Connie and Rita left the bar together. It was early evening and the light was already beginning to fade. They walked side-by-side down the street.
"So your family never really took to the 'girls or guys' idea then?"
"Yeah my mum was never that happy with it to be honest. She used to refer to it as Rita's 'liberal lifestyle'. She was chuffed when me and Mark decided to get married. Oh how wrong she was.."
Rita shook her head as they carried on walking.
"What about you? Thought this was meant to be a two-way 'getting to know you' exercise"
Connie grinned.
"Well..." Connie paused, trying to decide where to start. "I always wanted to be a doctor, as long as I can remember. My dad always used to say I had more ambition than I knew what to do with."
Rita laughed. "I'll say!"
"Just recently, the situation with Grace leaving for America and then having to drop everything to help Charlie out with Louis in Romania. I think...I let it get on top of me."
Connie took a deep breath. She had no idea why she was opening up to this woman. I mean Rita Freeman of all people! But those imploring eyes and the comforting hand in the middle of her back were encouraging her to. She put it down to the drink.
"Sam, Grace's father, he was a doctor here. It was all a bit sudden really. I mean don't get me wrong I love Grace to bits I really do but I don't think I was ready to be a mum."
She looked down. "I still don't"
Rita squeezed her arm.
"That little girl adores you Connie. You make sacrifices for her as any parent would, I can see that. You give her unconditional love...I know you do."
Their eyes met for a brief moment. Connie could see Rita meant what she said.
"She certainly has your dry sense of humour thats for sure."
Connie laughed.
"This 'new management style' you're trying out.."
"Hmmm?"
"Can I offer some feedback?"
Connie nodded. "Go ahead."
"The 'kind and professional' attitude seems to be going well and the cake was a good call, but..."
"But...?" Connie raised an eyebrow.
"We liked the old Connie. You know the whole 'sharp, ball breaking, take no prisoners' kind of Connie. You used to sweep around the ED like a Queen taking in her empire."
Connie laughed out loud.
"Glad to hear it."
Rita smirked. "I mean you scared Lofty and the agency staff half to death but it was effective, efficient and well...really quite sexy I'll admit."
"Nurse Freeman are you admitting you find me attractive?"
Connie grinned at Rita who went bright red.
"Well...yeah I guess I am."
Rita's in conscience was screaming 'shut up Rita, shut up!' but she couldn't stop herself. The drink had given her a new found courage.
They stopped outside Connie's house.
"I mean those biker leathers...you did that deliberately. I nearly had an aneurism."
Connie's eyes widened in shock. Rita immediately clasped a hand over her mouth.
"Sorry I...that was inappropriate...I'll just go..." Rita practically ran off down the street.
Back at her flat, Rita slammed the door behind her angrily.
What the bloody hell was that Freeman! 'I nearly had an aneurism'. Oh god.
She chucked her bag and shoes haphazardly on the sofa and stomped off up to bed.
You've really gone and blown it this time Rita.
Saturday morning dawned and Rita didn't feel any better. Her head was pounding and she couldn't get the image of Connie's shocked face out if her head. The event was playing on an hideous incessant loop. She slumped onto the sofa and turned the TV up extra loud to try and block it out.
Rita shuddered, her hangover still washing over her in waves. It wasn't working. Getting up from the sofa, she threw down the throw pillow angrily and stomped off to the kitchen.
"I AM NEVER BLOODY DRINKING AGAIN!" she declared to an empty house.
Silence was her only reply.
