One Shots 'The nursery nurse'

Fixing whats Broken Part II

The next morning, the air was clear and cool when Clodagh dropped Quinn off at the nursery. Her daughter's small hand held tightly to her jacket. But Clodagh's heart felt like a heavy stone. The night before had been filled with painful thoughts, and even now, as she walked through the familiar entrance to the nursery, she could not untie the knot inside her.

She said Quinn goodbye, but her thoughts drifted back to Sorscha - to the unbearable uncertainty between them, the distance that continued to grow.

As the door closed behind her, Clodagh took a deep breath. She was glad she hadn't seen Sorscha this morning. But she really needed to talk to her. Sorscha had not yet told her, her shifts for the coming week. Clodagh needed to know, though, so she would know, when Sorscha would be taking Quinn that week. The separation between them, this emptiness, wouldn't let her go. Even though she promised herself she would stop thinking about Sorscha, it was impossible.

She walked towards the office with heavy steps. She needed clarity, she didn't want to remain in the dark any longer. But as Clodagh stood almost in front of the slightly open office door, she heard voices.

She stopped and listened, immediately recognising the voices of Marjorie and Autumn. And, to Clodagh's discomfort, Sorscha. The fact that the relationship between her and the two managers had been complicated since the affair had just become clear again.

"Autumn, please... I need the work schedule," she heard her wife's voice.

"You have to wait like everyone else. No exceptions are made here," she heard Autumn say. Her voice was harsh and it almost sounded like an order. "So be patient."

"Marjorie?" Sorscha asked quietly.

"I have to agree with Autumn," Marjorie replied, her voice quieter and a little softer. "I know your situation is difficult right now, but we can't start making exceptions. The plan will be released at the end of the day, as always."

"Exactly," Autumn said sharply. "There's no free pass for you."

Clodagh could feel the tension crackling in the air. She had actually wanted to avoid Sorscha today, but what she heard now made her heart feel even heavier. It was clear that Sorscha no longer had any support at work at this point. Her affair had not only destroyed her relationship with Clodagh, but had also poisoned the atmosphere at work.

"Oh, but when Charlie needs her shift plan earlier because she wants to go away with Mia, then that's fine?" Clodagh heard Sorscha say. Her voice sounded calm, but there was an underlying anger in it. "You're treating me unfairly because of a private matter that's none of your business!"

"The boundaries between work and privacy were crossed when you thought it was a good idea to sleep with Janice," Autumn said coolly. "If you think you can just carry on as if nothing had happened, you're wrong."

"I should have reported you!" Sorscha fired back.

Marjorie intervened again. "Hey! We should all calm down again."

Clodagh heard Sorscha take a deep breath. "Listen, I need the plan. I need to know how I'm working so I know when I can pick up Quinn. It's not just about me. It's about my daughter."

Clodagh felt a pang in her chest. It was the moment when she could no longer hold back. Without much thought, she stepped through the door. She immediately saw the tension on the faces of the people in the room. Sorscha stood close to the door. Her arms crossed and a scowl on her face.

She kept direct eye contact with Autumn, who was sitting at her desk. And returned Sorscha's gaze coldly.

Marjorie looked nervously back and forth between the two of them, as if she was just waiting to have to intervene to prevent a further escalation.