Chapter 7
In my version of the 'Diagnosis murder' world, Delores and Norman both now live in New York and work at the same hospital.
I wanted to include all the characters (Jack is gonna make an appearance too) as I wanted to include a part about how Amanda feels about her surrogate family.
2 day's later, Amanda was in New York. She knew that Mark was right, she needed time away to get her emotion's in order.
Steve and Mark were going to talk to a woman called Helen Grangier. She was Iris' next of kin. She lived in a care home just outside of Malibu. Mark hoped that she would be able to answer some questions about Iris' past.
Alex had taken C. J and Dion camping on the beach (outside of the beach house) so she didn't have to worry about the boy's.
Amanda walked out of the airport and saw two people she hadn't seen in a while, running towards her.
Delores and Norman.
Amanda smiled. She had always thought of Delores as an aunt; who was wise and smart and knew exactly what to say and do in any given moment.
And Norman, even though he was neurotic and in a permanent state of anxiety and panic, Amanda had always shared a bond with him. He came to her for advice. He was like an uncle to her.
The three hugged and shared "Hello's" and "you look well", and before long, Amanda was sitting in the kitchen of Norman (and Delores) home.
It was a pleasant coincidence that Norman's promotion, from saving the hospital from an insurance company, was at the same hospital that Delores had been working at, after moving to New York to be closer to her ill sister.
It was a shock when Delores and Norman fell in love, and got married a year ago.
Amanda told the couple about her discovery, as they had lunch.
"I am sure that this woman had her reason's for doing what she did," Delores said.
Amanda nodded, "I hope so. All I think is that she gave me away to save her career".
"You can't think like that", Norman told her. "You can't take it personally".
Delores hit her husband's arm. "What kind of idiot are you?", she asked him. "This is about Amanda. It is personal to her". She shook her head, "Why did I fall in love with you?"
Amanda laughed. She knew, despite the petty disagreements, Delores and Norman loved each other very much.
" No, he's right", Amanda said. "I don't know anything about Iris' life, except about her job. I hope that Steve and Mark can get some answers for me".
"If anyone can, it's Mark", Norman replied.
"How is that hunk of your's anyway?", Delores asked, referring to Steve. "You set a date for the wedding yet?"
Amanda nodded, "We were thinking of Christmas", she replied. "With it being April now, it will give us plenty of time to arrange everything".
"And Mark and Madison? "Norman asked.
" She's still in Chicago with her kind-of- step-daughter", Amanda replied. "With a new baby, and being a widow, Madison worried that it would send her on relapse . Luckilly, she's doing great. Mark misses her, but they talk all of the time".
Delores nodded," I wouldn't be surprised if they are next to get married after you and Steve".
"I wonder if DR. Stewart will ever settle down", Norman said, quietly. "I never saw him as the settling down type".
Amanda agreed. "He would settle down if the right woman came along, but I don't see that happening any time soon".
"But he's a good man", Delores added. "He's a bit of a player with the ladies but he's not a killer or anything like that".
Amanda smiled. "I was lucky", she said.
Norman looked at her, with a puzzled expression. "You were abandoned by your real mother, yet you think that you are lucky?", he asked.
Amanda knew that it was a crazy way of thinking but she didn't care.
"My adoptive parent's love me very much", she reminded them. "And my surrogate family, Mark and all of you, I have another family that loves me, and I love them. If Iris had raised me, I might not have been who I am today".
