Connie
stood up off the bed "I will not be dictated to by my 19 year
old daughter she has to be told she is going back".
Connie
went to leave the room but Michael pulled her back. He gently put
Connie's face in his hands and replied "Let me try and talk to
her we have to thread carefully you know how stubborn she can
be".
"Ok but you have to be firm Michael explain to her"
"I will now you relax and go downstairs and leave it to me"
Michael
opened Olivia's door as he watched Connie disappeared down the
stairs.
He noticed his daughter hanging out the window.
"Olivia"
He called.
As she turned around she exhaled a puff of
smoke.
"Foolish girl to start smoking and if your mother
finds out...Michael nods
"Dad I am not a kid"
"I
know but you did see what I went through to give up."
"Look
Dad we both know why you are here I am sorry if I have let you and
mum down I just don't like medicine"
Michael sat beside
Olivia "Your Mother and I would like to know more about this
expulsion saga"
Olivia look at the floor not wanting to make
eye contact with her dad.
"Dad I loved all of a sudden
receiving so much freedom when I started university. We had so many
socials. I liked the life. Michael looked at his daughter confused.
"Why didn't you say something at the start then you could have
chosen another course."
Olivia looked at the ground. "Because
I knew how you and Mum would react".
"It's up to you
what career path you chose nobody else can do that for you".
Michael replied understandingly.
"And besides I loved all the
friends I had made and the fun we had, there is no way Mum would have
let me to the things I was doing".
"Your Mum just wants
the best for you that's all, she worries she didn't sleep
properly for weeks when you first started university and she never
relaxed until she got those text messages at night from you saying
you were safe in your dorm".
Olivia smiled to herself as her
Father said this, knowing well she sent those texts from either a bar
or a party.
"Is there a particular course you would like to
do" Michael asked not knowing what his daughters reply would
be.
Olivia nodded "I would love to do design; you know
designing clothes and bags "
"Well why you don't if
it's what you really want".
"Mum would freak that's
why"
"Leave your Mum to me I will talk to her"
Michael said as he left Olivia's room and headed back downstairs to
Connie.
"Well
is she going back" Connie asked sharply.
Michael sat beside
her.
"It's not what she wants Connie, she wants something
different"
Connie sat up and looked at Michael. "What
does she want"
"She wants to study design"
Connie
stood up. "She has worked so hard in school I will not let her
throw it all away so she can sit scribbling sketches of rags on paper
all day. Anyone would think you don't want her to remain in
medicine"
"Would you rather her miserable Connie".
"I
cant listen to this I am going to bed I have an early start in the
morning, maybe a good nights sleep will bring both of you to your
senses". Connie walked back up the stairs to bed. Michael
followed but remained silent.
The
next morning Connie left for work before Olivia and Michael woke.
After she had done her morning surgery she sat in her office thinking
about her daughter.
Connie picked up her phone and rang the Dean
at the university.
"Hello my name is Mrs. Connie Beauchamp I
was enquiring about recent events concerning my daughter Olivia".
Connie heard a knock on her door. It was Diane. She signaled for her
to take a seat. Connie went pale. "I think you must be mistaken
I assure you my daughter would never..." Connie slammed down the
phone and stood up from her desk grabbing her bag and phone. Diane
sorry I have to go home there has been an emergency. Diane watched as
Connie picked up her phone punching in the keys.
"Michael I
am on my way home will you meet me there its urgent".
Connie
pulled into her drive and slammed her car door shut as she marched
into her house.
"Olivia" She roared loudly.
"Whets
going on "Michael called from the kitchen.
Connie made her
way in to him. "What's going on" she roared again "I
was on the phone to the dean this morning"
Olivia appeared
at the door.
"Calm down" Michael whispered
"No
Michael do you know why our angel was expelled hmm because she was
smoking drugs on campus" Connie spat as her face turned so many
shades of purple.
Michael turned to Olivia "Is this
true"
Olivia nodded "It was only a bit of cannabis"
"Only
cannabis" Connie snapped through gritted teeth as she walked
towards her daughter.
"Do you know how many people dependant
on hard drugs comes into the hospital that started out on cannabis"
Michael asked.
"I am sorry everyone was doing it, it was the
one and only time I have ever tried it" replied Olivia trying to
persuade her parents she was telling the truth, which in this case
she was.
Connie's phone rang. She pulled it from her pocket and
briefly snapped "I am on my way" to whoever was on the
other end before returning her attention back to her daughter.
"I
am needed at the hospital "Connie said as she picked her keys up
from the table.
"Ill deal with you young lady when I get
home, do not leave this house under any circumstances" She
slammed the front door on the way out.
Michael looked at Olivia "I
better get back I have a meeting" He left leaving Olivia
standing alone in the kitchen.
"Who does she think she is
shouting orders at me like that, don't let a small thing like this
keep you from work Mum" She mumbled as she picked up her mobile
and headed up to her room. She flicked through her phonebook then a
smile crept across her face.
Later
that evening Michael returned home from work. As he entered the
silent house he sighed at the peace and quiet before Connie came home
for round two.
He made himself a hot cup of tea before taking out
his newspaper. Two hours later he heard Connie come in.
"Hi
Con I am in here". Connie entered the room. Michael was sitting
on the sofa.
"Where is she" Connie asked
sharply.
"Upstairs, probably afraid to come down".
"Yes
well she should be afraid I have only just started"
Michael
took Connie's hand.
"Why don't we deal with her later let
her stew for a while" he asked as he pulled Connie
closer.
Connie smiled, after the stressful day she had she looked
at Michael. He began rubbing her shoulders as she closed her eyes
relaxing at the soft touch of her husband's hands. After a few
short minutes she slowly opened her eyes. Immediately she noticed
Michael's smiling eyes as he leaned in and kissed her gently.
Retaliating she moved her hands slowly up from his waist to his
masculine shoulders as she pulled him into a tight embrace.
Inhaling the scent of her expensive perfume Michael began unbuttoning her top. Caught in a passionate moment before finally realizing her daughter was upstairs Connie pulled away.
"Olivia could come down any minute". Connie gasped as she tried to catch her breath.
"Then how about an early night". Michael whispered.
Connie smiled as she took his hand before leading him upstairs.
As
they lay asleep in each others arms the phone on the bedside table
rang.
Michael stretched across Connie as he picked it up.
"Hello"
he said half asleep. He immediately sat up. "We are on our way".
Connie woke with a fright.
"What is it Michael"
"Olivia
is in ae" he replied jumping out of the bed and into some
clothes. Connie followed suit.
"What did they say is she ok"
"I have no idea"
They remained silent until they
reached the hospital. They were met by Harry.
"Connie,
Michael Olivia is fine seems she had a bit too much to drink we had
to pump her stomach".
"Thank you Harry can I see
her"
"One at a time ok follow me".
Connie looked
at Michael but he signaled for her to go in first.
As Connie
pulled back the curtain Olivia was still throwing up.
"Mum"
she gasped
"Olivia what on earth is happening to you"
"Mum
I am sorry"
"I don't want to hear it first you get
stoned then expelled now this"
Olivia had tears running down
her face "Mum just listen.
"No this is really the last
straw"
Connie was interrupted by Abs.
"Hi Mrs.
Beauchamp can I have a word".
Connie was guided out of the
cubicle by Abs.
"I had a chat with Olivia" Abs began to
say.
"I don't know what's got into her she was so good
until she went to university". Connie answered.
"Mrs.
Beauchamp this is a cry for attention"
"Oh she will be
getting plenty of attention embarrassing myself and her Father like
this"
"She seems very upset maybe she feels this is the
only way she can get your attention. She told me all about college
and you wanting her to do medicine"
"So its my fault she
is here is that it"
"No of course not what I am saying
is she needs to talk to you and you have to listen girls her age
sometimes feel they have to pull stunts like this to be
heard".
Connie nodded knowing Abs was right. She was putting
pressure on Olivia in both school and college.
She walked back
over to Olivia's bed.
"I am so sorry mum" Olivia
replied as she was drifting off to sleep.
"Sshh" Connie
replied as she ran her hands over her daughters face wiping away her
tears as she fell asleep, almost startled at the fact that she could
not remember the last time she had touched her daughters face so
gently. Connie was sickened by the fact she never really showed
Olivia much affection although she did love her so much, but she was
never one to show much emotion she whispered "We will talk in
the morning".
She returned back out to Michael and hugged him
as she cried.
"What's going on" He asked.
"I
was so busy wanting her to do well I never once stopped to think how
she felt"
Michael rubbed her back "She knows it was in
her best interest".
"I have to make it up to her. I am
staying here with her tonight you go home get some sleep".
Connie replied
"Are you sure".
"Yes we will be
fine ill ring you"
Connie returned back to Olivia's bed ant
sat down in the chair by her bed.
The
next morning Connie woke up and looked at her watch. It was 7.30am
and Olivia was still sleeping. Connie decided to go up to her office
and get some paperwork done.
She walked up the quiet corridors and
unlocked her office. She sat for a while lost in her own thoughts
before she was interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Come in"
she said in a sharp tone.
Diane appeared around the door.
"Hi
Connie I seen you come in..." Diane was interrupted by Connie's
response. "I am only here for a short while I am taking the next
few days off I am arranging cover now".
"It's not work
related I just wanted to see if you were ok". Diane asked.
"Oh
Diane I must apologies for yesterday I had to dash off
home"
"Everything alright".
Connie just nodded
and turned away from Diane.
Diane could see that Connie looked
stressed so she stepped inside and closed the door and walked towards
her.
"Are you sure because if there is anything you need to
talk about I am here".
Connie turned to face Diane. "Thank
you but you have had your fair share of problems lately".
"So
you will be talking to a pro" Diane answered quickly.
"It's
just my 19 year old daughter acting up."
"I didn't
know you had a daughter"
"Since she started university
she has turned from a bright passive young lady into a tear away cant
control"
Diane stood in shock.
"It's probably just
a phase she is going through I was wild at that age myself".
Connie
smiled at Diane "Didn't we all".
"Hey don't
worry seriously Connie".
"She is in ae now sleeping off
a hangover. We got a call last night from Harry Harper saying she was
admitted into ae having her stomach pumped. We thought she was
sleeping in the next room when all along she was out boozing".
Diane
didn't know how to respond. 'Well maybe a few days together is what
you need'.
Connie smiled "I hope so". Diane left the
office leaving Connie to sort out a few days cover.
After she had
made the necessary phone calls she locked up her office and made her
way back down to ae.
As she approached the cubicle in which she
had left Olivia sleeping she noticed it was empty. She looked all
around the department but could not find her daughter.
She spotted
Tess and made her way over to her.
"I am looking for my
daughter Olivia Beauchamp"
"Ah yes she has been
discharged" Mrs. Beauchamp.
Connie looked at her in disgust.
"You mean she left on her own"
Tess swallowed hard"
Yes she insisted , we asked her if she would like us to call anyone
but she refused"
Connie headed out the door as she took her
mobile out of her bag. She rang her house but there was no answer.
Michael was probably on his way to work so she decided to wait a
while before worrying him. She got into a taxi as Michael had taken
the car home and made her way towards her house.
