In another life

22

Another week, another five days of working with tension thick in the air at the sister nursery. At least Reece is back, right?

Carly and Charlotte were working together today which gave Charlotte some kind of relief. Although seeing Mia again was not easy at all. Especially after the 'conversation' they had last time they were together.

As Charlotte is setting up breakfast with some of the children, she overhears a conversation between Carly and a parent. The man is arguing with her about something or other and Carly looks rather upset and uncomfortable,
"I did what you told me-"
"Well that's not really good enough you know, you need-"
"Actually" Charlotte steps in, "you need to back off" Carly raises her brows but steps back and lets Charlotte take over.

"Excuse you?"
"She just told you she did what you asked and if you don't like that well that's too bad. I won't have you shouting at my seventeen year old apprentice"
"Nah I weren't shouting I was telling her it's not good enough"
"Oh my god just shut up no one cares!" Carly was utterly shocked at the outburst, same for the parent and even Charlotte a little.

The man backed off and left the room, luckily only three children had arrived already and another staff member had them too distracted with breakfast for them to even notice the slight commotion.
"Char are you okay? You never shout at parents"
"I'm fine Carly. He shouldn't have been shouting at you" Carly thanked her and went over to the children but she certainly did not forget about it.

Charlotte had became so different recently. First she was too quiet and very distant. Then she started to just not care. Rolling her eyes and shrugging and not really talking to anyone. Carly had noticed she started to show up to work late and had definitely lost a lot of patience with the parents. She thought she was just growing a bit of a backbone or maybe she's just tired. Finalising her divorce and getting used to not have her girls all the time must be hard. But that wasn't it at all.

Carly watched Charlotte throughout the day and increasingly became more concerned for her friend.

...

After a rather shocking talk with a parent and a catch up with Carly, Reece dials Marjorie's number and waits for the connection,
"Hello, the Knight nursery. This is Marjorie"
"Marjorie, we need to talk"
"Is everything okay?" The woman became concerned at Reece's tone.

"The other week you mentioned about Charlotte acting different? Well I've just had a parent come in and complain about her?"
"Complain?"
"Yeah, they've made a formal complaint about her shouting at them. Telling them to 'shut up and that no one cares' about his child's lost coat of all things"
"That's not like Charlotte at all"
"It seems as though the situation just got out of hand after he was complaining to Carly. Carly said she was sticking up for her but Charlotte doesn't shout at parents"
"No. Something is really wrong with her Reece. But she won't talk to me"

Reece knew Marjorie was worried about Charlotte and the sudden change in her behaviour and he needed to find out what's wrong with her. Or at least try.

"She's never done anything like this before. I thought she was just struggling with the divorce and things finally hitting her but it can't just be that, right?" Just before Reece could reply Mia enters the office,
"Look, I've got to go. I'll talk to you later" they say their goodbyes and Reece puts the phone down.

"Did I interrupt your flirting session?" Mia scoffs as she sits at her desk,
"No. I was actually informing her about a formal complaint being made on her staff"
"That quirky little apprentice? She does get on my nerves"
"Charlotte actually" Mia's head shoots up at the mention of her,
"Someone complained about her?"
"She apparently shouted at a parent this morning. Not like her at all"
"Huh" Mia tried to hide her concern for the matter by looking back down at her computer.

Mia hated this. She knew Charlotte had been acting out because she was upset and her emotions were most likely all over the place. And it was Mia's fault. If someone complains about her to head office she's going to be in a lot of trouble and Mia didn't want anything to happen to her. Charlotte adored this job, she loved the children and was always able to deal with the worst of parents easily. The way she was acting now could cost her a lot and it would all be Mia's fault.

"Mia?" Reece spoke up after a moment of silence,
"Charlotte started acting up after she covered here. And I know something went on that first day"
"I already went over this"
"You're forgetting that I've known you since before we could spell our names Mia. I know when you're lying" Mia glared at the blond,
"Fuck off Reece"

Reece knew he wasn't going to get anything out of Mia about Charlotte. She wouldn't give anything up. But maybe he could get something about her.
"Look, Mia, we've been through a lot together. And I just want to move on okay? I'm getting old and I don't want the drama anymore" he started, "I know somethings been up with you. You've been different lately"

"You don't care about me Reece, you just want to know about Charlotte" the red head didn't look up from her computer as she talked,
"How can I not care about you Mia? We've known each other since before we could write our own names. Yeah we've been through the trenches but that won't change Mia"

Mia couldn't look up at Reece now. His words pulled on her heart and stung her eyes. Unfortunately for Mia, Reece has always been extremely observant and did infarct notice the small single tear running down her cheek
"Mia?" She finally turned her head to face him and wiped her face,
"I've really screwed up Reecey"