This Life

Chapter 25

"Please let this be over soon," Meredith thought to herself.

She was sitting at her desk in the office answering what could only be described as a barrage of questions regarding the crèche security. Adele was sitting beside her and was now on to her third description of their current security system with a representative of Child Services who was carrying out a routine check on the nursery.

Meredith sat and crossed her legs and silently crossed her fingers that Ms Blackman would not turn round and ask her any questions. Her head was pounding after describing in detail what had happened on the day of the shootings. Nearly five months later Meredith still found it hard to talk about, and the image of Melanie lying dying in front of her still haunted her.

Adele had received notice of the inspection last week and since then everyone had worked nonstop cleaning and tidying their rooms from top to bottom in preparation especially considering Ms Blackwood was famous for being hard to impress. So much so Adele had asked Meredith to wear a suit instead of her normal casual attire or staff uniform which was why Meredith was currently sitting in charcoal grey pin-stripe suit, white blouse and ankle boots.

There was a knock at the door and Mel walked into the office.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but one of the babies has just been sick..." Mel did not need to finish her sentence as Meredith stood glad of a chance to escape.

"Excuse me Ms Blackman," Meredith smiled at the older woman before walking over to the door and into the baby room.

"Mel are you okay?" Meredith asked once in the baby room, "You look like you have been crying?" Meredith asked gently.

"I'm okay, I just didn't expect to have to relive the shootings again, and as for the inspection..." Mel answered as she walked over to baby Carrie.

"We all knew what we were in for when we heard who was coming. It's her first visit so she probably wants to know everything in order to inspect everything properly," Meredith sympathised with Mel as she gently rubbed her shoulder in support.

"Anyway Carrie is projectile vomiting again and we are in the middle of lunches..." Mel explained.

"Don't worry I'll take Carrie and get her cleaned up and then call her parents," Meredith said.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. My excuse to escape the interrogation," Meredith smiled.

"But your suit..." Mel asked.

"Well if it gets covered in puke then Adele will get the cleaning bill. I told her that this was not practical for working in the crèche but was told to 'give a good impression'," Meredith stated as she picked up the baby and headed over to the changing area.
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Fifteen minutes later and baby Carrie was fast asleep. Her grandmother was coming to collect her. Meredith saw the note that Adele has left explaining that she was showing Ms Blackman to her car.

Meredith walked out of the crèche and down to the lobby where Adele was currently waving goodbye to their visitor. Derek was standing there talking to Richard and they both walked over to their respective partners.

"Well how did it go?" Derek asked as he kissed Meredith on the cheek.

"I have a headache from the interrogation of the shootings and she has reduced Mel to tears," Meredith answered.

"I had to explain the security procedures three times," Adele stated. "But she was pleased and gave us top marks."

"Thank goodness," Meredith said "I know she is only doing her job but that had to be the hardest inspection we have ever had."