Just us.

10. I'm sorry

(Charlottes pov)
A few days ago Ellie dropped a bomb and I don't know what to think or say or do. I need to talk to Mia. But at the same time, I'm not sure I want to. This whole situation is just so complicated. I need to know what's going on, except only I can answer that. Well, ugh. I don't know!

Marjorie is away with Reece and so Autumn had stepped in as manager. Everything was fine until she and Winter had caught a bad case of food poisoning.

Normally Sorscha and I would then joint run the nursery but the owner, Roger had other ideas. For some reason he decided to let Siobhan take over Reece's nursery and sent Mia here. I just can't decide if that's a good idea or not. Last weekend was definitely not intended. Nor the events of a few days prior...

I'm now having to call Marjorie to tell her about the situation, hopefully without her bursting into flames
"Hello?"
"Heyy Marjorie how's it going?" Play it cool Charlotte
"Fine, why?" She sounds concerned. Crap. I'm not good at this
"Great. Well, I was just calling to give you an update. And, don't worry! There's nothing to worry about" nothing at all 
"Nothing to worry about? Charlotte you're using your reassuring nursery voice on me. What's going on?" She knows me too well.
"Nothing! Nothing... it's just a, a tiny, tiny small thing that I, I would have waited until you got home but I feel like you'd wanna know now"
"Charlotte what's going on?"
"Well, uh. A few days ago Autumn and Winter went for a lovely meal at a new restaurant in town and they, uh, they both got food poisoning"
"Oh my god are they okay?"
"Yeah! yeah, well, no not really. Actually, it was pretty bad and they won't be back until at least you guys get back" I tell her
"Aw well I hope they recover quickly. In the meantime, that leaves you and Sorscha to run the nursery together, is that okay?" She says
"Well, that was what was supposed to happen"
"Oh, what? Is sorscha unwell aswell?" Not exactly...
"No, no Sorscha's fine. It's just that umm" I trail off trying to find a way to put it lightly
"That? Umm?" Right. crap.
"Well, the owner had different ideas about who he thought should run the nurseries"
"Nurseries, plural? I don't understand what's the other nursery got anything to do with what's going on at our nursery?"
"Um, the owner has decided that it would be a great idea for Siobhan to temporarily step into Reece's shoes and run the sister nursery"
"But the sister nursery had Mia running it. Is Siobhan's there, then where's Mia?" Weellll....
"Well, Mia, she's um-"
"Charlotte?" Seriously?! "Are you snitching on me to Marjorie?"
"I'm sorry was that Mia at our nursery?" I hear Marjorie shoot up through the phone
"Yeah" Mia smirks right at me
"Marjorie not happy about me being here?" Before I can even respond Marjorie is talking again
"Tell her that no I am not happy about her being there and she better keep her mits away from my staff and my children okay?"
"Umm" honestly, I don't really know what to reply to that
"It's alright. I heard all that" she starts to look around the office, "can't wait to get settled in to this office. That chair looks really comfy" I narrow my eyes at her attempt to annoy Marjorie through the phone
"Marjorie I-"
"Yes I heard all that! Right. You tell her that-" nope. Can't do this.
"Marjorie I'm sorry I, I can't be a go between between you two okay. I just wanted to call you and warn you about who was here"
"Right. Of course, yeah. I will deal with that when I get back. I really appreciate you actually telling me about this-Reece would you let go of some of the covers!- okay look, Charlotte, you need to get a backbone and you need to get it good, okay? You cannot let her get her claws into you I mean it Charlotte" bit late for that
"Right, of course. I will do. Bye"

I hang up the phone and face Mia
"Bit late for that, isn't it sweetheart?"
"Mia! Look, we can't do this"
"Do what?" I huff
"Whatever this is. Ellie saw us Mia. In the kitchen"
"Oh?" Oh? Seriously? Oh?
"Mia this is serious. I dont know what to tell her. I don't know what to tell me!" She laughs as she takes my hand in hers, instantly calming me
"Sweetheart. You don't have to figure anything out right now. Just relax"

The problem is I do have to figure it out now. I don't know why it's so complicated. I should just pretend this whole thing never happened. I should do. I have too. Right? I can't just like Mia. I can't be with Mia. It doesn't work that way.

I release my hand from hers and straight myself to stand up tall
"This isn't right. I'm sorry Mia"

—-

A/N
I'm so sorry to do this to you my loves. Don't hate me too much, there's a lot to unpack next :) 
Xoxo-I