For All Eternity

Will She Be Able to Huggle Me?

"Elise?"

"Yes Connie," the childminder replied, drying the little one's used dishes. Tonight Connie had had a portion of reheated shepherd's pie which she had wolfed down and eaten nearly a second portion. They had the watched a film and Connie was now having a snack waiting for Dianne to get back to put her to bed.

"Why isn't Dot back? Its an 7 and a 8 she should be back," she was pointing to the big clock on the wall, using a newly learned skill.

"I'm not sure sweetie, I'll text your Dad and see if he knows anything. She might have got caught up, do you want a bath tonight?"

"Not really. I put my pyjamas on nowd," she said and ran off to her bedroom.

"Whilst we wait for Daddy's reply shall we brush our teeth and read a story book?" Elise suggested when Connie returned in odd pyjamas carrying Teddy and Americano, yawning. She nodded and pulled Elise into the bedroom.

"And blow it al-" Elise was interrupted by her phone buzzing.

"See if you can read the next line okay, Connie?" She said answering the call, which was from Joe.

"So don't tell Connie but Dianne's got a bit of an injury, she bumped her head and she's just getting it checked out at the hospital," Joe explained in a hushed voice incase Connie was around.

"Gosh is she alright?" Elise asked, shutting Connie's bedroom door, though the five year old was already reading away.

"She's fine, it's just a precaution but she'll be late home. Are you alright to do bedtime and stuff?" Joe rushed out, aware he had a call to stage coming.

"Yes of course, I'll stay as long as you need me," Elise said. It was a no brainer, when one of her families needed her she would of course do anything to help them, even if that meant staying until god knows what hour.

"Once again you're a legend and a life saver Elise. Thank you. Just help yourself to some dinner, I'll try and keep you posted. Thanks," Joe said, sounding slightly more relieved and less stressed.

"No problem, see you later."

"Bye."

"Elise I got all the way to the last page wivout you!" Connie said, as Elise reentered the bedroom.

"Wowee, you're getting amazing at reading Connie! Do you want to pick two more? Dianne's going to be a bit late home, after your bedtime, so I'll put you to bed, okay?"

"Can I call Dot ven?" Connie asked, already sat on the floor by the book shelf.

"She's busy at work sweetie, you'll see her in the morning though, she's working at Elstree tomorrow isn't she, so she gets to go in later," Elise was well aware of her client's schedules by now, having looked after Connie the previous year.

"Yep, she and Daddy can drop me of on Friday. Do you 'member dropping me off once?" Connie chatted away blissfully unaware of what her Dot was feeling or where she was.

"I do, that was a fun morning wasn't it?"

"Daddy was sad, he couldn't get the dance right that's why he went to work early."

Elise nodded and took the book off Connie, keen to get her off to sleep before her phone rang again.

~~~

"Hello, how are you?" Elise asked, when she opened the door for Dianne at 10pm.

"Achy but alive, how was she, did she get off okay?" Dianne asked, slowly entering, attempting to keep her head and neck in line. The whiplash was no joke and she was desperate for her bed and a cuddle off Joe.