Chapter Text
It all started with a wallet. She had kicked it across the floor on her way to Pulses, mistakenly of course. Had flung it rather far, in haste to get her mid-morning expresso.
She found it under a chair, un-occupied thankfully. Quite dull to look at, but she figured it was good quality leather. Simple yet effective.
She opened it to find it devoid except for a driver’s license, a credit card and some cash, like the occupant had just bought it and had not completed the hand over.
The license read: WOLFE, BERENICE GRISELDA. And she had thought how posh.
The photo was old; this Berenice is due for a renewal she had murmured to the picture. She did a quick look around to see if anybody matched the photo, either she’s a staff member that had popped down for a quick drink, or a relative coming down to escape. But as she knew already, this person was long gone.
Someone nudged her arm and gestured to the waiting Pulses barista. She quickly stuffed the wallet into her pocket and ordered.
The rest of her shift on AAU went by fast but frustratingly, never a good mix. She never got the chance to ask the all-knowing porters about this Berenice. She doesn’t think she’s a part of staff because she would have gotten wind of the name at some point, but you never know, Hanssen could have hired someone recently. If she was a relative then there was a slim chance of ever finding her in the hospital.
In the hospital…. That gave her an idea. She could just mail the wallet. Being in the hospital lost & found would do no wonders for this wallet and its theoretical owner.
She smiled triumphantly as she gathered her belongings and headed off the ward. As she walked to the car she pulled out the driver’s license again.
She looked at the address on the card 260 Spindle Road. She punched it into her phone to see whereabouts this woman lived.
A bit far from the hospital, but still in Holby. I could just drop it off I suppose. No, that would just seem strange. Even the best of people would just mail it. Oh sod it, my day off is tomorrow, might as well do something interesting.
And that’s how she found herself on a strangers front porch the next day.
*****
Being a senior consultant meant that she often had Saturdays off. A luxury she always tells younger staff members who complain of Friday night hangovers. She rises late and nonchalantly starts her morning, planning on dropping off the wallet around lunchtime.
Jason is off at work already. Scheduled regularly on weekends, the way he likes it. Told her once that weekends used to consist of him helping his mother do miscellaneous tasks. Now that he doesn’t have those odds and ends to do, he likes to work. To keep himself occupied.
Whenever he speaks of his mother that way, it brings tears to her eyes. The mysterious sister I never knew, and never will.
*
She pulled up to a semi-detached house. Yes, quite posh. She double-checked that it was the right address before stepping out of her car. Okay, just stuff it through the mail slot and you can go get a nice meal in town.
She was about to slide the wallet into the slot when the door swung open.
“Oh, hello.” She says. A man stood in front of her eyeing her suspiciously.
“Can I help you?” He asks.
“Yes you can actually.” She smiles at him, despite his grim look. “I’ve got eh um--- Berenice Wolfe’s wallet?”
“Is that a question?” He grimaces at the sound of the woman’s name.
“No, no. I-I do have it.” Why is she nervous? She has her hand with the wallet half raised when he speaks again.
“She doesn’t live here anymore; she’s free to have her sordid affairs all the bloody time now.” It looks like he’s about to spit on the ground at that point and she makes to back away. “I can take it though. I can do something kind for her but she can’t do the same for me.”
“That’s… quite alright. If you could just give me her current address, I can pop it in the mail.” She gives him a nervous smile. He rolls his eyes at her, exasperation written all over his square-jawed face.
“No, I can take it.” He quickly reaches for the wallet at her side. She snatches her hand away and clutches the wallet to her chest. “Look ma’am---“
“Ms. Campbell.” She retorts.
“Ms. Campbell,” he says awfully slowly. “Berenice and I are in the middle of a divorce and we haven’t sorted our addresses yet. Well, she hasn’t… but I can give her the wallet next time I see her.”
“Mr. um, Wolfe—“
“God no, Dunn.” He rolls his eyes, mummers something about her career status being more important than taking his name.
“Mr. Dunn, I’d be more comfortable if I just gave it to her. I know how divorces are; I wouldn’t want to have Edward keep my wallet for some lee-way or blackmail.”
“Now, hold on,” She winces, too much I think.
“Sorry, didn’t mean for it to sound like that, the thought of my cheating Ex-husband brings up bad thoughts.” At this, Mr. Dunn relaxes. Common enemy I assume: deceivers. He walks to a small table near the door and writes down an address for her.
“She’ll eat you alive Ms. Campbell.” He passes her the slip of paper, holding her gaze with a smug expression.
“Yes, ahem, quite. Thank you.” She turns to go, catches ‘Probably a damn lesbi---‘ before the door shuts behind her. What is that supposed to mean?
*****
When she looked up the address on her mobile, she found it to be fairly close to her house. About two streets away to be exact. Odd coincidence.
Since she was closer to the heart of town, she decided to have some lunch and do some shopping.
After a nice meal at a small bistro, she walks to a clothing store. Not chic in any way, more so the styles she likes to wear.
After trying a couple blouses and trousers on, she decides on the items she wants. It only takes a few minutes of negotiating – not arguing – with the store clerk to give her a slight discount stating that the ‘buy one get one half price’ should apply to both her tops, even though they weren’t in the same section.
“Thank you Cathy, I will recommend this store to all my lady friends.” She smirks at the young girl. She hears a snort behind her, and turns when the woman speaks.
“I’m sure all your lady friends will love the ‘discount’” The woman puts air quotes around the last word. The woman looks familiar but she can’t put her foot on it.
“Love a bargain,” She tells the woman. “Speaking of bargain, Cathy, I believe the two tops this woman is holding have the same discount.”
“Yes,” Cathy takes the woman’s items. “These ones actually fall under the same discount.”
“So did mine,” she whispers quietly. The woman pulls out cash to pay for her items whilst holding a smile. “Well, lovely to meet you Cathy, and um—,“ She looks to the woman with the blonde curls.
“Bernie.” Raises her hand for a handshake.
“Serena.” She says, taking Bernie’s hand, holding her gaze.
“Okay ma’am, your items. Have a nice day.” Cathy says. Breaking their concentration on each other.
Bernie gathers the bag and follows Serena out the door. “Those are nice blouses you bought Serena, if you don’t mind me saying.”
Serena clears her throat. “Not at all. One of the perks of being a consultant. Get to wear my own clothes. I don’t have to wear ghastly scrubs all day.”
“Oh, you’re a doctor?” Bernie asks, surprise in her voice. When Serena nods she asks, “What hospital?”
“Good old Holby,” Serena tells her. “Consultant on AAU.” They fall into step with each other.
They walk together across the square, multicoloured shops surrounding it on three sides. Neither of them speak for a while, both enjoying the unhurried pace.
Serena glances from the corner of her eye at this woman she just met. All she really took in at the shop was a mop of blonde hair and soft eyes. From what she can see now – very subtly, mind you – is that Bernie looks to be about her age, and looks very good for it. I wonder what she does for a living to keep up with her age like that.
Bernie casually speaks as if she just drilled into Serena’s head and peered down into her thoughts, “I’ve just started at Holby, the other month. I’m down in ED.” Serena almost chokes at that statement. Hiding the surprise with a cough and a huff of a laugh.
“I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other then.” Doesn’t say anything more on the subject, thinks that this Bernie woman’s not the type to like interrogation-esque questions about her whole life.
They approach the car park where Serena’s Saab is parked. “Ah well, here I am.” Serena sees that Bernie isn’t walking to any cars around them. “Are you parked at this lot?” She asks.
“No, no. Came by bus. Lost my wallet with uh—my license inside. Didn’t want to risk driving without it.” Bernie says sheepishly.
“Ever the law bearer.” She thinks for a moment before tilting her head to the side with a questioning look, “You lost your wallet you said?”
Bernie nods. “Yeah, don’t know how it happened. Might have lost it in the hospital. It figures, it was new.” She pouts a bit at that point. “Only had my license and credit card and ca—“
“Cash,” Serena finishes softly.
“Yes,” Bernie squints at Serena. “How did you…?”
Serena digs into her handbag, picking out the leather wallet. “I knew because, I believe this is yours.” She wiggles the wallet in the air before placing it in Bernie’s hand. “Bernie is short for Berenice I presume? And Griselda, hmm lovely.”
“Yes well, you should have met my mother. Antoinette, and so it goes,” Serena raises her eyebrows at the name. “Yes, I know. As posh as they come.” And Serena thinks, is this woman mapping out my brain.
They stand smiling at each other until a car alarm in the distance goes off.
“This is all very strange Serena. What are the odds? Thank you for the wallet. It was at the hospital then?” Bernie seems jumpy as she talks, as if she shouldn’t be here, with Serena. “Yes, um. I better be heading home now.” She walks away, heading for the bus stop near the car park.
Serena doesn’t move. Stands there and watches as Bernie walks farther away. Yes, this is strange. But didn’t I want this day to be interesting? She decides then to change how this’ll end.
“Bernie!” She calls out. Bernie stops, but doesn’t turn around. Forced to yell at her back Serena says, “I know this is strange, but let me drive you home.”
“You don’t know where I live.” Bernie moves until her side is facing Serena. Fringe covering her face.
Serena chooses not to tell Bernie that she’s already been to her house, well, her old house, with her old husband... and has her new address. She speaks softly, “You can show me, I don’t mind. It is Saturday after all.” And at that Bernie looks up. A faint smile on her lips. “Could do with a nice drive.” She adds, although she knows that Bernie’s address is very close to her own.
After some more encouragement – on Serena’s end, Bernie does NOT want to be burden, even offers to pay for gas, which Serena declines profusely — they both get into the car and while she starts the engine Bernie says, “I could be a serial killer or something, preying on women with rather good taste in blouses.”
“Not with a name like Berenice you aren’t.” She pulls onto the road and they both share a genuine laugh. Is she… honking? This is interesting.
*****