I'm finally updating some of my older stories, Em honey…I'm sorry I've kept you waiting for so long.
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Chapter 15
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2 months later
Connie looked out the window as the snow fell on the ground, Em came down the stairs, walking over to the older woman as she wrapped an arm around her wait as she leaned in to her.
"Wow, it's really coming down out there?"
"I hope Grace makes it back okay?"
"I'm sure she'll be fine, the roads won't be that bad yet."
"Did you find the tree?"
"I did and the decorations, so it's already for Grace to go wild with."
"Our first Christmas together."
"Yeah."
Connie picked up the sadness in Em's voice as she continued to look out at the snow.
"You're thinking about your mum?"
"I've tried calling on numerous occasions but she won't return my calls."
"Darling I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, if she chooses to be that way then…what can I do."
"What can I do to make you feel better."
"You're already doing it, you're here with me and in about another hour, so will Grace. We can have our own family Christmas."
"Yes we can."
"Hey thanks for inviting Amanda."
"Oh don't be silly, she couldn't get home, we can't have her being on her own and anyway, Grace liked her when they met before she went back to boarding school."
"Speaking of which, have you told her yet?"
"No, I was saving it for Christmas morning. I want to see her face when I tell her she doesn't have to go back."
"She's going to be so excited."
"She'd better, I had to use so many contacts to make sure she got in to the same school and classes with Aimee."
"You're a great mum."
"You make sure you tell her how lucky she is."
"You want some coffee."
"I'd love some."
Em gave Connie a quick kiss before wandering in to the kitchen, Connie got out her phone, quickly sending a text to Em's mum before returning to the window as she waited for Grace.
…
Lofty gave over to reception, covered in sick, the look of disgust on Louise's face as he approached.
"Oh my god, Lofty seriously…that is disgusting."
"Sorry, it couldn't be helped."
"Go and get changed before you scare people off."
Louise gave one of her looks to Lofty as the young man went off in the direction of the changing rooms.
Dylan spend the next half hour looking all over the hospital for Lofty without much success. Zoe was at reception chatting with Noel and Max when she saw Dylan looking a little frustrated.
"Dylan, you okay?"
"Not really no…I seem to have lost Ben, he's disappeared of the face of the earth."
"No hasn't, he's in the changing rooms. A patient threw up on him and Louise ordered him to shower and change." Max said.
"Well it would have been nice if he's at least come and inform me, so this way yes?"
"Yeah, through there."
They watched Dylan march off, Max leaning over the counter towards Zoe.
"Definitely something going on there."
"Shut up Max, there is not."
"Wanna put money on it."
"No I don't, Dylan would have said if there was."
"Really?"
"Yes really, leave it alone."
Zoe marched off as Noel gave Max a strange look.
"What?" Max asked.
"Dylan and Lofty…yeah right." He laughed before turning back to his computer.
"You never know." Max muttered to himself.
…
Lofty had just put on a new pair of trousers and opened his locker to retrieve a new shirt when the door swung open and Dylan walked in.
"Oh…I'm, sorry." Dylan said a little flustered.
"It's okay, you need me?"
Dylan stood looking at Lofty's chest, how toned he looked which he would never have guessed to look at him normally.
"Dr Keogh?"
"Huh, sorry. Need you, yes I do. A patient, cubicle 3 needs some stitches if you could see to them?"
"Sure, no worries."
"Right…well I…I better get back."
"Sure, erm Dylan."
Dylan tuned back to Lofty as he pulled on his fresh top.
"Yes."
"I was just wondering if you had any plans this Christmas?"
"Nothing special, Dervla and I will probably just be watching whatever is on I suppose."
"Well, I'm on my own this year and if you didn't mind, maybe I could join you…I could cook, we could listen to some Christmas songs, take Dervla a walk, and maybe watch a movie together?"
Dylan stood lost for words for a few minutes, unsure of what he should say.
"Or not, I mean it's completely up to you. If you like to be on your own then it's fine, I understand…I just thought it would be nice that's all."
"Erm, no…I mean yes you can."
"Yeah?"
"Sure, it will be nice to have some company this year and Dervla likes you so…that's a plus."
"Great, maybe after work tonight we could get a drink, discuss plans."
"Well we'll see, anyway cubicle 3 when you're ready."
"Oh yeah right…straight away."
…
Connie was in the kitchen, pulling the chocolate cake out of the fridge when she heard Em yell from the other room.
"Connie…she's here."
Connie slammed the fridge door, quickly washing her hands and heading through to the hallway as Em opened the door to see Grace coming running.
"Em." She beamed.
"Hey you, how are you."
Grace leaped in to Em's arms, wrapping her arms around her neck as she hugged her.
"I'm good, I've missed you both so much."
"Oh honey, we've missed you too. Look, there's your mum."
Grace looked over to see Connie smiling at her, Grace released herself from Em's arms and went running over to Connie, in to her waiting arms.
"Mummy."
"Hello my darling girl, oh I've missed you so much."
"I've missed you too, mummy I hate that school, please can you think about Aimee's new school again, please." She pleaded.
"I promise you that I will give it some serious thought over the christmas holidays."
"Promise."
"I promise, there's cake in the kitchen, go on."
As Grace ran off, Em came up to Connie, kissing her before she pulled back.
"Maybe you should tell her before Christmas morning, it'll cheer her up?"
"I think you're right, we'll tell her tonight. Listen I have to go out for about an hour later, would you be okay to look after her."
"Of course, anywhere special."
"Just to get your present, and I want peace to do it."
"Well if it's for me then you go right a head."
"You don't mind."
"Of course not."
"You and Grace could decorate the tree."
"You don't want to do that with us."
"Trust me, the time it takes Grace to decorate a tree, there will still be plenty for me to do when I get back. She's very particular about where things go."
"Oh my god, she's one of those is she?"
"I'm afraid so."
"Mummy, Em…come get some cake."
"Good luck." Connie grinned as she turned towards the kitchen, grinning as she went.
…
To Be Continued…