Consequences

Chapter 28

"Grace, can i ask you something?" Connie asked her daughter the next day as they tidied the living room and dining/kitchen area up ready for when the tutor came the next morning.

Zoe's comment the previous day had made her think; and it was something she wanted to get sorted so Grace could start her education from fresh again.

"What mom?"

"How long was the bullying going on for? Before you told me that week you broke up for summer?"

Grace stopped from wiping the table and looked at Connie; her daughter's hesitation was a confirmation for her that it had been going on a lot longer than she had told her. Putting the magazines down on the coffee table, she took Grace's hand and sat them both on the sofa; tucking her daughter's hair behind her ear, she titled her head slightly.

"Tell me the truth darling; was it going on when we started arguing? Was the answering back and misbehaving because you couldnt find the words to tell me what was happening?"

Grace nodded and looked down to her lap.

"Okay sweetheart, look at me" she said, lifting her daughter's chin. "When did it start?"

"Just after we came back to Holby; after i left boarding school. Nothing happened when i first started; but then they started laughing at me and calling me names and stuff..."

"Did they ever hurt you? Physically?"

"No, just with their words; i tried to ignore them but i didnt have anyone to hang out with so they always found me on breaks. You didnt even notice mom..." she said, her voice breaking.

"Oh darling, i am so sorry; sorry that i didnt notice you were upset or hurting. Sorry that i was so invested in work that i didnt take the time to listen to you or talk to you; sorry that you felt like there was no one to talk to about it"

"Your job was important" Grace shrugged.

"Not as important as you; from now on, i promise, we are a team. I will listen to you and we will talk everyday; no more bottling up our feelings, either of us" she said, holding Grace close.

"Can i ask you something mom?" Grace asked from Connie's embrace.

"Course you can"

"If i'm been home-schooled, what will happen with your job?"

"Honestly, i dont know baby; i wont be going back until October, the earliest anyway so we have a couple of weeks to sort something out."

"You said you wouldnt quit; you were just taking a break for the summer and then you got sick...but you were going back"

"Grace, right now, i dont have the energy to do more than the minimum and i definately dont have the energy to try and figure everything out in one conversation; i will figure it out and when i do, it'll work for both of us, okay?"

"Okay" she answered, knowing her mom was been serious from the tone of her voice.

"Let's finish tidying up and we'll watch a film this afternoon"

Grace nodded and got up; it was no surprise that by the time they were sat watching a film, Connie was fast asleep within minutes of it starting.