Rainbows and Butterflies
Chapter 2 – Good as gold
"So you promise to be as good as gold?" Zoe repeated as she looked in her rear view mirror at the little girl playing with her doll and her plastic stethoscope in the back seat.
"As good as super shiny gold!" Sharice smiled sweetly.
They day was not off to a good start. Sharice had not been pleased with the idea of coming to work with Zoe she had wanted to spend the day with her grandparents. However her grandparents had gone back up to Scotland to sort some things out as they were planning a move to Holby so couldn't have taken care of Sharice even if Zoe had asked them to. Sharice's grandparents where her last link to her Mum and Zoe knew that was important so she had plenty of time for the older couple but at the same time with the adoption coming through she was slightly glad that she had Sharice to herself for a while to set up their life together properly. Plus Zoe was too proud and she didn't want to rely on their generosity too often, she wanted to prove she could do it.
"I mean it Sharice, Mr Jordan is a bit of a dragon… I'm not really supposed to be bringing you in…" Zoe sighed
"Why couldn't I stay with Nana and Grandad?" Sharice asked bluntly
"Because they are back in Scotland sorting out their house you know that!" Zoe pointed out and Sharice sighed looking out the window
"Will they be back? Mummy didn't come back…" Sharice trailed off
"They will. They are moving nice and close so that you can go visit them more often!" Zoe said reassuringly "But if we are going to make this work and I am going to be looking after you we need to be able to cope on our own anyway right?" she asked the little girl
"Yes." Sharice nodded fiddling with the plastic stethoscope
"You enjoy living with me right?" Zoe asked worriedly as she parked up and turned to face Zoe
"Of course!" Sharice looked "You're the best almost Mummy ever." She beamed slightly
"You wouldn't prefer to live with you Nana and Grandad…?" Zoe asked unsure of herself for a minute doubting whether Sharice wanted to come and live with her "Because the adoption isn't final yet and it's your choice Sharice…" she added a hint of nerves in her voice
"I love Nana and Grandad." Sharice pointed out "But they get a bit boring after a while..." She confessed in a loud whisper and Zoe chuckled slightly
"Come on trouble." She smiled undoing her seatbelt and opening the door
Sharice unbuckled her own seatbelt and eagerly sprang from the car.
"You are going to behave right?" Zoe said as she locked the car and looked down into Sharice's big blue eyes.
"Of course Zoe!" Sharice grinned
Maybe this wasn't going to be such a good idea Zoe sighed as she took the little girl's hand and lead her towards the department.
"Noel!" Zoe smiled as she spotted the receptionist as they entered the department "How do you feel like doing me a massive favour?"
"What…? No…." Noel shook his head looking down at the small child "I have to work too!"
"She'll be as good as gold won't you Sharice?" Zoe looked down at Sharice who smiled cheekily
"Good as gold!" Sharice smiled as she repeated Zoe
"Thanks Noel." Zoe said bluntly giving Noel absolutely no choice in the matter
"Oh come on Zoe!" Noel sighed as Zoe ruffled Sharice's hair and headed off he pulled a face and looked down at the child "Do you like action figures?" he asked hopefully
"They're rubbish." Sharice pulled a face
"Drawing?" Noel tried
"That's for babies I'm seven years old!" Sharice folded her arms
Noel sighed. This was going to be a tough day.
"Late again Doctor Hanna?" Zoe turned to see Nick looking around the edge of the staffroom door as she threw her handbag into her locker
"No just not on time!" Zoe winced as she turned around to look into Nick's eyes
"Let me guess, small brown haired thing with a high pitch voice hold you up?" he asked
"No, not at all and I'm getting to work now ok?" Zoe sighed
"Good. I hope that taking care of, Sharice is it?..." Zoe nodded as Nick paused to check he was right "…taking care of Sharice won't affect your ability when you are at work? You are one of the best doctors in this emergency department but I need you fully focused on the job!" Nick pointed out simply
"Of course not!" Zoe immediately defended herself crossing her fingers and hiding them behind her locker door "I am a good Doctor I don't let my personal life affect my professional life!" She said confidently
"And let's keep it that way!" Nick winked
Zoe blushed slightly as Nick vanished. She was doing exactly what she had just promised Nick she wouldn't do right now. Letting her personal life invade on her professional life, but she could hide Sharice from him, it wouldn't be too hard and anyway how much trouble could a seven year old get up to in an emergency department anyway?