The day had gone well all things considered. Connie had risen without a grumble after a fitful night's rest. The recoil of her outburst clear on her sunken face as she'd readied herself for "the big return" as Michael kept reminding her. She'd eventually decided upon the power suit that had won her the job in Holby. The one she wore on days when she felt vulnerable, able to hide under its pretence of confidence. They'd made a change from normal, if such a thing existed, and taken the car to work. Michael had spent the entire journey pensively watch her glare out the window as he drove. It wasn't the most pleasurable atmosphere to be in, but then again, going back to work was a big mountain for Connie to climb and doing it now was the only way to go about things. Any longer at home and her equilibrium was going to be tipped permanently.
She'd immediately immersed herself in work; they'd received a new patient that day, a young girl, misplaced from Paediatrics due to all the building work Michael had heralded. Connie hadn't wanted anything quite so heavy on her first day; a simple valve replacement or a heart attack case would have been perfect. But then again nothing ever went to plan in the NHS did it? Michael had been kept to busy to check on her during the morning, he knew that once she'd met the patient, engrossed herself in the case the distraction to do anything remotely stupid would dissipate. Or at least that was the theory. By lunchtime he'd chaired three disciplinary cases, written out a speech for a press conference and stared out the window in boredom as much as he possibly could. Attempting to find her had proved more difficult than he'd expected. She'd gone down to theatre to attempt the impossible and save the girl who was minutes away from dying anyway. Resisting the idea of trying to assist her as he'd occasionally do, he'd returned to the latest financial memo he'd received from the DOH.
Despite her best efforts Connie hadn't been able to save the girl and breaking the news to her parents had been happily passed onto her registrar's. Facing patients, operating on them and acting their emotionless doctor she could do. Telling anxious parents their only daughter, who'd been running around the day before, was dead she could not. The ward had gone into something or a down turn whilst she'd not been there. Michael had kept up the pretence that she'd merely been on some urgent research work in America. The ward had continued to move along though. Things changing, like normal, what concerned her was the lack of progress the locum consultant had made. The pile of work sitting on her desk would keep her content for a month at least and though not life threatening her pristine office was gathering a suspect layer of dust.
Clearing a space on her sofa Connie curled her legs underneath her as she glanced over the first of many reports she was supposed to have checked. None of the information was going in, the drink in her hand allowing her mind to wander. Fearing that the recurring images of her attack would swamp her weary mind Connie was somewhat pleased to see Ric sitting beside her as they made use of the sprawling back yard she and Michael had only dreamed over. He was lying there semi naked as she indulged in the sun raining down on them. They'd drunk a little too much champagne, spent too much time eating strawberries, and barely glanced at the newspapers. The hazy day had sent her into a contented sleep on the rug; Ric's arms protecting her from any harm. The memory moved forward a few hours, to the shower that engorged their tanned bodies, the way they'd made love in the cool bedroom, concentrating hard enough Connie could hear the soft chirp of birds at the open window. That night had been perfect.
"Mrs Beauchamp," came a voice that wasn't familiar to the dream, there had been no determined brunette sticking her nose in their business. Shaking her head Connie was met by a stunned looking face clutching various files, "Haven't you heard of knocking?" she sighed, shifting uneasily.
"Yes and you didn't answer, so I took the liberty of coming in," came the icy reply, she'd long forgotten the fling this particular riffraff had had with her husband; there had been more pressing issues.
"For all you know I could have been wrapped round my husband attempting to enjoy some privacy, wouldn't want to interrupt that now would we," Connie purred in response, fighting fire with fire was all that Miss Sherrard would respond to.
"Or you could have passed out in some sort of coma, it works both ways Mrs Beauchamp," the younger lady countered, pouting as she slammed the files down on the conference table, turning to face her boss, "you seemed a bit distracted today," the comment came out in an uncomfortable tone, she'd clearly been put up to this by some of the staff not brave enough to counter Connie.
"Well wouldn't you be if you'd returned to work after a long stint doing research with little patient contact," Connie scowled, aimlessly trying to keep the pretence up.
"Seemed like you were up to more than just research whilst you were away," Miss Sherrard retorted with equal falsities.
"Excuse me, what I do outside this hospital is my business," Connie replied with the feigning smile or discontent.
"Michael seemed a little too uncomfortable for you to just be doing a bit of work outside the hospital that's all," Connie glared at the woman as she spoke, at least it proved she had brains, she'd long since known that their façade wasn't fool proof, but in a busy setting such as the hospital it usually held up.
"If you must know Miss Sherrard," the disgust laced tone set the mood abundantly clear, "I was attacked at the tail end of last year, and so no I may not have been doing research, call it licking my well deserved wounds, call it being lazy, call it what you like, but you don't tend to get over rape that quickly do you?" Connie wasn't aware how incensed her voice had become until she paused for breath.
"Mrs Beauchamp I never knew, I…I'm sorry, Michael never mentioned anything,"
"Funny that, since I told him to say nothing," Connie sighed, "he's my husband, he's been bloody loyal to me since the attack and well being a little distracted at work comes with the bargain of a raped wife don't you think," the spite had been rising inside her all day, having not left the house that much since everything had happened Connie hadn't been around woman like her, enjoying the success of many years of hard graft at med school, wallowing in the looks men gave them, enjoying the idea of being a doctor, of living a life. Yet today she had been, it had been barely anything more than seven hours and she'd consumed the odd looks, the whispers, and the gossip about her being back. It had cooked itself into a nice piece of spitefully humble pie.
"Why don't you say anything about this? I mean you as a couple seem so professional, so together, so with it" Kate asked as the two woman found themselves sitting on the couch.
"Because after as many years in the NHS working all the hours we did and having no family you learn to fake it, playing with the big boys stings your soul somewhat," it was true though, if you didn't know the Beauchamp's as well as friends did you would mistake them for the happy couple who rose early in the morning to spend time with the kids before rushing into the bustling day and come home at night to a weary nanny busy with helping the kids do their homework. They'd spend the evening playing a board game, kiss their children goodnight, and get ready to do it again the next day. Wrong! Michael and Connie would get up early, go into work early, and stay until well past knocking off time. Go home, eat, slump in front of the television, and make love for the rest of the evening. "Look I'm sorry, it's been a big day for me, I've not been in here for months, and as you can see I've got plenty of work to be getting on with," Connie smiled as her mind focused again.
"Yes, yes, of course," Kate smiled as she stood up and left the room, brimming with gossip that would no doubt keep the mill on overdrive for a week, not that she minded, in fact it felt liberating, at least if they knew the truth it would save her from having to hide.
"Connie, darling, I think it's time you and I went home," Michael told her gently, she hadn't heard him creep in. Work still sat on her lap as she stretched in her seat. She wasn't entirely sure how long she'd been there, a couple of hours perhaps. Lifting the work onto the desk he sits down by her side, "I heard you told Kate," he smiled, though not met with a verbal response the nodding of her head said it all as she rested her head on his shoulder, more out of tiredness than anything else.
"No rest for the wicked then," he sighed as his arm snaked around her, they hadn't shared a moment like this in a while.
"Not really I better get going with all this work though," Connie replied, making a move to get out of his embrace.
"I don't think so Connie, you're not doing too much too soon," Michael replied sincerely as she rose to her feet, immediately slipping back into her heels that lay cast off on the ground.
"Fine, but I might suggest that the doctor tucks me in as well," Connie winked as she picked up her bag and coat…………..