"What you reading there?"
Connie's eyes shot up from the magazine in her hands, dropping it to the desk like it was a hot potato. This created suspicion in Rita who dashed across Connie's office and snatched the paper from the desk before Connie could store it away in a locked draw in her desk.
"Beautiful weddings… I…Well… I did not expect that" Rita stifled a giggle as she moved around the desk and settled on the edge, magazine in her hands.
"Grace demanded I buy it… she's more excited than me…" Connie sighed as she sat back in her chair and crossed over her legs.
"I would never have guessed" Rita replied sarcastically, remembering that morning, waking up cuddled up with Connie only to have Grace bounce into the bedroom babbling on about the bridesmaid dress she was going to wear.
The pair had told Grace immediately that they planned on marrying. Although she had worked it out herself, the engagement ring being a dead giveaway. Since then it had been nonstop, constant questions about dresses, shoes and venues. Connie had felt like Grace was taking on the role of an over-bearing mother-in-law!
"Anyway, what do you want?" Connie suddenly remembered that Rita hadn't just waltzed into her office to catch her off guard reading stupid magazines.
"What makes you think I want something?" Rita hushed as she leant in close to Connie and placed a kiss on her lips.
"So you just came here to smoother me in kisses?" Connie giggled.
"Oh I wish… "Rita drooled before remembering the issue she had actually come to address with the Clinical lead.
"Urm, anyway, I have just had a call off Holby juniors, the head mistress has invited us to go for a tour of the school. They have a place in the year 4 class come up..."
"I'm honestly not sure about sending her there Rita" Connie sighed.
"Just because it's not private like the others" Rita rolled her eyes. She loved Connie dearly but her snobbery was at times irritating. Grace had obviously not settled to the boarding lifestyle, she craved her Mother's attention, her past behavioural problems were purely down to the fact that she missed her Mom.
"I want her to get the best education... not like the schools I was sent to in Peckham" Connie snubbed.
"Peckham?" Rita looked to her fiancé confused. She had no idea how Peckham fitted into the conversation.
"Contrary to common belief I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth" Connie's voice was dripped in sarcasm. She felt herself blush slightly as she spoke, the embarrassment of coming from such a low income area. If they knew she was the daughter of an alcoholic teacher and came from a home where she had witnessed the constant hospitalisation of her mentally unwell Mother. These were things that she had tried to supress deep down, hide from the world.
"I didn't mean... I just... I just didn't realise" Rita croaked as she realised just how embarrassed Connie was.
"Yes well..."
"There's no need to be ashamed of where you came from. I grew up on a council estate" Rita smiled as she reached a hand to Connie's cheek.
"And I suppose your Mother committed suicide when you were 12 as well?" Connie snapped back before dodging Rita's loving touch.
Rita withdrew her hand and looked to her partner. She couldn't work out what shocked her the most, Connie's revelation or her behaviour. Obviously this was something still quite raw to her, but Rita was her partner, she was supposed to know Connie inside and out, and yet in reality she knew barely anything about the clinical lead.
"Clearly you're not in the mood to talk" Rita stated bluntly as she jumped down from the desk and stomped off towards the open door.
"Rita, don't. I'm sorry, it's just some things are best left" Connie spoke honestly, her voice exhausted and half hearted. This stopped Rita in her tracks. She looked back to Connie, allowing her shoulders to relax.
"But I know near enough nothing about you! I just want to know you, be able to help you…" Rita paused just short of Connie's desk. The brunette sank into her seat, a hand falling to her brows, quickly massaging her temple. She really had little patience, and what she did have was wearing thin.
"The past stays in the past. That is the end of it Rita. Now if you wouldn't mind I have work I need to be getting on with. Shut the door on your way out" Connie ordered, sitting forward and pointing towards the door, her arms resting on the desk.
Rita huffed before stomping out of the office, slamming the door behind her.
Xxxxxxxxx
"Little Miss world at 12'oclock"
Cal's head snapped up as soon as the words left Max's mouth. The porter had breezed past the reception desk, only leaning in to utter the 6 words. Cal looked over to the entrance to the department, his composure immediately straightening up as soon as he spotted the small brunette heading straight towards where he stood.
Her dark hair trailed down her back in large curls, her eyes a similar chocolate colour. Her eyes were large, highlighted by the mascara on her eyelashes.
"Excuse me?" She spoke bluntly, her arms folding across her chest as looked up at Cal, a bored expression worn across her face.
"Sorry… Yeah, Hi" Cal stuttered.
"Zara Shaw, the new nurse…" Cal's eyes lit up even more as he glanced up and down the new nurse.
"Urm yes, well you need the clinical nurse Manager, Rita Freeman… but I suspect she may be busy in resus, so how about I show you the staffroom?" Cal offered.
"I'm sure I'll find it" She muttered before gazing around, immediately noticing several porters with mugs in their hands, clearly on their way to put them away. She shot a sharp look back at Cal before strolling off, leaving Cal to admire her rear from afar.