Shattered Perfection

One

This story contains mention of SA and domestic abuse. Please read with caution. If you need help, please reach out.

Samaritans UK telephone number: 116 123

This is my first ever story. Please be kind.

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Siobhan took a deep breath and placed her hands on her hips. Marjorie wasn't listening to her. She had been told no more apprentices but she wouldn't accept it. Siobhan knew they needed qualified staff and fast but had been told under no circumstances were they to employ any more untrained apprentices. Her hands were tied. Marjorie was frustrated, 'While you and Roger are up in your ivory tower, you have no idea what it is like down here in the trenches! Why don't you sod off back to your hot tub.' She huffed.

'I'm sorry it is how it appears from down here in the trenches,' Siobhan replied through clenched teeth. Marjorie had no idea, no clue of what she had to face in her 'ivory tower' it was more like a prison. She felt like a bird captured in a gilded cage. 'There's a lot more to running nurseries than just sitting in hot tubs,'

'You get massages too?' Marjorie replied waspishly.

'Only on Thursdays' she replied quickly knowing it would irk her. Marjorie rolled her eyes. Just then Charlotte walked into the office, speaking to someone over her shoulder.

'This lady would like to speak to someone,' Charlotte said softly. Siobhan had always been jealous at Charlotte's kind, open demeanour. When she was manager at the other nursery and Charlotte came to cover, Siobhan always found herself lashing out at her. Why was she so caring and warm? Siobhan had lost that element to her character along the way. Building a protective cover over her heart to save herself. She listened to the woman complain about a parent parking in 'her space'. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she was done listening to this officious woman.

'Fine!' she barked.

'Fine?' queried the woman.

'I will talk to the parent, who is it?' Siobhan clarified.

'The woman out there in the blue shirt,' she replied. Siobhan stopped for a beat, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. It was the nurse who had collected her son late the other day. Strangely that day, she did not fine her. Normally Siobhan did not have an issue with fining parents at any time, once even trying to fine a father who had lost his wife. She felt emotionless, no connection with the father, no remorse. The dark-haired nurse had got under Siobhan's skin and she found her thoughts straying to her over the last couple of days.

Vivian sighed. It had been a long day and now that daft woman who lived next to the nursery had given her a mouthful before she stormed off to the nursery entrance. She wasn't going to move her bloody car just because she was ordered too by some jumped up nobody. She had just finished strapping Jamie into his car seat and had slammed the door when she realised she was not alone.

"It seems your choice of parking space is causing quite the uproar,' she intoned with her hands on her hips. Vivian turned, her eyes lighting up as she spotted Siobhan.

'Oh, hello again, I see she's taken her complaint to head office this time,' she smiled her eyes raking Siobhan's body. Siobhan felt a tingle in her stomach.

'I was in the building anyway. I'm not going to tell you to move the car, just make it look like I am so she'll stop chewing my ear off,' Siobhan rolled her eyes.

'Handy, cause I wasn't going to move it anyway,' Vivian replied, Siobhan was surprised.

'Any particular reason you are choosing this spot? It is the furthest away from the building.' She asked.

'Exactly why I do it. Yesterday morning, I saw three dings of people trying to get as close to the door as possible. At least back here I know I'm safe.' Vivian explained with a shrug.

'You do realise that parking here,' Siobhan indicated the space where the red Golf was, 'irritates the lady who lives next door?'

'Oh, I know. In addition to the paint not being scratched on my car, her being annoyed is an extra bonus.' Siobhan's eyes widened at that comment, she tried not to smirk. It wasn't the response she expected. She like the woman's spark and stubbornness.

'Given you are brand new to town, you are not doing yourself any favours when it comes to making friends.' Siobhan commented dryly. The nurse's eyebrows shot up.

'When it comes to making friends, I can't say you're the authority on the matter.' Siobhan was shocked at her audacity. 'Oh yeah, I've heard about you, Siobhan, former manager at the other nursery.' She sucked her teeth, 'You've got quite the reputation.' Siobhan's face became stony, she did not like the reference to her reputation. She knew of people's opinions but somehow, the thought of this woman thinking of her in those terms made her uneasy.

'Have a nice day,' she replied coolly. She started to head back towards the nursery door but was stopped by her phone pinging in her back pocket. She pulled it out. Roger again. Siobhan felt the small amount of sunlight that had started to break through while talking to the nurse disappearing behind iron clouds. She didn't notice the other woman studying her face and body language. Vivian saw the sadness in her eyes and the stiffening of her shoulders. She knew that look, she'd had that look not long ago. She looked away as it became too much.

'Do you know? Could just throw it in the bin.' She said as casually as she could.

'You want me to throw my phone in the bin?' Siobhan replied with derision.

'Oh, I weren't talking about the phone,' Vivian winked, rocking back and forward, 'meant the person sending those texts.' She shrugged. Siobhan was shocked. 'That's what I did with mine.' Vivian grinned at her. The corner of Siobhan's mouth lifted slightly. Vivian thought she looked beautiful. She wanted to make those soft lips smile more. 'Or just be a typical millennial and stick it on silent, make him wait.' She said flippantly as she turned to go.

Siobhan suddenly said, 'I didn't get your name?'

The nurse turned back to face the blonde, 'Vivian, but all my friends back home call me Viv. It's kinda like the sound my car makes when I turn it on, it's really loud. Another bonus for annoying the neighbour.'

'You seem hell bent on annoying this neighbour,' Siobhan replied dryly, her approving gaze swept over Vivian.

'She turned the sprinklers on the first time I parked here and got Jamie all wet before he went into nursery. So, this mama bear has got a grudge and plenty of time on my hands.' Vivian shrugged and grinned again before getting into her car and roaring away. Siobhan stood and watched her go, her hands on her hips and a faint smile on her lips.