What Should Have Been

Part 12

Connie had a rare day off and decided to take Grace down to the park. "Here we go sweetheart-" "Mummy can you push me on the swing!" Grace pulled on her hand until she knew she was following after her. "Hold on baby, let me close the door."

Grace dragged her towards the swings with a determined smile. "Happy sweetie?" "Higher Mummy!" Grace shouted with a laugh as Connie increased the strength of the pushes on the swing.

Sam had gotten up early and decided on going for a run. It was never something he used to do, but since the news he'd needed to find a new way of distracting himself and this seemed to work. Maybe he'd rope Connie into running with him sometime.

He sprinted through the wooded path until he reached the top of the hill. At the bottom he noticed a sleek silver car in the car park. He frowned before smirking continuing his run down towards it.

Connie was chasing after Grace around the park, laughter echoing around them. "Mummy! Mummy! You're too slow!" Connie sped up grabbing hold of her daughter around the waist while she laughed louder.

She planted a kiss on her cheek holding her tightly to her chest. Placing her back down on the floor her eyes flickered up to someone running in the distance. They were running along the path she used to take when she'd run in the mornings. It had been a long time since she'd managed to get out and decided she'd have to try soon.

"Grace! Be careful!" Connie rushed to her daughter oblivious to the runner stopping after hearing her shout. Sam glanced over to the small park seeing someone holding a child up so they could climb.

"You really have no fear do you?" She rolled her eyes as her daughter continued to swing from the climbing frame. Connie watched on with a smile as Grace played before she was in the swing once again begging to be pushed.

Connie was soon being beckoned to push harder. "Higher Mummy!" They were oblivious to anyone else around them. Sam leant forwards against the park fence as he watched them. "Higher! Higher!" "Someone's losing their strength."

Her head shot round to see Sam standing across the park. She dropped her eyes to his attire before realising it was him she'd been watching run. "You following me?" "Course not... Thought you'd be at work." "Clearly not."

He smiled jumping over the small fence joining Connie beside the swing. Leaning on the pole at the side Grace noticed him. "Hey Grace-" "Hello." Her happy voice ended in laughter as Connie got her that little bit higher. "So Mr active, you run?" Sam laughed with a nod at her shocked expression.

"Don't sound too surprised Con, but yes. It helps with... The stress-" "Tell me about it." Sam smirked. "Maybe you'll have to give me some competition one day-" "Maybe I will." Sam moved from where he was standing to stand beside her. She turned to look at him as he pressed his lips to hers quickly.

A smile graced her face as she looked at him. "Here let me take over." Connie stepped aside as Sam began pushing her. "How's that Grace?" "Better than Mummy!" Connie folded her arms against her chest with her eyebrows raised. "Sorry, guess I'm just a better swing pusher than you."

Connie smirked rolling her eyes watching as Sam and Grace laughed with each other. He was naturally so good with her and she hated herself for lying. "What are you doing this afternoon?" Sam lifted Grace from the swing putting her down on the floor. "Other than cleaning myself up, not an awful lot." "Come round, for dinner?"

Sam nodded letting his eyes follow Grace across the park. "Okay, she's wonderful isn't she?" Connie smiled watching Grace before nodding. "She's my world, and she has to be my priority Sam-" "Of course Connie, I could never ask you to put me ahead of your daughter."

They moved to the bench taking a seat while continuing to watch Grace. "You could always shower at mine while I entertain Grace." Sam looked to Connie who was avoiding his gaze intentionally. She was trying to get Sam to spend as much time with Grace as she could in an attempt to ease her guilt. "Alright, I'll need to go home first. Get some clothes but then I'll come over."

They remained in the park for another half an hour before Sam got up to leave. "Grace baby, come on." "But Muuuummyyyyy!" "But nothing. Come on, we need to get home because Sam's going to come over." She watched Grace smile skipping over to them stopping before Sam.

He smirked lifting her up as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I guess that means we've got this ones approval." Connie rolled her eyes pushing Sam from the park making their way to her car. "Do you need a lift?" "It's alright, I'm round the corner. See you in 10?"

Connie nodded letting him gently kiss her once again before taking Grace from him. "See you soon." Sam waved before putting his headphones in beginning to run. Grace and Connie were soon in the car making their way home, a smile on both girls faces.

Before long Connie was answering the door. "Sam! Sam!" He looked past to Grace who was jumping up and down. "Hey Grace." She ran back of into the other room laughing while Connie shut the door rolling her eyes.

Sam looked around the house as he walked inside shocked at the size. "Wow... You and Grace live here alone?" "Mmm, why?" "It's nothing... It's just, big." Connie smirked getting down a couple of glasses before filling them and passing one to Sam. "I like it though."

Connie showed Sam upstairs talking all the way. When she turned to leave he stepped in her way. "So your terms for giving us a go? What are they?" "Not at my work, and we go slow." He smiled with a single nod. "And this, this isn't too quick?" She smirked as he edged closer to her. "No, this I could do."

Sam finished the distance as she leant closer kissing him. Connie's hands made their way to the bottom of his shirt before lifting it over his head. Sam came back to her lips, pulling her by the waist closer. Connie continued to deepen the kiss before breaking away. "Enjoy your shower, I'll be downstairs."

She smirked walking away as Sam groaned returning to what he would have been doing. The evening went by quickly as Sam sat with Grace while Connie cooked them dinner. Once they were finished he helped her clean up.

"I never knew you could cook-" "There's a lot you don't know Mr Strachan." He laughed placing the dishes into the cupboard she'd pointed to before leaning against the side. "I could get used to days like this-" "Yeah?" "Mhm... You and Grace, it was fun."

Connie smiled at the idea needing Sam to build up a relationship with his daughter, even if he didn't know just yet. "Well I'm welcome to the thought of you spending a little more time here... Just a little." He smiled nodding as they returned to the sofa with Grace laying across their laps. They were both happy with being in each other's company but every now and then they were struck with guilt at the secrets they were keeping.