Berena Advent 2024
Day 5 - Owl
Bernie clad in her swimsuit and tracksuit made her way through the hotel spa until she reached the sun loungers around the side of the pool, she’d been informed Serena was already in with her therapist but they’d pass on a message to let her know where the Major was.
Undressing and throwing her clothes and towel on a sunbed in disarray, Bernie dived into the water and the feeling of being fully submerged and swimming a length underwater began to relax the soldier. She commenced her routine of lengths and breathing exercises, clearing her mind and eventually feeling the gentle burn in her muscles, clearly unaware of her surroundings and what was going on around her.
It wasn’t until she’d counted her 100th length that she looked up and caught sight of Serena sitting reading on the bed next to where she had left her clothing, she immediately realised that her clothes were folded neatly on the edge of the bed along with her towel, tutting to herself, she new Campbell couldn’t help herself, which brought a huge grin to her face.
Swimming over to the side right at the end of the bed Serena is relaxing on, she raises herself up onto her forearms and quietly announces herself.
‘Hello you.’
Serena knew she had to let her frustration pass so answered pleasantly.
‘Hello to you too Major. Sleep in today, did you?’
Knowing she needed and wanted to be completely honest with her, she answered.
‘Yes and no, I woke up terrified of you.’
Seeing Serena’s raised eyebrow questioning that statement, Bernie had the confidence to continue with what she wanted to say.
‘I was scared that you’d just been humouring me to help with my memory retrieval and I was frightened of what that would mean. I Had thought about leaving but remembered that I had previously promised you I’d never run from you again. I spent the last two hours on zoom chatting with my Army Psychiatrist and she’s the one who told me to get down here and sort it out, so here I am asking if you were telling me what I wanted to hear or were you telling me something real? Do you truly want me back?’
Serena sat back staring wide eyed at Bernie, this was more than she usually said in any conversation, so tapping the bed next to her she indicated for Bernie to get out of the water and join her on the sunbed. Rather than swimming to the steps to exit the water she flexed her muscular arms and the next thing Serena knew the blonde was standing in front of her dripping wet.
Reaching for her towel the blonde rubbed her hair and then wrapped the towel around her lithe body and sat on the sun lounger next to Serena.
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Serena had showered and dressed for lunch, going down to the bar early in order to be there when Charlotte and Cameron arrived. She was so nervous concerning how she was going to break the news to them about their mother, as she was drinking a large wine to settle her nerves she heard the conversation from the two bickering siblings as they were shown to her table in the corner.
Drinks ordered from the waiter they relaxed catching up with each other, Serena had asked if either had been contacted by the Army concerning their mother and they both shook their heads. Cameron being the older child but more outspoken due to knowing Serena through work was blunt in his response.
‘What, have we heard anything about our dead mother, do you mean?’
Both Serena and Charlotte were shocked and reprimanded him.
Serena went quiet and after staring fairly hard at both of them spoke quietly.
‘I have something to tell you both and I need you to really listen to me without interruption. Do you think you can do that for me?’
After some considerable debate they both agreed to let her speak, especially as it seemed to be about their mother if the older woman had asked about the Army.
‘I arrived for a weekend away to get pampered and I thought I would try and think a bit less about your mother but I kept seeing things and sights that just kept reminding me of her; some blonde hair out of the corner of my eye, her familiar scent and then a laugh that was just like hers. Then I saw something that caused me to faint in reception.’
This caused both of Bernie’s children to interrupt and check that Serena was ok. She confirmed she was, then said she needed to send a quick text before she continued her explanation. Message sent she sat back to continue her story.
‘Anyway, there seems to have been some confusion with the facts of your mother being dead, she was actually found alive recently but her memory was lost and she’d been receiving treatment and recovering from, well, traumatic events and was sent here for some time to herself.’
The two young adults just stared at Serena in disbelief, wondering whether her loss and grief had caused some kind of mental breakdown. Just as they were about to say something, Serena’s face lit up with love and the broadest smile they’d ever seen before.
Both turned and stared, their eyes large like owls at the sight of their mother walking through the door.
‘Hello both. Surprise.’