In another life

15

Mia had just left to get ready for work and I was now doing Elsie's hair for school. If I'm honest she seemed a little off this morning, I'm not sure. Maybe she's just tired or I'm overthinking it.

"Mum can I go to school today? I feel loads better!"
"Are you sure sweetie? I'm not sure if you have to stay off another day"
"But I haven't been sick mum, I promise I'm all better" I don't know if sending her to school would be a good idea. Although she does look a lot better and more energetic. And she seems happy to go.

"Alright, only if you feel 100% better" she smiles
"I do!" Maybe it was just a 24 hour bug, she does seem alot more herself this morning.

Izzy runs off to get changed and quickly makes her way back down,
"Izzy sweetheart, promise me that if you don't feel well you'll tell your teacher and ask her to call me, okay?" The school has my phone number as well as the nursery number so they can contact me through that when I'm working. I'll drop Kathy a message too just in case I can't get out of work and I need someone to pick her up as Jason is still on that work trip.

"I will, but I feel lots better mum I promise" she grabs the brush I left on the table and starts brushing her own hair. She likes to do everything herself now as she's 'all grown up'
"Okay Elsie go get your bag, and remember after school you have your dance class"
"I know mummy! I'm so excited for the play!" She giggles.

Elsie adores dancing, she's been a right little ballerina ever since she could walk and begged us for classes when she turned 4.

Anyway, I've dropped the girls off at the school breakfast club and now I'm heading to the staff room before my shift. I am a little early today so I have plenty of time.

"Char?" I look up to see Marjorie,
"Hey Marjorie, is everything okay?"
"Yeah yeah, how's Isabella?"
"Much better" she sits down on the chair next to me,
"That's great. So, I'm sure by now Carly has spoke to you about the... drama?"
"She mentioned it"
"Alright. Well, I need a favour"
"What is it?" I ask,
"Well, the other nursery is still short staffed and I was hoping you would go over and cover? You'd be with Carly" she smiles. I don't mind covering at the other nursery, when Siobhan was manager is was an absolute pain but Reece seems okay now that we know he isn't the problem. His ex girlfriend is. Oh, does this mean I'll meet this crazy new deputy manager today? Apparently she's really mean.

...

Of course I agreed to cover, at least I'll be with Carly, right? Once I arrive at the other nursery and walk in, I'm met with Carly right away,
"Hey Char! You covering here aswell?"
"Yeah, how are you?"
"I'm good, beware of the wicked witch though, she's worse than Siobhan" oh wow,
"Had she said anything to you?"
"Not yet, Reece sort of warned me to stay away" that's good, I don't want her to say anything bad to Carly. She's only seventeen. I think Marjorie will protect her though, and Reece seems to be getting along with her a lot which I'm happy about.

Carly means a lot to me, she's one of the people I'm closest with in the nursery and I adore her.

"Well I have to go find out what room I'm in, but I'll speak later?"
"Yeah of course, bye!" She walks off the other way and I make my way to the office.

The door is open so I walk towards the doorway,
"Reece?" Oh, he's not here. It's a red head. The new deputy I suppose. Wait, I know that hair anywhere-

She spins around to face me. Wh-what?
"Hello sweetheart"

To be continued