Undisclosed Desires

Chapter. 4

‘Table for 3 please’ Trent told the hostess as they had walked into a little Italian restaurant across the road from the building, Trent was smiling like a small child.

‘You’ve been holding out on us Fiona’ he smirked as they walked towards the table. Fiona rolled her eyes ‘That is just about the extent my psychological assessments go I’m afraid, micro expressions are more my mother forte’ she sighed Christian stared at her amused ‘You are a surprise at every turn, Miss Hallaway’ she shook his head as they sat down.

They spent the next hour and a half discussing anything and everything, like 3 old friends, having a catch up, most questions were directed towards Fiona but she didn’t feel under pressure or forced, it was a highly enjoyable experience. They had just finished their food when Fiona got a call, she check the caller ID and saw it was the children’s teacher ‘Excuse me’ she said politely, she cleared her throat and walked outside, Christian and Trent stared after her ‘Wonder what that’s about’ Trent shrugged wiping his mouth as Christian watched her intently out the window. 

‘Hi Miss Hallaway, it’s Mr Bishop’ 

Mr Bishop? Why is he calling her?

‘As you know we are on a trip today at Jones Beach, and unfortunately there was an accident and Carter has had to be taken to hospital, It’s nothing to worry about, he was playing on some rocks that he shouldn’t have been, a member of staff called him down and when he was coming down off them he slipped off and fell on his arm, we called an ambulance and Miss Applegate went with him’ Fiona put her head in her hands and looked around her, she could see Christian staring at her intently ‘What hospital is he at?’ she sighed checking her watch and walking back towards the table ‘Mercy Medical Centre’ 

That was near enough 40 minutes away. Great.

‘I’ll be there as soon as I can’ she huffed before saying goodbye and hanging up ‘Everything okay Miss Hallaway?’ Trent enquired as she sailed back into the room quickly grabbing her bag and scavenging through bit aggressively ‘Yes, well no but- I just need to find my keys’ she couldn’t find them and she was getting frustrated, she suddenly felt someone grab her elbow ‘Fiona, it’s okay calm down, where do you need to go?’ he said softly, she sighed and slipped back into her seat ‘Mercy Medical Centre’ she pulled her jacket on and picked up her bag Christian recoiled in surprise 

Mercy? That’s a little far.

‘I need to go right now’ she sighed and stood up, Trent grew concerned ‘Fiona you are in no condition to drive especially in such a state, Christian will take you, we only had a conference call today left to do’ Fiona began to shake her head ‘Really Mr Malcolm there’s no need-‘ Christian immediately interrupted her ‘I will not be taking no for an answer, come on now, my cars in the carpark’ he placed his hand on the small of her back leading her towards the door and back to their building. Fiona walked quickly to match his step as they headed into the garage, they walked to his car quickly getting in, and no one spoke or even made eye contact as he peeled out of the space into mid-afternoon traffic.

The drive to the hospital was mostly silent, time spent by Fiona fiddling with the hem of her skirt and the buttons on her coat. Christian tapped against the steering wheel as Mumford and Sons crooned softly in the background, a favourite of Fiona’s, and strangely it began to calm her nerves slightly, she wasn’t too worried about Crater it was the fact that she couldn’t get to him easily that was bothering her, but Christian had managed to turn a 40 minute journey into just under 30 minutes which she was silently thankful for.

When they pulled up outside the hospital, she jumped out and power walked to the reception desk ‘Hi I’m here for Carter Hallaway, he was bought in about 30 minutes ago’ she huffed, the nurse looked at her sympathetically ‘Mum?’ she nodded quietly ‘Room 344 Level 3’ she smiled politely at her as Fiona raced forwards, Christian, after just entering the hospital reception, followed after her.