Connie exhaled and pushed her fingers into the frown between her eyes, massaging gently as she leant back against the sofa. This was the situation that she had been worrying about, and she hadn't expected to find herself dealing with it so unexpectedly, she had wanted to prepare herself for it, to plan it...
She let her eyes close and rolled her head back so that it rested against the back of the sofa. She dare not let herself think of Grace, upstairs, seething with anger and confusion – She heard the soft steps of Rita's bare feet on the carpet as she made her way from the kitchen into the sitting room.
She opened her eyes, but let her head rest where it was, turning only slightly to face the other woman.
"I made you a coffee."
Rita folded herself carefully onto the sofa, two mugs in hand, and she rested her own between her knees, ignoring the burn whilst she turned the other mug within her grasp so that Connie could take the handle.
"Thanks."
Connie took the mug and cupped it against her chest, feeling the warmth of it against her heart.
"Thank you."
She said again, looking across at Rita this time, and slipping her free hand across the small gap between them, across the rise of Rita's knee, just letting it rest there, palm down, feeling the shift of the cotton pyjama bottoms that she wore shift against the warm skin beneath.
"You know it's going to be ok...she's just cross, but we knew she probably would be. She'll get over it..."
Rita paused as Connie smiled slightly – a press of her lips, the corners down-turned, and she glanced at the other woman with a raised eyebrow.
"Eventually."
Rita added, catching the look. Connie's smile widened and squeezed the hand that rested on Rita's thigh gently.
"And what about everyone else?"
She asked quietly.
"Everyone else?"
Rita repeated, watching as Connie raised her mug to her lips, blowing gently across the surface of the coffee creating ripples that lapped against the rim.
"Family, friends...staff members."
Connie said, emphasising the end of her sentence and she took a sip, wincing as the coffee warmed the inside of her mouth and she swallowed quickly, feeling it burn all the way down.
Now it was Rita's turn to sigh. She sucked in a breath and released it slowly, with no idea of what to say. Instead of answering she tucked her legs up more firmly beneath her and shifted closer so that she could lean against Connie, resting her head on her shoulder, gently pushing the dark curls of Connie's hair away from her eyes to beneath her cheek. She drew in another long breath, closing her eyes, relishing the sweet warmth of Connie's neck.
"We don't have to tell them just yet, do we?"
Connie felt Rita's voice vibrate against her shoulder and she tilted her head slightly to place a kiss against the grown of blonde hair. She shook her head, her lips remaining there, Rita's hair tickling her mouth.
"No."
She whispered, her breath against the other woman's scalp causing her to shiver.
Rita yawned and slipped an arm about Connie's waist, cuddling her, drawing her closer.
"I'm not looking forward to it."
She sighed and rested her cheek against Rita's head, her eyes glazing over as she stared, unblinking at the fireplace opposite them.
Rita was quiet for a moment. Neither one of them wanted to have to announce their relationship. Neither one wanted to break the bubble that they had found themselves in, as though it protected them, their bubble, their secret.
"I can just imagine their faces..."
Rita frowned, thinking of everyone at work, of Robyn, of Cal... and she sought out Connie's hand with her own.
"Since we're being honest, can I ask..."
She raised her head slightly and Connie lowered her eyes to meet hers.
"Why didn't you want to go to the police..."
"Rita..."
Rita's eyes remained on hers, steady and dark. Every so often she would think of that night, and she would wonder why she had been so adamant that she would not involve the police...she knew there would never be a right time to ask, so it may as well be now. She watched as Connie drew in her bottom lip, holding it there between her teeth, contemplating her answer.
"I wouldn't be able to cope...with the media attention, with everyone knowing-"
She said eventually, forcing herself not to look away. She wanted Rita to understand...
"But what if they do it again, to somebody else?"
Rita couldn't help asking, but as soon as the words had passed her lips she felt the change in her, she felt the tightness of her body and caught the flicker of something behind her eyes.
Connie glanced down to where their fingers intertwined.
"I've been trying not to think about that."
She said simply.
Rita followed her gaze to where their hands met. Connie's just slightly darker, and flecked with freckles, her nails polished with a pale cream polish that caught the light, and her own pale hand, her nails cut short, her veins showing a faint blue beneath the skin. She looked up again, to Connie, to the shadows that her eyelashes cast across her cheeks, and the press of her perfect lips.
"I'll always look after you, you know that?"
She whispered, waiting for Connie to meet her gaze once more.
"I know."
Connie drew in a breath before looking at her.
"I know..."
She breathed, and behind her eyes was the glimmer of the sadness, and the fear that she had fought so hard to bury deep within her.
Rita ran her thumb along the rise of Connie's knuckles and squeezed tightly.
"I might be short, but I can pack a punch..."
She said, dipping her chin, looking up at her, relieved to see the quiver of amusement at the other woman's lips.
"I can well imagine!"
Connie almost laughed as Rita smiled a smile that she couldn't help but return and she leant towards her, closing the gap between them, kissing her gently, a soft, lazy kiss that made Rita sigh with happiness.
"I'll always look after you, too."
She whispered as she pressed another kiss against her lips.
"I promise."
-.-
Hello everyone, new update! Hope it's ok, let me know what you think, please :)
There's a clue in this chapter as to what's going to happen next...only a vague clue, but a clue nonetheless! More to come a bit later today :) xxx