"Do you think she'll like me, I mean I know we've met before but we never really like met if you know what I mean"
Connie smiled fondly at Rita. She had been a bag of nerves the whole morning, and had spent most of the car journey to the airport staring at her reflection in the sun screen mirror, carefully trying to make sure that she looked the part. She certainly looked the part dressed in a pair of white skinny jeans, a beige blouse with a pair of beige pair of ballet pumps. She looked gorgeous.
"She will adore you, she has fantastic taste much like myself" Connie promised as she tucked her curls over her right shoulder and pulled her handbag onto her shoulder. The pair stood in the arrivals lounge, surrounded by groups of people, many who had just arrived home from their travels. Connie glanced down at her watch. Half past eleven. The plane had already landed. She was getting restless, her desire to see her daughter getting stronger.
She felt an elbow dig into her ribs, bringing her attention from the watch on her arm. She looked up to find Grace file through the arrivals entrance, closely followed by a flustered looking Sam who was pushing a trolley with several suitcases placed hastily on it. Connie's face immediately lit up as she watched Grace gaze round the room quickly, eyes wide and hopeful.
"Grace!" Connie called as she pushed through the crowds, Rita following behind closely, apologising to those that Connie barged out of the way.
Grace dropped the back pack she had been carrying and sprinted across the room before diving into her Mother's arms. Rita watched as Sam bent down to scoop up the bag before heading over towards the Mother and Daughter.
"Mummy, I've missed you" Grace cried as she wrapped her arms around her Mother's neck and squealed with delight as she picked her up and swung her around.
"Oh darling, I have missed you more. I am so glad you are home" Connie whispered into her daughter's hair as she inhaled the smell of her hair for the first time in months.
"Connie…" The clinical lead looked up and found Sam standing awkwardly in front of her, Grace's back pack slung over his shoulder.
"Sam. Hi" Connie managed before placing Grace back on the floor.
"There's a few things I wanted to talk about…" Sam started before gazing cautiously at Rita. Connie sensed whatever was to be said he wanted it to be private.
"Grace Darling, why don't you go with Rita to grab a drink and some food? I bet you are famished" Connie smiled as she dug her purse from her handbag and pulled out a twenty pound note" There's a KFC at the entrance, I'll meet you at the car. Is that ok?" Connie asked looking to Rita.
"Yeah, is that ok with you Grace?" Rita asked nervously.
"Can I have a krushum?" Rita looked to Connie who nodded.
"Yeah, whatever you fancy!" Rita beamed. Grace grabbed hold of her Mother's girlfriends hand and began to drag her across the airport in search of her desired food. Connie looked to Sam briefly before signalling for them to walk.
Xxx
Rita watched as Grace shovelled a handful of chips into her mouth. The child was clearly starving after her long haul flight home. She had grown a few inches since Rita had last seen her, but she was still as slim as anything.
"So…" Rita started as several routes of communication swam through her head.
"Are you my Mummy's girlfriend?" Grace suddenly piped up as she looked up to Rita from her food. Rita was slightly taken aback by Grace's forwardness. She wasn't sure what to say in return, she and Connie had decided to keep it on the low until they felt Grace was ready to understand and accept.
"Urm…" Was all she managed.
"It's ok if you are. My friend Jessie, her Mummy has a girlfriend too, and she was proper cool" Grace admitted smiling slightly.
"Was she?"
"The coolest. I bet you're cool, not like Mommy. She stresses WAY too much" Rita struggled to stifle a giggle. She had to give the kid credit, she had her Mother spot on.
"Hey, your Mum can be cool, when she's out of work anyway. I managed to persuade her to watch Mama Mia the other day…." Rita trailed off, spotting Grace's face widen in shock.
"NO WAY! Mom always said she hated anything musical!" Grace announced.
"She even sang along…" Grace began to chuckle at the idea of her Mother ever getting into the mood to sing.
"My Mom sang? You must be doing something good" Grace said honestly.
"Oh believe me, your Mother is so much more fun than you will ever realise darling"