Consequences

Chapter 11

"I'm in"

Connie looked up from her paperwork the next day to see Zoe standing in the office doorway; she had thought Zoe would decline the offer.

"Are you sure?"

"If you can persuade Henrik, i'll do it; on one condition?" She said as she entered and sat on the sofa.

"Go on?"

"I will do everything i can to help you and Grace but the paperwork; i'll do the odd bit, etc but i dont want the responsibilty of the reports"

"No problem"

"You better arrange that meeting then"

"Zoe...thanks"

Connie picked up the phone and made the call; two hours later, she descended down the stairs into reception and gestured to Zoe to join her. Shutting her office door, Connie turned to Zoe and handed her a stapled pack of paper.

"It's sorted"

"He agreed?!" Zoe asked, not quite believing he would go for the offer so easily.

"Yep; when he realised if he didnt agree i was serious about resigning, he was putty in my hands. We work out the hours and the schedule, etc between us and there will be times when we're both required to attention meetings but...you're now deputy Clinical Lead"

"I didnt think he would"

"Still want to do it? I wont hold it against you if you back out?"

"No, i'll do it" she said, signing the contract immediately. "Are you going to tell Grace?"

"I dont know; i dont want her to feel bad or guilty and think it's her fault i've done this. I'll just see how it goes; i'll draw up a rota but let me know if it's not suitable"

"No problem; i dont mind doing the later shift so you can pick Grace up if you want?"

"I couldnt do that all the time to you; we'll split it and it will mean a couple of days of her getting a taxi there and back, that's all. And if we alternate the weekends so we each get a day off as well as one in the week, she'll be fine; just something we have to work on"

"Okay; i'd better get back on the floor. Are you picking Grace up today?'

"No, she's at a friends house after school; i just have to be home by 7"

As Connie got on with her paperwork, Zoe left the office and bumped into Max; checking how many patients there was, and seeing there was only a few which were been treated, she took the opportunity to take a quick break outside.

"So is it all official?" Max asked as he lit up a cigarette and took a drag before handing it to her.

"You are now looking at the Deputy Clinical Lead" she smiled.

"What does that mean for us?"

"Nothing, You are going nowhere Max Walker" she insisted as she leant in and kissed him.

"Good" he replied before leaning in for another kiss.

Ten minutes later, they walked back into the department and went their seperate ways; at just gone 7 that evening, Connie opened her front door and let Grace in, thanking her daughters friend's mom for bringing her home before shutting and locking it behind them.

"Did you have fun baby?" She asked as they sat on the sofa.

"Yeah, it was cool"

"Good; i need to talk to you. Why dont you put your pyjamas on and i'll be up in a minute?"

"Am i in trouble?" She asked.

"No, mommy just needs to talk to you. Go on"

Once checking everywhere was locked up and all the lights were out, Connie went upstairs and got changed before sitting against the headboard on Grace's bed as her daughter snuggled against her.

"What's going on mom?"

"I've managed to work something out at work that will give me better hours for us but there's a catch"

"What?"

"Two days a week you'll have to get a taxi from the department to school and two days you'll have to get one back from school but i'll drop you off; it also means that i will have better availability during weekends too"

"But i'll see have to come to work with you?"

"I'm sorry baby, it's the best i could do; i know you hate been there and unless we hire a nanny, it's the only way"

"Cant Zoe pick me up? Or Uncle Charlie?"

"It wouldnt work with Zoe; she's now working alongside me as Clinical Lead so our hours will overlap"

"What about Max?"

"I dont know; we might be able to get one day a week where someone can pick you up. We'll have to see what comes up; this is the only way i can work it without giving up my job"

"Would you do that?"

"If it was truly what you wanted? In a heartbeat. I wouldnt be happy about it but i'd do it for you"

"I dont want you to quit; i'll try and understand"

"That's all i ask; now go to sleep and i'll take you to school tomorrow and pick you up as i've got the day off"

"Okay"

Connie kissed her forehead and watched as her daughter drifted off to sleep.