Chapter 16

Darius

I called Ruddy in.

“ Sir ?”.

“ This does not leave this office.”

“ Yes sir”.

I opened the drawer and pulled the binder out. The one she had. I pulled the phone out and handed it to him.

“ Verify these pictures and documents “. I said

“ Yes sir”. After he left , I heard the little barks. He ran into the office when Ruddy opened the door. I bent down and picked him up.

“ Hey buddy. I saw your mommy today, she's still the same. Do you Miss her?.,Do you want to see her?”.

I heard a knock on the door.

“ What?”. The door opened and Marlene came in.

“ Old Mrs Cirano is here to see you sir” ,she said quietly.

It's been five years and Marlene refuses to forgive me . Normally if I did something she didn't like She would scold me or reprimand me. The night McKenzie left Marlene changed. She never said anything unless she had to, she Did her job and nothing else. It was as if I wronged her.

I got up and went to the living room.

“ She said you gave her permission to speak to me?”.

“ Yes”.

“ Okay, I'll go see her now “.

Everyone in my family was giving me the Cold shoulder because of her. They stayed away from me , never saying anything about her or anything else. I stopped going to the family house and they didn't ask me to.

“ Take Marlene with you and take Cerberus. But make sure he returns “. I said looking at her.

“ Marlene?”.

“ Yes Mr Cirano ?”.

“ You're going out with my grandmother, take Cerberus with you and make sure he returns with you “. I said looking at her.

“ Yes sir”.

I went back to my office and sat there going over some work. I saw them leave.

McKenzie

I called Cynthia and told her he gave me permission. She asked me where I was . I told her my address. At seven that evening when I opened the door Cynthia was standing there along with Marlene.

She had him. Marlene grabbed me and started crying.

“ Marlene I'm okay, I'm fine ” ,I said through tears.

“ I'm sorry, I couldn't do anything “ She said, handing me my baby. He kept him all this while he kept him. I kissed his head and he started barking wildly, licking and kissing my face.

“ I'm happy to see you baby. Yes I missed you too”.

We walked into the living room and closed the door. Cynthia kept looking at me.

“ What happened, McKenzie. I know you and I know you're not capable of doing something like that”. She said, looking at me.

I told her what happened that night,the pictures I received and how I left.

“ So you had no idea what was in the binder,or what you were being accused of?” Cynthia asked.

“ No. I thought maybe if he thought the worst of me he would let me go. Jasmine liked him, that night when he accused me she was smirking, Cynthia and at that moment I realized everything started falling apart the minute she showed up so I didn't deny it I just took it all and left”. I said looking at them.

“ Why didn't you say something, even to me McKenzie “ ,Marlene said.

“ I didn't want a confrontation . Marlene , Cynthia I'm okay really I am. I'm Now a Dr. I achieved my dream. I'm not happy but I'm content with the quiet life I have. Cynthia let Darius be ,Let him be happy please. Marlene I'm sure you've been angry with him please relent and don't be mean to him. I'm okay with everything now. I forgave him a long time ago,you should too”. I said looking at them.

“ Okay. I won't mention anything about this to him. I'm happy you're here and you're okay. I can live with that”. Cynthia said

“ I'll come over on weekends and cook for you. I'll leave it in the fridge. Don't try to talk me out of it” , Marlene said.

“ Okay “.

“ McKenzie,send me those pictures ” .

“ Cynthia please don't do anything “ ,I pleaded with her.

“ I won't. I promise ” ,She said

“ Okay ” ,

I sent her the pictures I had received,why I kept them I will never know.

Darius

I saw Marlene walking into the house as I was leaving the kitchen. She put Cerberus down and he ran back towards the doors if he was waiting for someone.

“ What's with him?” , I asked her. I knew I wasn't going to get a snarky reply Which would have been normal.

“ He was just with her. He expects her to follow him. What else? I'm going to bed”. She said ,I watched her walking away. One conversation with her and she was back to normal.

“ Cerberus come on buddy she's not coming ” ,I said to him. I never knew a dog could be disappointed. He walked slowly over to me with his head down. I picked him up.

“ You'll see her again buddy,I promise okay,but she's not with us right now and you have to accept that”.

Great, I was explaining my complicated life to a dog.

The next morning I left early. I needed to see Grayson before I went to the office. Ruddy was busy so Zach was standing in today. When I got to the hospital I saw Ms Mitchell. She walked past me as if I didn't exist. What the Fuck was wrong with these women. When I walked in Graysons room she was there.

“ Finally, you're here” ,he said, smirking at me. She didn't look up from what she was doing. The same guy was next to her and I felt my ire rise.

“ Hey doc, do I still look good?” Grayson asked her.

“ No ,why do you think I ordered the nurses not to let you in front of a mirror. The main thing is that you're alive “ She answered so calmly that even I believed that lie. I saw Grayson's face going pale. I wanted to laugh at him.

“ D get me a mirror now” ,he said looking at me.

“ Mr Paul, Dr Pierce is messing with you. There's nothing wrong with you. Only a patch of hair has been removed from the surgical area ” ,The guy beside her said.

“ Damnit Kenzie, don't scare me like that. So how have you been?”. He asked her. The guy beside her looked at me then at her.

“ We're done here. I'm heading up to radiology. I need to get some reports. I'll see you later “. He said then walking out. she was still busy writing god knows what.

“ So ,how have you been, McKenzie?” ,he asked her again. She was checking his bandages.

“ You're my patient Mr Paul,so if it has anything to do with your surgery or recovery I can answer. I don't. I… I..cant . I don't have permission to speak to you “.She said quietly. Grayson looked at me with his damn puppy dog eyes. For fucks sake.

“ You can speak to him “ ,I said ,the words burning my mouth as they came out.I walked back out of the room and stood by the door. Why was I fucking relenting. I heard them talking.

“ I'm fine Grayson. I am “.

“ Who's the dude that was here? He looks kinda young for you “. Grayson always knew what to ask and when to ask.

“ Bryan? Oh God no. The night I left I was a mess. It was raining and I was just tired and crying. I ran into Bryan. He was around sixteen at the time. He helped me ,he told me everything would be fine,he helped me get to Zara's place. A few days later I saw him again,he lived at the orphanage so I did what I could for him. He wanted to become a doctor so I supported him”.

“ I see ,so no relationship?” Grayson asked.

“ No Grayson and if you repeat a single word to anyone I'll make sure you suffer in pain and not give you any pain medicine”. She said,

“ One last question “

“ Okay,the last one “.

“ Do you still care about him?”. I wasn't expecting that question.

“ Do you want me to tell you a lie or the Truth Grayson?”. She said,

“ Lie to me “ ,I could tell he was smiling..

“ No. Now you should relax. I need to check my other patients”. I moved away from the door and walked down to the end of the corridor. He asked her for a lie and she said no. She still cares . why does she still care when I did and said all that to her?.

I was about to walk back into the room, when she came out. She didn't look at me , just kept her head down and continued walking. I found Grayson sitting and smiling.