossed his features.
He walked towards her. "Connie, i dont have a problem with it, i just dont want to see you get hurt, this coming from me, as your husband" he put his hand on her shoulders.
"You know what, its silly, just forget i said anything" she turned on her heel and he let her go. "I'll go run that bath"
Sam pulled out his phone and scanned the months and months worth of messages. Back and forth.
A proposition he'd been wavering the idea of.
A name all too familar sat there at the top
Michael Beauchamp.