Her black rose

Be My Guest

It'd been a few weeks since Mia had found Charlotte at the bar and taken her back to hers. Of course, it had been an innocent night filled with the two peeling back layers of each other, revealing vulnerabilities in the most sincere of ways, and realising that they both understood and saw each other in ways that they hadn't felt with others. Charlotte had stayed the night alongside Mia in her bed. She'd even fallen asleep with their hands still joined, fingers interlinked, and to Charlotte that was a momentous moment. Her ex-husband was the last person she'd held hands with like that and so waking up with her hand still firmly clinging to Mia's wasn't to be taken lightly. It may have been a completely innocent night, but it went a long way to solidify the mutual attraction between the two of them.

The pair hadn't seen each other since that following morning, with Mia jetting off to deal with some 'business'. During the weeks that had gone by, they'd shared countless phone calls, exchanged daily texts, and even managed the odd FaceTime call every now and then. Charlotte had been inherently more herself in the last few weeks, and she knew Mia was to take credit for all of it. Not only had her relationship with Marjorie started to heal (courtesy to Mia, naturally), but Charlotte found herself feeling a lot less alone through the separation with her husband. Mia may not have been there in person, but she always seemed to time her texts as the most perfect of moments. For Charlotte, the feelings she was developing towards Mia were more than just an idle friendship, or someone finding comfort in the first person who had shown her attention. It was so much more. She found herself almost giddy at the texts she'd receive from Mia, and found herself missing the redhead when they didn't speak. Odd, Charlotte always mused, given that Mia wasn't hers to miss.

Charlotte had had a particularly infuriating morning at the nursery. Difficult parents at morning handover, grouchy children, and Jodie just being...Jodie. She was particularly excited for lunch time to arrive so she could simply exist. She made her way to the staffroom and slumped in one of the chairs. Her phone buzzed and Charlotte picked it up with a huff. All she wanted was a moments peace. However, her huff very quickly dissipated into a silly little smile as she saw the name of the person lighting up her phone. Mia. She always seemed to know exactly when to message. Suddenly, the stresses of the day seemed to vanish as Charlotte read the text.

To: Char
Hi sweetheart. What are the chances of the girls dad being able to have the girls for a week AND you getting a week off of work? I'm talking...next week. X

To: Char
My second point is invalid. Marjorie doesn't have a choice but to give you a week off. I'll pull the board of directors card. X

Charlotte rolled her eyes playfully at her phone.

To: Mia
Next week is really soon, it's already Friday. What's it a week for? Mia, you can't go around pulling that card - and definitely not on Marjorie! I really want you two to get along xx

It was Mia's turn to roll her eyes at her phone. She was laid idly on a beach, the view of the year in front of her, but distracted by the fact that she was desperately missing her favourite nursery worker.

To: Char
Can't make any promises. Sorry, sweetheart. You still didn't answer my question about the girls...? X

To: Mia
Well you didn't answer my question, either! xx

That was it. Mia began smirking at her phone knowing exactly the type of tone Charlotte would be using right now. Oh how she wished she was there to experience it in person. Still, she replied quickly.

To: Char
I've got a wedding to go to and Reecey isn't exactly a favourable plus one any more. It's a week away with the wedding in the middle. You're MUCH more my type of guest. Plus I thought you deserved a holiday. X