"Holby City hospital Emergency Department, Connie Beauchamp speaking"
Connie was brisk with her telephone manner, her arm propping her head up as her elbows rested on the desk, her office phone clamped at her ear. She had been in the middle of filling in a departmental report when the phone had sprung into life. When she had reached out to pick up the phone from the receiver her eyes became focused on the large ring that now held pride and place on her ring finger. She was completely smitten with the large diamond, but more smitten with her beautiful fiancé. She was still daydreaming about the day before when a familiar voice broke through her thoughts.
"Connie, its Sam" Connie's heart began to quicken at the sound of her Daughter's Father. He very rarely called her, communication was usually through email and sometimes Skype.
"Sam, is everything ok? Is it Grace?" Her voice sounded panicked and even over the phone Sam could sense it.
"Grace is fine, although she is what I wanted to talk to you about. This isn't a bad time is it?" Sam asked realising that back in the UK it was the middle of the day, and as every doctor knew, Emergency departments were always busy.
"No, no. Now's fine" Connie lied as she looked at the large piles of paperwork that she had beginning to stack up on her desk. That was purely Rita's fault. Connie had spent most of the morning sat staring aimlessly at her hand whilst occasionally drifting through google in search of the perfect family home. In short, zero paperwork had been completed and the impending deadline set by 'Henrik Hitler' was fast approaching.
"Ok well, I know that you're a very busy woman, but I need a favour" Sam let his words hand for a few seconds so Connie could get her head round the surprise.
"What, what can I do?" Connie asked suspiciously. When Sam asked for a favour, in the past, it had often meant her covering for his mistakes when he had royally screwed up.
"I've been offered a once in a lifetime job in Dubai, working for their world renowned transplant team. It's almost double what I'm earning now, the only thing is that it means longer hours and well, Dubai isn't really the most child friendly of places…"
"You've had our daughter for a matter of months and now you just want to return her like an unopened letter?" Connie snapped in disbelief.
"It's not like that, you know I love her…"
"Really am beginning to wonder…" Connie sighed as she placed her free hand to her temple" When are you leaving for Dubai?" Connie requested, wondering why she was feeling so put out by Sam when in reality his new job offer was actually the best thing to happen.
"It's really short notice but our flight back to the UK is next Monday. From there I'll fly to Dubai" Sam admitted.
"You have given me one week's notice… One week Sam! I am up to my eyeballs in paperwork, in the middle of searching for a new home, not to mention all the decorating… Do you know what, I don't even know why I'm arguing with you? Email me what time you arrive. I'll pick you up from the airport. Tell Grace I love her and I'll see her next week" With her final sentence finished, Connie hung up the phone and slammed it back down on the receiver.
Connie was outraged by her Daughter's father. After years of failing to acknowledge his daughter's existence, he had made out that she was the bad parent. He and his Mother had probably laughed themselves stupid over all the misfortune. The brunette had been beside herself when Grace had first left for America, she had felt as though she had failed as a parent, but after watching her daughter's face light up her computer screen day after day, new stories to be told about her adventures in the big apple, she had realised that she had perhaps for the first time in her daughter's life, done the right thing. America had been the making of her little girl and now she was once again being dragged halfway across the world because her parents prioritised work over her welfare.
This time she was not going to let her down.
Grace was her priority.
Connie quickly pulled up her emails on the computer and began to compile what was possibly the lengthiest and most truthful email that would ever leave her sent box. She knew full well that once Henrik read the message he would be straight down, looming over her shoulder, questioning her until he knew everything but her bank details. Henrik wasn't exactly waving the flag for 'working Mother's with rights'.
As she clicked send there came a knock at her office door. The clinical lead quickly closed down her emails and waved her hand in the air, beckoning for the person on the other side to enter.
"Mrs Beauchamp we have an incoming RTC, ETA 5 minutes. Reports suggest around five casualties" Tess stated before her eyes narrowed slightly. Connie looked slightly pale and flushed.
"Is everything ok?" Tess enquired hesitantly as she hovered in the doorway.
"Yes fine, Urm could you get everyone gathered in the staffroom at the end of the shift? There's something I need to talk about" Connie added.
"Yes course, shall I let Dylan know you'll be joining him in resus?" Tess asked quickly as she moved out of the doorway and back into the corridor outside.
"Yes, yes, thank you" Connie grabbed her stethoscope from where it lay on the desk and pulled herself up from the chair. Tess nodded quickly before disappearing back towards resus. Connie took one final glance at the computer before following in Tess' footsteps, closing the door firmly behind her.