"On the way home from the airport, you said it would just be me and you." Grace said bitterly, without looking up at her mum.
Connie sighed and rubbed her forehead, she was in such a difficult situation now.
She was definitely beginning to regret not telling Grace about Jacob sooner, instead of her finding out by catching them together.
"I don't understand Grace, you get on with Jacob?" Connie gave her a puzzled look.
Grace shook her head in disbelief. Her mum was unbelievable sometimes.
This wasn't about how much she did or didn't like Jacob, this was about the promises that she had been made, that things would be different.
"Why did I go to New York the last time?" Grace asked.
"I-" Connie said quietly.
"Because your job meant more to you than I did." Grace said plainly.
Connie shook her head. "That's not true."
Grace ignored her mum's attempts to justify. "You can't fit us all in. It's impossible. Something has to give." Grace firmly stated, finally looking at her mum, keeping her eyes strongly fixed on hers.
Connie looked at Grace in disbelief.
"And it can't be me, again." Grace said quietly, before looking down again.
Connie sighed and moved her hand to reach for Grace. She needed Grace to understand that she could fit everything in this time, things were different now.
"Grace-" she began softly, giving her a reassuring smile.
But Grace just shrugged her mum's hand away. She knew what her mum was about to say. She knew her mum would just promise her that she could fit everything in, but Grace refused to listen to it again. She was tired of being pushed around, she just wanted everything to be perfect with her mum, as she was promised a few weeks ago - just the two of them.
"Finish it with Jacob, or I go back to Dad. For good." Grace said bluntly.
Connie's smile swiftly faded from her lips.
She looked at her daughter in shock, she couldn't quite believe that she was being given such an ultimatum.
Was Grace actually being serious? She was expecting her choose between the two?
She let out a small laugh. Surely, Grace didn't mean it.
But Grace's expression didn't change, she was very serious.
Her mum had to choose - it was her or Jacob, it couldn't be both.
Connie turned away from Grace and stared through the front windscreen, her daughter's words replaying in her mind. 'Something has to give'...''finish it with Jacob'...
She glanced at the wing mirror.
Jacob was passing, with a few of the others. He looked like he was having fun, he looked happy.
He had no idea that things between them might have to change.
She followed him with her eyes, until he had long travelled out of sight.
'Finish it with Jacob, or I go back to dad...'
Grace's words wouldn't leave her head.
She couldn't lose Grace, not again.
She couldn't lose Jacob.
Her eyes began to sting with tears and she blinked, as she realised the decision she now had to make.
---
"Connie." Jacob smiled as he approached where she was stood, by the nurses' station.
Connie picked up some files and walked away without looking at him.
Jacob frowned and followed her down the corridor. "Are you avoiding me?" He asked.
He was puzzled by Connie's behaviour today. This morning, she had barely spoken to him when he came to say hi to her and Grace in the office. Not to mention Grace's strange attitude towards him. He had brushed it off and not let it bother him. But it was clear now, that something had definitely changed in Connie since last night.
Connie exhaled deeply as she continued to stride towards her office.
This was hard enough, without Jacob's pestering, which only made the situation more difficult.
She could barely sleep last night, her mind had been so busy as she tried to decide what to do.
Jacob or Grace? It was such a difficult decision.
Connie knew though, ultimately, what she was going to have to do.
She was going to have to to sacrifice her love for Jacob, for her daughter's sake.
Connie finally stopped walking and slowly turned to face him.
"What's wrong?" Jacob asked gently, taking a step towards Connie to close the space between them.
Connie took a step back and looks away.
"Grace needs to be my priority at the moment." She said, trying to remain strong in front of him, hiding how difficult she was finding this.
Jacob studied her face, he didn't understand.
"So what are you saying?" He asked quietly, already fearing the answer.
"I'm saying..." Connie started, only to stop as she felt her emotions beginning to overwhelm her. She couldn't believe she was doing this, ending her relationship with Jacob.
She took a deep breath to ensure she kept composed. "I'm saying it's not going to work out between you and me." She said plainly.
Jacob studied her face. "She's got you wrapped around her little finger hasn't she?" He shook his head in disbelief.
Connie so desperately wanted to say something, she wanted to take the words she had said back and not let him go.
But she couldn't. She just stared at him, ensuring to strongly hold her gaze on his.
Jacob took a step back. What more could he do?
His eyes lingered on Connie's for a moment longer, before he turned and walked away.
Connie let the breath go that she hadn't even realised she had been holding, and followed him with her eyes which were beginning to fill with tears. She hugged the files tightly against her chest, willing for him to turn back around.
She wanted to call after him and tell him not to go. She wanted to tell him she loved him, that she didn't want to lose him.
But she couldn't, she could only watch him walk away, out of her life.
