"We have to be quiet Gracie, Max is asleep." Zoe explained as they took the make up and various hair products down the stairs of Zoe's house.

"Is Max your boyfriend?" Grace asked, smiling.

"It's complicated." Zoe replied, partly because she wasn't really sure how to explain the nature of Max and her relationship and partly because it seemed to be changing again, meaning not even she was sure what was going on.

"I wish I had parents like Max and you." Grace whined as Zoe plugged the curlers in and left them to warm up.

"Your mum is trying her best honey, you see no one ever prepares you for motherhood. It's the most important job that there is but there's no training or lessons in how to do it. Your mummy is trying her best, she's just tired and stressed." Zoe told the young girl, not wanting to influence her opinion with her own.

"Did she ask about me today?" Grace asked, tilting her head slightly, leaving Zoe with an internal battle, tell her the truth and face crushing her or lie and skate over any potential problems.

"Sorry, no she didn't sweetie. I told her that you were okay first though." Zoe told her, giving her the best of both worlds.

"Can I stay here then? I don't know to see or speak to mum."

"Of course you can but you can't ignore her forever."

"I can give it a good try though." Grace replied, firmly reminding Zoe that she was a mini version of Connie, just a more caring version.

"So what do you want for tea?" Zoe asked, as she sat next to a beautifully made up Grace, who was sat on the sofa watching TV.

"Do you have any curry?"

"I have korma?"

"Haven't you got anything spicier?"

"Yeah, but Max only likes korma."

"Is he too much of a coward when it comes to spices?" Grace asked, laughing as she spoke.

"Something like that, how about I go and speak to him and then we decide?"

"Okay."

"Max, wake up." Zoe spoke softly as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"Is it time for work?" Max asked sleepily.

"No, we're discussing dinner though."

"Lay beside me for a minute." Zoe complied and lay on the bed as Max moved over slightly, leaving a space for her.

"Grace asked if you were my boyfriend." Zoe stated simply as Max's arm seemed to snake around her waist.

"What did you say?" Max asked, suddenly feeling wide awake but keeping his eyes closed anyway.

"What do you want me to have said?" She asked, turning in his arms so that she was facing him. She got no reply in words and instead he pressed his lips to hers, relenting as she deepened the kiss.

"Does that answer your question?" Max asked cheekily.

"I've missed you Max."

"Zoe! Is he still being a chicken?" Grace shouted up the stairs.

"What's this?" Max asked, raising his eyebrows at her.

"I'm sure Grace will enlighten you." Zoe laughed as she heard the sound of small feel padding up the stairs.

Her finger hovered over the call button again as she sat with a large glass of red wine in one hand and her phone in the other. For the last 15 minutes she'd been debating whether or not to call Zoe and speak to her daughter but Grace's words from the last time that they had spoken rang in her head.
"Connie?" Zoe asked as Connie seemingly pressed call with her consciously remembering making the decision to do so. In the background Connie could hear Max and Grace's voices and then the unmistakable sound of Grace giggling. "Connie?" Zoe asked a little louder, all laughter suddenly stopped.

"Is that my mum? Does she finally care about me?" Grace's words were muffled on the phone but Connie heard them as clear as if she'd been standing next to Grace.

"I'm not sure she realised she's rung sweetie." Zoe told the young girl. "Connie?" Zoe asked one final time before the line went dead.

Tears failed to come to the clinical lead, instead she wanted to shout, to scream, to throw a tantrum that would rival any that her daughter could throw. She wanted to take herself off to bed and to remain there and mope for as long as she could. Connie Beauchamp was ready to give up and run away.