Serena found that she couldn't pay attention to the clock, as it made her more anxious, so she turned the clock in Henrik's office around and made certain to drop her watch into her pocket. So it didn't surprise her that she didn't know how much time had passed when he knocked on his office door and entered. All of their heads instantly shot towards him and Serena gave him a tremulous smile, instantly relaxing a touch when his lips curved upwards for just a moment as he dipped his chin. Charlotte picked up on her body language, a huge grin spreading across her features as she slung her arm around Serena's waist and squeezed her tightly.
"Please tell me that you have good news for us, Henrik," she said lowly, and he gave them a small nod as he approached them, taking a seat on the chair that was next to the sofa. "Please, how is she?"
"Bernie made it through her surgeries quite well, though it appears that she'll be under sedation for at least the rest of the day, and perhaps tomorrow as well. It all depends on how Sacha feels she's doing. Now, she should be in her room, and I believe that we are going with the one visitor at a time rule, at least until tomorrow."
"I'm going to go see her first," Cameron blurted out as he jumped to his feet and made for the door. "I'm assuming that she's on Keller?"
"Yes," Henrik replied, a frown evident in his voice as he looked at Serena. She gave him a small shrug before sighing. "Don't take too long with your mother. There are other people who will want to visit with her before the end of visiting hours."
"Yes, yes," he replied absently as he slipped out the door and closed it with a harsh push.
When he was gone, Serena let out a long breath of frustration as she settled back on the sofa. Henrik gave her an understanding look before he took a deep breath. "Well, since we don't know how long Cameron will take with his mother, would the two of you like to accompany me to Albie's? I am feeling quite peckish, and wouldn't mind some company for a light meal."
Charlotte's stomach growled loudly, which told Serena what her answer would be, and she looked over at the young woman to see that she was blushing a little without meeting her eyes. "I think that we both need something to eat, and what better way to do it than with a friend of Bernie's?" Henrik got to his feet and Serena held out her hand to him, expecting him to help her to her feet. It didn't take long for him to do just that, and then he extended his hand to Charlotte as well, guiding her to stand before he went over to the door of his office. "I know, it seems weird to want to eat at a time like this, but we need to keep up our strength. And this will allow Cam to have alone time with your mother, since it seems like he has to have that extra bit of her."
Charlotte nodded as she wrapped her arm around Serena's waist, stepping closer to Serena's side as they followed after Henrik. It didn't take long to walk over to Albie's, and she claimed their usual table while he grabbed menus for them. After they'd made their choices, Serena went to give money to Henrik, only for him to wave her hand away. Frowning a little, she stuffed the bills back in her pocket before turning her attention to Charlotte. "He's a nice man."
"And a good friend," she replied as she leaned back against the bench of the table, giving Charlotte a warm smile. "I think that I'd like you to see your mother after Cameron has had his time. Selfishly, I want to be the last visitor with her today."
"That actually makes a lot of sense, and I'll allow it as long as you indulge me in one little thing."
"And what's that?" Serena asked as Henrik returned with their drinks, taking a seat across from them before handing them around. She immediately wrapped her hand around the stem of the wine glass, swirling the liquid around in the glass as she waited for Charlotte to answer the question.
"I want to spend the rest of the time, until Mum is released from hospital, at your home. You're the closest thing that I have to a mum at the moment, even though I know that you and Mum aren't together at the moment. I just need some stability right now, after all the change that's been going on."
Serena nodded before taking a sip from her wine glass as she thought about how nice it would be to have Charlotte with her. "I would love to have you with me, but are you certain that you don't want to stay with Cameron? He is your brother, after all."
"And he's being a right prat at the moment, so no. I have the feeling that I'll be able to talk to you more about Mum and how she's recovering, and get honest answers. And I'll be able to show you the cottage without him tagging along, thinking that the place is automatically his, just because he's the older brother."
Serena cocked her head to one side as she took that information in, as she had had no idea that Bernie even owned a cottage. "Where is this cottage?" Henrik asked inquisitively, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Nearby, but still secluded. Mum always needed her bit of quiet when things got to be too loud for her. Why?"
"I think that a place like that would be perfect for her to recuperate in, since there are going to be obstacles for her, beyond the physical, once she's awake and starting to realise just what happened to her. If you're serious about staying with Serena, I believe that between the two of you, you could take care of Bernie and help her to heal completely."
Serena nodded as she hugged her wine glass close to her chest. Henrik did have a good idea there, and she couldn't help but begin to picture a future where she and Charlotte came together to help Bernie find her footing in the world once more. "What do you think about that plan, Charlie?"
"I think that you have a very smart boss, who can see the perfect answer from the clues that we gave him. It would be a dream come true to be able to spend more time with Mum, away from Cameron. That is, if you can take a leave of absence from the hospital?"
She looked over at Henrik as their food arrived, and it seemed like he was waiting until they were alone once more before he answered. "I think that that could be easily arranged."
"Excellent. And can you ensure that my brother is unable to take leave? I don't mind him coming to visit while we're with Mum, but he has the propensity to steamroll people in order to get his way."
Henrik chuckled a little as he nodded. "I do believe that can be arranged as well, Ms. Dunn. I understand that family can be difficult at times."
Serena knew that this was a bit of an understatement when it came to Henrik's family, but she still nodded a little as she gave him a warm smile. "Elinor and I never had the smoothest of relationships, either. That's why it's nice that you actually like me and don't mind me being with your mum. Or, hoping that I'm with your mum, since she could still reject me, given all that happened between us."
Charlotte reached out and squeezed her hand tightly before digging into her meal. "Mum will only see the fact that you came to rescue her, and was there when it truly mattered. There aren't many people who would just drop everything in their life on the smallest whisper of a chance that there will be a good outcome. Actions speak so loudly to the intention of our hearts, or so I've learned over the years."
Charlotte gave her a small wink before starting to eat with relish. Serena and Henrik let the conversation lull as they ate as well, and she found herself content with this camaraderie. She hadn't had this in her life lately, since she'd been so withdrawn after Bernie left. It had been a self-imposed exile, a punishment on herself for the mistakes she had made, but now it appeared that redemption might be in the cards, and she would play the hand that she had been dealt, sticking as close to Bernie as she possibly could, in hopes that she had a winning hand. And if Charlotte was the dealer of this current round, she had the feeling that things would go in a happy way, especially once they were all at the cottage together.
