Chapter 1
Bernie is busy in the kitchen, whipping up an omelette for dinner, when she hears her phone ringing in the living room.
She runs through the hall of her rented apartment in Kiev and grabs her phone from the arm of the sofa ‘Cameron?’
‘Hi Mum’ says Cameron
‘What’s wrong?’ asks Bernie, concern obvious in her voice.
‘Why should anything be wrong? Can a Son not call his Mother just to see how she is anymore?’ he asks with a hint of teasing to his voice
‘Well yes, of course, it’s just ..... well I wasn’t expecting it, that’s all’ says Bernie relieved as she walks back toward the kitchen to dish up her omelette.
‘So, how are you?’ asks Cameron
‘I’m well, thank you. How are you?’
‘I’m good, really good actually. I went back to Med school, thought you might be interested?’ says Cameron nonchalantly.
‘What? Cam that’s wonderful news, I’m so happy!’
‘I’m currently on placement at.....’ Cameron trails off, unsure whether to complete his sentence.
‘Cam, what is it?’
‘I’m at Holby’ He says cautiously
‘Oh’ is all Bernie can manage.
‘Needless to say, I’ve heard the rumours about your departure. And Mum, I’m working with Serena’
Bernie’s heart jumps into her mouth at the mention of Serena’s name but she says nothing.
‘Mum?’ Says Cameron ‘are you OK?’
‘I.... I, uh....’ Bernie can’t quite string a sentence together, flustered by thoughts of Serena and the fact that her Son knows how she left.
‘Thought so’ he says.
‘How is Serena?’ she asks quietly, just about managing to form her words.
‘Oh you know, throwing herself into her work, anything to keep herself busy if you ask me. She can’t even look at me, I guess I remind her too much of you’
‘Cam......I’m so sorry’
‘For what?’
‘For putting you in an awkward situation aga..’
‘Oh Mum shut up!’
‘Excuse me?’ Says Bernie, a little taken back
‘I said shut up’ He says, softer this time. ‘I’m a grown Man and I’m fine. Besides, I like Serena and she has been nothing but supportive since I’ve been there, she just can’t look at me that’s all. I’m more concerned with you, Mum’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Come on, I know you care for Serena a lot, so why are you in Kiev? From what I hear she begged you to stay so she clearly cares a lot for you too’.
‘Cam, I....’ Bernie stutters
‘It’s OK Mum, I’m fine with who you are. I love you and just want you to be happy’.
And with that one declaration from her Son, Bernie feels a tear roll down her cheek.
‘Thank you Cameron’ she whispers.
After finishing up her conversation with Cameron, Bernie looks down at her plate where the uneaten, and now cold, omelette sits. She decides against making herself another and goes for a run instead, she has always found it a good way to clear her head and get her thoughts in order.
She runs for an hour, thinking about what Cameron said, about her feelings for Serena and whether she is ready for the world to know who she is once and for all.
As she now sits on her couch, drinking a glass of orange juice to re-hydrate, she feels a painful ache in her chest and realises that there is nothing more in the world that she wants right now than Serena.
Picking up her mobile with a shaky hand, Bernie scrolls through her contacts until she reaches Serena’s name. She takes a deep breath and presses the green button.