My Fair Ladies

Let Her Go Part Two

TW: insinuation of DA/DV

Vivian

Engaged? I cannot believe her. Came out with a smile like everything was normal. Nothing had changed. Like she was...pretending. No, she wouldn't. She couldn't. Monday was too lovely. You cannot fake that kind of passion. She felt something. Right? No! She must have.

As Vivian slumped into the driver's seat of the Golf, she refused to cry. Not here. Not with the risk of being discovered by Siobhan. Or worse someone else from the nursery. She drove off towards the hospital, but it was the last place she wanted to go.

She made her way into the locker room just in time to change for her shift. As she changed, she heard a familiar voice behind her. "So did you see your favorite blonde today?" She turned to face Celeste but couldn't speak. The older woman wrapped her arms around the dark-haired woman and rocked her slightly while rubbing her back. "It's okay. Tell me what's wrong. Has he hurt her? Is she okay?" Viv sobbed into her shoulder. "She... I ... she is engaged to him... she got engaged to ..."

Celeste pulled her in tighter. She couldn't imagine the pain her younger friend must be feeling. "I was just getting off. Why don't you let me pull the double, and then I will pick Jamie up from yours later and keep him for the weekend." Viv looked at her friend. It was an offer she almost couldn't refuse. "Celeste, I can't ask that of you. He is a very quiet, but very busy four-year-old."

The older woman shook her head. "Tom and I have two of the grandchildren this weekend anyway. He will have a blast. Just go home, love. I will come and get him later." Viv just nodded and turned back to her locker. "You're sure?" The older woman nodded and turned to return to work.

When Viv arrived back home, she busied herself cleaning up their mess from that morning. Her mind a fog of doubts. Everything she knew. Everything she learned about her over the last two months was fogged over by that glint of green and silver. She didn't want to think about her, but it was all she could think about. "Fuck Viv! It's over! She's made her choice!" Shouting at herself had little effect on her mind, so she curled up on the sofa and let the tears fall.

Her phone was sounding. She searched for it as she rubbed at her eyes. She had fallen asleep so quickly and deeply she barely remembered sleeping at all. As she raised the phone to her ear, she was shocked back into reality. "Vivian, this is just the nursery calling." She sat up. "Oh, hiya Charlotte is everything okay?" There was momentary silence on the other end of the phone. "We were just wondering if you were on your way to pick up Jamie?" Charlotte seemed nervous but received only silence. "Vivian?" She fumbled to put her shoes on and made her way to the door. "I'm on my way."

She made the drive in silence. Her mind chastised her the whole way. Pull yourself together! He needs you! Her hands trembled as she punched the code in and entered the building. "Charlotte, I am so sorry. Come on little man get your things." She picked him up and turned to leave without another word.

As she buckled him in, something made her turn in the car, and she saw the familiar blonde moving swiftly to her car. From excited to see me, to mad dash to the car to escape me in eight hours. Eight hours has changed everything.

As she watched the blond pull away, she slumped in the driver's seat. "How about McDonald's tonight, little man?" A sad smile crossed her face as he excitedly danced in his seat.

When they arrived home, Celeste was waiting in the drive. "Celeste, I am sorry." She unbuckled Jamie and he bounded out with his happy meal in hand. "Viv, I will drop him at nursery on Monday that way you can just rest on your day off. I am early shift so I can even swing by and bring him home as well if you like. For the next few weeks?" Viv knew what she was doing. "You don't have to do that Celeste. I will have to face her eventually, and there is no guarantee we won't bump into each other on other days." Celeste shook her head. "Viv, there is nothing wrong with taking a little break. You can't always be in control."

The dark-haired woman raised one eyebrow. "I have to be Celeste. For him. She waved her hand towards Jamie. "I can't spin out of control like my mother did." The older woman nodded knowingly. "Okay, we'll see you Monday after nursery." Viv nodded, turning and pulling Jamie into a hug. She kissed the top of the small boy's head. "I love you. Mum will see you in a few days. Have a wonderful time with Celeste."

As she watched them drive away, she wasn't sure she really could keep herself from spiralling. She entered the kitchen, pulled the whiskey from the top shelf, and poured a glass. She brought the glass to her lips just as the tears began to fall.