What Should Have Been

Part 5

Connie was sitting in her office staring at the same blank screen that she had been for the last half an hour. Tapping the pen against her lip she continued to swivel gently on the chair. Her eyes were fixated on nothing yet her attention was completely focused.

She was so absorbed that she failed to notice the several knocks on her door. It opened up a little to show Charlie standing there watching her with a wandering eye. It wasn't often he found himself worrying for her but recently she'd been acting, strange.

Charlie closed the door walking further in before Connie finally noticed him. "Hey-" "Hi. You seemed a little distracted, I was there for ages." She sighed with a smile before moving a hand to cover her mouth as she yawned. "Grace?" "Mmm... Sorry, sleepless nights were supposed to end years ago."

He took a seat opposite her desk as she lay back in her chair. "Anyway Mr Fairhead, was there a purpose to this journey or was it just for a chat?" "Well now you mention it I suppose you could be of use." A smile graced her features lighting up her face. "That's more like it." Rolling her eyes he laughed standing up letting her follow him from the office.

They walked through the department before he questioned her again. "So what was that? Back there, seemed something really had you thinking." Connie just shook her head placing her stethoscope around her neck. "It's nothing... Stupid even..." Charlie arched an eyebrow as she ran a hand back through her hair. "I just, I've got a really bad feeling about today. I feel like something is about to happen, I don't know."

Pushing the doors to resus open she stepped inside quietly returning to the professional Mrs Beauchamp. Charlie watched her in amazement, but also because he was becoming increasingly worried about the consultant. It wasn't like her to be worrying over things, she was the rational one of them all.

After treating the patient she tried to head back to her office. "Hold up, you're not going back in there-" "Wh- Why? Charlie?" She complained as he took hold of her arm directing her towards the small shop getting them both a coffee.

They moved outside into the bright winter sunshine. Although it wasn't cold she still shook in the breeze. "So tell me, what's about to happen?" With an exasperated sigh she sat down on the bench letting her head fall backwards. "I don't know... You never get that feeling that somethings just, about to happen that you wish wasn't?"

Charlie sipped at his coffee with a nod before looking to Connie. "I do... But you never do, so what's happened to make you do that? Come on Connie you've been acting strange all week." She blurted it out without even thinking, immediately realising what she'd said. "Pardon?"

Sitting up she looked to him knowing she'd have to explain now but of all the people she knew now, she knew she could trust Charlie. "Grace's father, I can't seem to stop thinking about her growing up without him." "Well he chose to walk away didn't he?" A simple shake of her head made him sigh gently.

"He did walk away, that wasn't a lie... But he didn't know what he was walking away from. We weren't together, God I hated the man. A single night and here we are... But, there was always, I don't know, I've never truly forgotten him." Charlie smiled in an understanding manner before resting a gentle hand to her arm. "We all have those in our lives. So he doesn't know about Grace being his?"

Connie scoffed shaking her head. "I could live with him knowing she was around, but he doesn't even know Grace exists. He left a few days after I found out. Couldn't face telling him once I knew about this great new life he had lined up in America." She'd done it again. Biting her lip she knew Charlie would know who she was speaking about.

He looked to Connie who was now staring aimlessly at her hands. "He seems like he wanted to go places... Reminds me of someone else I know." Her eyes met his as she arched an eyebrow. "You seriously saying we're alike?" "More than you realise probably..."

She laughed leaning back again as she took a deep breath. "I just feel like he should know, but who says he hasn't got a family of his own now? A happy job, an amazing life-" "And you and Grace don't deserve that too?"

Rather than continue delving into it, Charlie was happy to know Connie had opened up enough to him on this. "Come on, let's get back in there... Place is practically falling apart without you." He winked causing her to smirk before they were interrupted. "Mummy!"

Connie's head snapped up seeing Grace run towards her. "Gracie?" She got up picking her daughter up before glaring over to the babysitter. "Mrs Beauchamp, I tried calling you but you didn't answer-" "Want to explain why my daughters not at home where I pay you to be with her?"

Charlie's hand on her shoulder caused her tone to mellow slightly. Her eyes fell to Grace cowering into her shoulder and the nervous disposition of the babysitter. "I've been busy today-" "I know Mrs Beauchamp, I'm sorry. My mothers been bought in sick, I received a call from a nurse half an hour ago."

Connie rubbed a hand against her forehead shaking her head. "Sorry... Go Anna." She nodded before hurrying into the ED leaving Connie with Grace. "Guess you're working with Mummy this afternoon." Grace's smile was enough to change her mood instantly. To know that was her baby girl and that nothing would ever change that.

Charlie smiled from beside them forgotten by Connie until Grace noticed him. "Charlieeeee!" He laughed as Connie turned her head to him. "You coming then?" He smiled following them into the department and towards her office oblivious to the prying eyes.