What Should Have Been

Part 6

She sat on the floor, paper spread across the office as she coloured with Grace. Work could wait, it would still be there when she was done. Grace on the other hand was growing up each day and she would never forgive herself for missing that.

Grace lay flat on her stomach while drawing as Connie watched on. Charlie had returned to work sometime ago leaving the girls to it. "You hungry baby?" Grace shook her head continuing with her colouring. Connie stood up moving to her desk taking a seat as she yawned again.

She relaxed back getting comfortable as she closed her eyes briefly. Grace remained on the floor as she sighed.

"Not like you to sleep on the job-" "I wasn't sleeping... And even if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business." She arched a brow as he walked further into her office.

Grace had got up hearing him and ran to him. Throwing her arms around his legs before he scooped her up. "Keeping Mummy awake I see... I was once good at that." The cold glare thrown across the room could be felt by him.

He placed Grace back down who returned to the floor doing her colouring as he stepped closer across the office. He moved around her desk until he was sitting on it in front of her.

Leaning forwards slightly she watched his every move. Her eyes meeting his eventually as his hands pressed either side of her chair. "So Mrs Beauchamp... Still want to sleep?" She pulled a face as he neared her lips brushing them across hers gently.

Before she could pull away he pressed them to hers in a desperate clinch to be close. "Mummy...

Mummy!" Connie's eyes opened as she jumped in her chair. Grace was tugging at her blouse standing beside her chair holding up a picture. "Sorry sweetheart." She lifted her onto her lap smiling down at the picture she'd drawn.

For a split second, she could have sworn he was there. She could hear his voice so clearly, she could smell his cologne so distinctly. It had been so vivid that it was impossible for her to believe it was a dream. Why she was dreaming of him, in that way, she couldn't work out but she couldn't deny it had been good.

Grace picked up the stethoscope from the desk placing it in her ears before pushing it to Connie's chest. "Boom, boom, boom..." Connie smiled as Grace pulled them from her ears and put it around her neck expertly as she had seen her mother do so many times before. "That's right sweetheart, you'll be a killer doctor when you're older-" "Doctor like Mummy."

She bounced Grace up and down on her lap causing laughter to erupt from the young girl. It bought a fresh smile to Connie's face as she began tickling Grace. "I love you baby..." She placed a kiss to Grace's cheek making her laugh again.

They carried on as there was a knock at the door. "Sorry, Mrs Beauchamp you're needed in cubicles?" Connie looked up at Alicia in the doorway. She nodded smiling back to Grace. "Mummy time to go and be a doctor." Connie laughed kissing the top of Grace's head. "Looks like it... Dr Munro- Alicia, would you mind watching Grace for me?"

Alicia smiled coming inside as Connie lifted her daughter from her lap sitting her on her chair. "Grace? Mummy's stuff... Don't touch it missy!" She indicated everything on her desk as Grace giggled. "Okay Mummy. I'll be good." Connie stood in the doorway leaning against the frame with a smile. "You make sure you are good for Alicia, any trouble come find me." "Okay, I'm sure we'll be fine."

With the door closed Connie's heels echoed across the floor towards cubicles. Reaching the patient she stood beside Dr Hardy before tapping her chest for her stethoscope. Sighing as she remembered Grace had it she began assessing the patient.

Standing before the hospital he looked up at the building which once housed everyone he cared for. People rushed past him as an ambulance came around the corner. He stepped back letting everyone pass before walking inside.

The hustle and bustle of this ED was almost a beautiful sight to him. He smiled despite himself as he glanced to the floor. Of course it would be this well run, it was Connie. He'd got in touch and found out she was still here, but just not as he quite knew her before.

Strolling into the department he glanced around coming to reception. "Can I help you?" "I was just looking for Mrs Beauchamp." Noel nodded as he juggled several sheets of paper. "Don't worry, I can see you're extremely busy. I'm sure I can find her office, keep it up I know it's not easy under her. You seem to be doing a good job though."

Noel offered a confused smile in thanks watching as the other man stepped carefully through the department. He looked around at the green walls taking in his surroundings. He didn't recognise anyone down here but that didn't matter to him.

Walking through another set of doors his eyes caught it. The name pinned to an office door which was unmistakably hers. It had been sometime since he'd been faced with this. He'd thought about doing it for so long that now he was here he honestly had no idea what he was to do.

Deciding to just see what happened, he walked up to the door hearing noise from inside. He knocked gently before pushing it open to see a young girl and doctor on the floor. "Oh, I'm sorry I thought this was Mrs Beauchamp's office-" "Oh no, it is. I'm just watching her for Con- Mrs Beauchamp."

He nodded stepping inside a little further as he looked to the tiny girl. She was undoubtedly Connie's the resemblance was uncanny. The curls, the eyes... She was beautiful. "Sorry but Mrs Beauchamp's busy right now."

He shook his head with a smile as he sat on the edge of the sofa. Alicia seemed uneasy and he could tell. "It's okay, I'm an old friend of Connie's. Doesn't know I'm here, thought I'd surprise her." Alicia smiled looking back down to Grace. "Go if you like, I don't mind watching her until she gets back."

Alicia smiled standing up while he slipped down to the floor. "Hey, that's a pretty impressive picture you got there-" "It's of my mummy." "I can tell, looks just like her." Grace giggled as Alicia saw how easily he spoke to her deciding it should be okay to leave them.

Grace continued happily as thoughts whizzed around his head. A daughter!? God things have changed... Does that mean she's with someone? Married maybe? But the names the same... Oh god is she happy? I need to leave, I shouldn't ruin this.

Then his thoughts stopped as he looked to the little girl. "Where's your Daddy, couldn't he look after you today?" Grace shrugged as he looked back at her picture. "Is it just you and Mummy?" Grace nodded not looking up as he watched her. "Grace? How old are you?"

She sat up holding out three fingers with a smile. "Three? Wow!" "Nearly four now... Mummy said I can have a big party." He laughed continuing to talk with the young girl while thoughts continued to flood his mind. Was she... No she couldn't be. They'd only ever once, it was a stupid thought. But it fit, could she really be... No this was Connie, she was sure to have slept with someone else after he'd gone.

Connie came out of cubicles seeing Alicia beside the nurses station. She frowned crossing to her. "Alicia where's Grace?" "In your office, someone is in there. Said they came to see you, an old friend?" Connie frowned walking off from Alicia and towards her office.

She placed a hand to the door freezing at the voice she heard from behind it. "Your Mummy's very pretty from this picture. You're a good little drawer aren't you?" "Mummy says she likes my pictures-" "Well I can see why..." It couldn't be, not here.

Pushing the door open harshly she froze seeing him sat with his back to her. What? How? Why? He turned seeing her in the doorway. Those trademark heels being the first thing he saw before moving his eyes up. Tight trousers, loose blouse, always so professional. The short brunette curls he'd missed.

Her face was one of pure shock, confusion but he was sure there was something else there too. Her chest felt tight as she tried to wake herself up but nothing was happening. "Hello Connie..." His voice was so deep, she took a breath smelling the all too familiar scent.

This was real, this was actually happening. She hadn't moved, she couldn't. She knew something would happen today, she knew that things were strange but this was not what she had been expecting. Her eyes moved between her daughter and this 'old friend'. "Sam..."