Shattered Perfection

Forty

The next few weeks were difficult but Siobhan continued to improve. Her sessions with the therapist were helping but left her exhausted and emotionally rung out. She was back to work full time, her wages going into her own account for the first time in months. She was gaining confidence again. Vivian was proud of the way she was coping. The court date hung over her head though. The others had been prepped by the lawyer and DI Crown was in regular contact to discuss details of the case. Siobhan tried to shut that part of her life away. She would answer any question asked but she did so without emotion, the ice queen persona in full force. It was the only way she could cope. The therapist was a lovely lady, warm and caring. She encouraged Siobhan to open up to Vivian, not to burden her but to share what she was feeling so their relationship wouldn't be damaged by Roger. The court date sat in her mind like a road block. She couldn't wait for it to be over, but worried that Roger would find a way to wriggle out of the consequences. There was an internal police investigation ongoing to determine how far his and Janice's corruption had spread. DI Crown was determined to find every last policeman or judiciary who had received bribes or threats from the pair of them. Janice sat in her cell, refusing to answer any questions, she had connections far and wide and was confident she wouldn't spend a moment longer in a cell past the court date. Roger, after his initial contrition, had stopped cooperating too. His lawyer, a smarmy man with an expensive suit and slicked back hair, had advised he should answer no comment to everything. DI Crown found this so frustrating, she hoped that the evidence that they had accumulated would be enough to ensure a conviction.

Siobhan worked some days at the nursery and others at head office. She preferred the warmth of Marjorie's office, listening to her and Autumn chat. Enjoying the banter between the two. She was rather reserved but would speak a little, especially to Autumn who she found to be a calming presence. She also enjoyed seeing Jamie, he would wave and smile at her if he spotted her as he walked down to his room. Often, she would collect him at the end of the day to save Vivian a journey. He would chatter in the car all the way home and tell her what he'd done all day. She loved hearing his little voice and seeing his face light up when he saw her. Siobhan never thought of herself as maternal but Jamie gave her a warmth in her chest that surprised her. He was so accepting, didn't judge and was so loving that she couldn't help but be won over by him. Vivian loved seeing them interact, when he would cuddle Siobhan, she would see her smile and hug him back. It made her heart swell to see them snuggled on the sofa or chattering away hand in hand as they walked in from nursery. They hadn't spoken about Siobhan finding her own place again, Vivian hoped she wouldn't want to move somewhere else. She had fit into their family seamlessly and Vivian hoped she was there to stay.

Siobhan was typing up a report for head office, sat at her desk in Marjorie's office. Autumn and Marjorie had shuffled things around to provide her space for her own desk. It was a small thing but Siobhan couldn't help feel gratitude for the acceptance after how horrible she had been to everyone. She had apologised to Sorscha for the comments she had made about being married to a woman. Sorscha had been surprised but pleased at how forthcoming Siobhan had been expecting to have to wrestle an apology out of her.

It had been a long day and Siobhan was tired. She'd had a therapy session in the morning which had left her a little wrung out but coming into the nursery had helped shake it off. She stretched in her seat, easing the ache in her back.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hallway. An angry parent was shouting at Charlotte in the toddler room. He was bellowing in Charlotte's face about his child being bitten and demanding to know who had done it. Charlotte was fearful of this father as he had been aggressive before but through her relationship with Mia she was growing in confidence. Conscious of upsetting the toddlers, some of whom were starting to cry at his outburst she managed to usher him into the corridor closing the door behind her. Carly, on the inside locked it so he couldn't get back inside. He continued to shout at Charlotte, pushing his red face into hers. Marjorie and Autumn immediately came out of the office to assist. They asked him to come to their office to discuss the matter. He stormed past them, banging the office door as he did so.