Not all parents love their children / Clorscha

Chapter 9

A storm was brewing. The sky above the Nursery was dark and the wind was blowing strongly.

Charlotte looked out of the window with her arms folded. "I thought today was supposed to be sunny?" she asked Winter.

He just shrugged his shoulders.

It was now thirty minutes past seven. The first parents arrived and dropped their babies off with Charlotte and Winter.

And to Charlotte's great surprise, Clodagh entered the room.

Charlotte looked questioningly at the clock. Normally, Sorscha took the little one with her. As she was working today anyway. But her shift wouldn't start until nine o'clock.

" Morning Char..."

" Morning Clodagh. Morning Quinn. How are we doing today?"

" Fine thanks." Clodagh handed her child to Charlotte. "I'm picking Quinn up at three o'clock today."

Now Charlotte was even more confused. " Oh, has Sorscha taken sick leave for today?"

Charlotte could see the woman opposite her take a deep breath. "I don't know..."

" Oh..." Charlotte eyed her. When she suddenly realised something. A strange feeling spread through her stomach. Clodagh wasn't wearing her wedding ring. "Are you all right?" she asked cautiously.

"Just so you know, I bring and collect Quinn on the days I work," Clodagh replied. She completely ignored Charlotte's question.

"Erm ok? See you later then..."

Clodagh just nodded and left.

" Winter???"

He stepped right next to her and took Quinn from her arm. "I've heard everything. You'd better go to Autumn and Marjorie right away. Something is very, very wrong here."

The two managers worked in silence. When Marjorie looked out of the window. " There's a really big storm coming....."

Autumn just nodded.

"Marjorie! Autumn!" Charlotte stormed into the room.

" Hey woah. Good morning Char. Everything all right?" asked Marjorie.

But Charlotte just shook her head. "Clodagh was here this morning and brought Quinn..."

" Oh really. That's strange. Autumn has Sorscha called in sick?"

"No.." Autumn replied.

But Charlotte started gesticulating wildly. "That's not important right now!"

She now had the full attention of both managers.

"She wasn't wearing her wedding ring. I have a feeling something happened!"

But Marjorie put her hand reassuringly on Charlotte's arm. " My Love, maybe she just forgot it..."

"Erm, no..." a soft voice sounded from outside the office.

Carly cautiously entered the room.

"Carly, have you been eavesdropping on us again?" Marjorie asked sternly.

" Yes... But before you all get angry. I overheard something yesterday. I just didn't want to stick my nose into it...Yesterday lunchtime, when Clodagh picked Quinn up, she was in the break room with Sorscha beforehand. And the two of them had a really bad argument. I didn't hear what was said. But Clodagh left here really quickly and Sorscha was totally weird for the rest of the day...", Carly squeezed her eyes tightly shut and was just waiting to get in trouble.

Now Marjorie was getting a little restless too. " Autumn? Would you mind taking a little trip to see Sorscha? If that's what I think it is, I don't want her to come to work in such a state."

Clodagh stared at the computer in front of her. She couldn't explain to herself why she had decided to go to work. But she simply had to get out. She wanted a structure, a distraction.

But she didn't really do any work today. At least  she was glad that Quinn was at the Nursery and that she could go back to Mimi and Rick later.

The two of them were a good support. And best of all, they didn't ask too many questions.

Lost in thought, she reached for her ring finger. She usually played with the ring there. But now the finger was empty.

It hit her again like a fist.

A loud rumble of thunder tore her from her thoughts.

Autumn banged on the door. It had started to rain and the wind was making her hair dance around her.

" Sorscha! Open up!"

No response. She wondered if she should just break in. But if this was such a good idea?

She rang the doorbell a few more times.

Well she had to give up. But there was another option.

Autumn turned round, the rain was now pelting down on her with full force.

She ran quickly across the street.

She now would try at Sorscha's parents.

It rained and rained. The streets were flooded with water. Lightning was constantly flashing across the sky, followed immediately by loud thunder.

It had been like this all morning.

Marjorie looked up when she heard the office door open.

Autumn entered the room, soaked to the bone.

"And?" asked the manager.

"Well, I wasn't able to see Sorscha. But at least her parents. They assured me that she's fine. But they didn't tell me exactly what was going on." Autumn squeezed out her hair, the water dripping to the floor.

"Well, we'll just have to ask Clodagh. She should be picking up Quinn any minute now..."

Autumn nodded. "Marjorie, I've got some spare clothes in the locker."

She was walking down the corridor when she saw Clodagh enter the building.

Autumn quickly approached her. She had completely forgotten the wet clothes on her.

"Clodagh." Autumn didn't have to say any more.

The mask Clodagh had been wearing all day fell and Autumn saw the pain in her eyes.

Autumn didn't like hugs, but right now she didn't care. She hugged the woman opposite to her tightly.

Clodagh clung to her desperately.
"I had to leave her.... for the sake of our daughter... and for my own good..." she whispered.

Thunder could be heard from outside. There was no end to the storm in sight.