Consequences

Chapter 35

After helping Connie into the house, the older brunette had insisted they stay in the spare room for the evening; whilst Max paid the driver and let him go, Zoe helped Connie to sit on the sofa; Zoe had already promised Max she would only be having a couple of drinks as she was saving herself for their two week holiday over the New Year. Having heard her mom coming home, Grace had descended down the stairs and snuggled against her; despite going to bed when Rachel had told her to, she couldnt settle without her mom there.

"Hi baby" Connie slurred.

"You're drunk mommy" Grace giggled.

"Noooo, i'm just really happy to see you baby"

"Did she have fun Auntie Zoe?"

"I think she did; we should get her to bed. She's gonna be feeling very rough in the morning..."

Between Zoe and Grace, they got Connie upstairs and into her room; deciding that sleeping in her tight clothing would be uncomfortable, Zoe grabbed the pyjamas from the end of the bed.

"Connie, you need to get changed; Grace, do you want to get your mom some water?"

As Grace disappeared into the ensuite, Zoe helped Connie to get changed before getting her to lie in the bed; with the glass of water on the side, Grace laid next to her mom and snuggled against her as Zoe headed to the spare room.

When Connie awoke the next morning, she groaned as the sun glared through the curtains; sitting up, she had the water and paracetamol before noticing she was in her pyjamas and Grace was lying next to her, awake.

"How you feeling mom?"

"Fine baby" she lied.

"You sooo have a headache; me and Auntie Zoe had to help you to bed"

"What?"

"You insisted they stay in the spare room and then you passed out up here; you were funny"

"Oh i was, was i?"

"Yeah; and you kept talking in your sleep. Something about Jacob and last night..."

"I dont...oh god; is Auntie Zoe still here?" She asked, not sure if what she was recalling was true or not.

"Making breakfast downstairs wih Max; Rachel left already"

"Okay"

Pulling on their robes, they headed downstairs to the kitchen where Zoe and Max were cooking; grabbing a mug of coffee for herself and passing a glass of juice to her daughter, she waited until Max and Grace had gone to watch cartoons before standing next to Zoe.

"How drunk was i?" Connie asked, quietly.

"Drunk enough to flirt with Jacob most of the night" she grinned.

"Dont say that" she groaned. "I remember going to the bar after most people had left; there was me, you and Jacob"

"You were alone for five minutes when Max and i went to get a taxi; you were all over him when we came back"

"I think...actually, i know...i kissed him"

"You did what?"

"I kissed him; we were...flirting and it went from there" she explained, running a hand through her hair.

"That will be awkward come tomorrow"

"Oh god, what did i do?" She groaned as she took a seat at the table.

"Maybe he wont remember" Zoe offered.

"He will and he'll tease me for days" she answered, resting her head in her hands after setting her coffee down on the wooden surface.

"Eat this and you'll feel better" she said as she placed the plates of fry up on the table and calling the other two through.

With breakfast finished and the tidying up done, Max and Zoe left whilst Connie and Grace got ready and headed into town for some last minute christmas shopping; leaving the car park at the train station, they opted to take the train into town.

"Did you really kiss Jacob last night?" Grace asked after they took their seats for the twenty minute journey.

"Were you listening in?"

"I wanted to ask you something but you were talking; i didnt mean to"

"Yes i did but i was drunk"

"Do you like him?"

"I dont know"

"He likes you; that's why he keeps calling you sweetcheeks, isnt it?"

"I dont know"

"I like him, he's funny; he made me smile when you were in hospital"

"Did he?"

"Yeah, i was having breakfast in the staff room and he knew i was upset and my arm was hurting and he made it better; he told me funny jokes to make me laugh and then later he brought me a banana milkshake cos he said it always makes him feel better when he's sad"

Connie couldnt help but smile at how Jacob had been there for her daughter when she wasnt able to be; instead of been angry that a complete stranger was looking after her, she was grateful he took the initiatve and in all honesty, having seen him with child patients at work, he did have a way with them.

"Well, how about we get him a thank you present off you?"

"Can we?"

"Course we can; we still have to get something for Aunt Zoe and Uncle Charlie"

"Is he still coming on Christmas Day?" She asked as they got off the train and headed towards the shops, Grace's hand firmly in Connie's.

"As far as i know darling; you know i'm working New Year's Eve, dont you?"

"Can we still watch the fireworks at midnight?"

"Hopefully if i'm not busy; Uncle Charlie will be there too so if i cant take you outside, i'm sure he will"

Grace nodded; by the time they arrived home that evening, they had gotten all the last minute presents and had the gift-wrapped and stopped for dinner. Grace had fallen asleep in the car so carefully, Connie left the presents in the car whilst she carried her daughter up to her room and got her settled; with Grace sleeping, she quickly grabbed the items from the boot before putting them under the tree and heading up to bed herself.