The day after the night before was possibly one of the most frustratingly long days that Rita had worked. Firstly, nothing could compare to the night before, falling asleep with Connie Beauchamp in her arms was definitely a highlight. Then there was the lack of Beauchamp sightings throughout the day, the consultant instead caught up with departmental meetings and paperwork. Her final frustration was that although she and Connie had been together, quite passionately, she had no idea where it left them. Connie had barely spoken on the journey into work, but Rita supposed that was due to the morning sickness, the sickness that had her constantly up and down in the night. Connie really was in no fit state to make any life changing decisions, not when her life was already getting more complicated.
Rita just wanted to reach out and take the consultant in her arms, tell her she understood how she was feeling. Really she had no idea whatsoever, she had never fallen pregnant with someone from the other side of the world, neither had she confided in the woman who had been the cause of her arrest and slept with her. She could understand Connie being on edge, she was positively sure that she too would react the same.
"Rita! There's someone on the phone asking for Mrs Beauchamp, I think he may be calling from a different country" Robyn called over to her boss. She held the phone against her chest, her eyes pleading with Rita to take the call.
"Alright, you get back to work. I'll sort it out" Rita sighed as she took the phone from the younger nurse and pressed it to her ear.
"Hello, Sister Freeman speaking, can I help you?"
"Hello, I need to speak with Mrs Beauchamp, it's urgent" The voice on the other end answered.
"May I ask who is speaking please?"
"Tell her it's Alex, it's important I speak with her" Rita realised suddenly who it was she was talking too. Alex, it was the Alex. The father of Connie's child.
"She's not available at the moment, can I take a message" Rita asked, her tone becoming quite sharp.
"Just tell her that I have spoken with Charlie, and I know" Rita's mouth dropped. Charlie had told Alex without consulting Connie first! The cheek!
"I'm sorry, you know what?" Rita asked, biting for an answer.
"About the baby, our baby" Rita panicked. She knew Connie didn't want the man in her life, or the child's. That's when she found herself coming out with the most unthinkable lie that she could ever have created.
"Connie's just been admitted here, she's lost the baby" With her guilt eating her up, Rita slammed down the phone and looked about, hoping no one had overheard her vile lies.
"Rita…" The blonde nurse jumped at the sound of Connie's voice. She shot round to found the clinical lead standing with a bemused expression on her face as she stood with her hands on her hips.
"Everything ok?" Connie questioned, concerned by Rita's caught in the headlight look.
"Yes fine, why? You ok?" Rita babbled, flashing a smile that was supposed to convince Connie that everything was just fine.
"Fine… Robyn said there was someone on the phone for me…"
"Yeah, it was some rep from some medical company, trying to sell us something or the other" Rita lied as she placed her arm on Connie's shoulder and began to guide her away from the nurses station.
"That is the third rep today! Did they say which company?" Connie requested as the pair headed towards her office.
"Urm, n-care, something like that anyway. What you doing later? Fancy dinner?" Rita asked as she tried to change the conversation.
"Never heard of them, and is it ok if I give it a miss, I just want a bath and bed" Connie groaned as she opened her office door and immediately made for the sofa where she could finally sit down on something of comfort.
"Well how about I come over, I'll cook if you'd like?" Rita offered. Connie collapsed into the sofa, her face softening.
"Oh you don't have to…" Connie argued.
"No, please. I was hoping we could have a chat anyway"
"You've twisted my arm…"
Xxx
Connie smiled as she glanced up at the clock. Her twelve hour shift was over and she was ready to go home, eat some wonderful homemade food and hopefully cuddle up with Rita in the sofa, if that's what the blonde even wanted. Maybe that's what she wanted to talk about, maybe she regretted last night. Connie hoped she didn't, because for the first time in a long time she actually found herself smiling whenever she thought of the blonde.
The Brunette grabbed all of her belongings before locking up the office and heading towards the staffroom where she had agreed to meet Rita at the end of their shifts.
"Mrs Beauchamp!" The familiar voice of Noel echoed throughout the department. Connie turned back, her eyes narrowing as she wondered what on earth was so urgent.
"What is it Noel, I'm actually on my way out" Connie asked exhaustedly.
"There's a man in reception asking for you, says it's urgent. He seems pretty upset about something…" Noel trailed off.
"Fine, come on" Connie mumbled as she stormed off in the direction of reception, furious that anyone dare stop her from getting home.
"This better be important" Connie muttered to herself as she sailed through the open doors that lead into the main reception area.
"He's just sat there Mrs Beauchamp" Noel informed her as he pointed over to the seating area, pointing out the blonde man who sat with his hand wrapped around a coffee. Connie immediately recognised him, shock filling her body. She stood gawping for a second, wondering if anyone would notice if she just disappeared.
"Connie…" Too late. Alex looked up, his eyes full of sadness. He rose from his chair and walked until he was stood in front of the clinical lead.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't here" He spoke softly, his hand moving to cup her cheek.
"Here for what? What are you doing here Alex?" Connie demanded angrily. This was the last person she wanted to see.
"The baby, one of your staff, a nurse, Sister Freeman I think, she told me about the miscarriage" Connie looked at him in disbelief.
"The miscarriage, I haven't…" That's when Connie caught sight of Rita standing in the doorway, her face looking completely mortified.
"I didn't have a miscarriage, I'm still very much pregnant, not that it is any of your business" Connie hissed.
"But Nurse Freeman, she tell me…"
"Yes well nurse freeman was clearly misinformed" Connie spat as she glared at Rita, her anger reaching boiling point. Connie turned on her heel and began to stomp off, unable to face either Alex or Rita.
"Connie, I'-"Rita started. Connie shot round, her eyes wide in utter frustration.
"You are disgusting" She snarled.