Consequences

Chapter 42

By the weekend, Grace was back to her normal self and Zoe and Max were back from their break away; with Connie keen to make up some hours of paperwork, having lost it when Grace was ill, Zoe offered to take the youngster for the weekend. After dropping her daughter off, she headed to work; at the apartment, Zoe was sat on the sofa, Grace in her arms.

"I missed you" Grace said.

"I missed you too; you feeling okay now?" She asked, knowing her worried Connie had been.

"Yeah"

"Do you wanna stay in or go out today?"

"Stay here" she answered, not moving from Zoe's warm embrace.

"Sure you feel okay? You're too quiet for my liking" she said, checking her forehead and finding no evidence of her fever returning.

"Yeah"

After dozing off for a few hours on the sofa, Grace seemed to perk up during the afternoon so Zoe had taken her out for a late lunch; sitting in the Italian restaurant waiting for their food, Zoe took her hand.

"How's that little puppy of yours?"

"I've been teaching her some tricks, or trying to"

"How's that working out for you?"

"Not good" she laughed.

"And you and your mom are okay?"

"She has a boyfriend" Grace announced as the waiter put their food on the table.

"She does?!" Zoe replied, a little shocked.

"Yeah, he's cool though"

"You like him?"

"He makes me laugh; and he makes mom smile. They were kissing at New Year."

"Wasn't your mom working New Years night?"

"Yeah; we were watching the fireworks outside"

"Right"

When Connie finally picked up her daughter the following afternoon, Zoe sent Grace to get her stuff together whilst they stood in the kitchen.

"I hear you have a new boyfriend?"

"Grace told you?"

"Didn't give me a name but considering you were working at New Year, it must be someone at work"

"It's early days; how was Grace?" She asked, changing the subject.

"A little quiet to start with, think she was still tired but she soon perked up; did you get all your paperwork done?"

"Pretty much; made a head start on Henrik's reports before having to help out with an emergency. How was your break?" She asked as Grace cane back into the room with her coat on and rucksack on her back, instantly snuggling into Connie's embrace.

"Sun, sea, alcohol, Max...everything a girl can dream of; the break was good for both of us"

"I'd better get this one home; see you in the morning"

"Thank you for my present and for letting me stay" Grace said as she hugged Zoe.

"You're welcome; you know where I am if you need anything"

Grace nodded before she and Connie left; back at the house a short while later, Grace was lying on her bed, bear in her arms, when Connie knocked on the door and popped her head round.

"You okay sweetheart?" She asked, taking a seat on the edge of the bed as she placed the puppy next to her daughter.

"Fine"

"Not feeling sick again are you?"

"No"

"You're not mad I had to work this weekend are you?" She asked, lying down next to her.

"No"

"Talk to me darling; I don't want us going back to ignoring each other again"

"I'm fine" she answered, turning onto her side, away from her.

"Are you hungry?"

"No"

"Okay, you know where I am if you change your mind"

Kissing her forehead, Connie left Goldie with her daughter - despite her no dogs on the bed rule - and left the room; by the time Connie was settling into bed around ten that evening, Grace had barely said a word to her. Picking up her book from the bedside table, she'd barely read a page before her door opened.

"Hi darling, you okay?" She asked as Grace entered the room. "You should be asleep"

Shaking her head, Grace slid in next to her mom and snuggled close; holding back a sigh, Connie stroked her hair and let her be.

"Wanna talk?"

"I'm sorry mom"

"What for?"

"Ignoring you, not talking"

"Sweetheart, I don't mind if you don't want to talk to me; what I do mind is when something is obviously wrong and you don't talk. Then I worry"

"I missed you"

"I missed you too; how about you come with me tomorrow and we'll go on that shopping trip after I finish? I'm only in for a few hours" she suggested.

Grace nodded and snuggled into Connie's side, just wanting to be held.