Chapter 13
The Meaning of an Embrace
"Hey Meredith! Wait!"
They arrived at the hospital where Derek's mother is being treated. Hearing their voices, Derek turned around in front of the hospital. "Meredith!"
"Derek..."
"You really came... I'm sorry... i know you were looking forward to that art show..."
"Don't worry about that now, how's your mother?"
"Her surgery's almost over. According to the doctor, it shouldn't take too long, so..." Derek trailer off.
"Meredith?" Derek's sister comes over to us as we're talking. his sister look s surprised to see her here. "my goodness.. you came all this way?"
" I'm sorry not to call first. I just heard that Derek's mother wasn't doing well, so..."
She smiled. "sorry to worry you. she's out of surgery now, I'm her room."
"really?!"
"that's a relief..." Amelia spoke up.
"can we talk to her?" Derek asked.
"yes, they told us to go talk with her when see wakes up... let's all go together."
"let's go, Meredith."
"okay" Derek took her to his mother's hospital room.
Everyone arrives in the hospital room. Derek's father and sisters surrounded his mother, who was lying in bed.
"mom.." Derek said softly.
"mom, are you alright?" Amy asked.
"Derek...Amelia... and Meredith..."
"nice to see you again." Meredith smiled.
Derek's mother's voice is weak, but she has good color in her face. Everyone sighs in relief.
"we were so worried, Ma" Derek sighed.
"I was fine until yesterday, but then i suddenly felt sick this morning...i feel a little better now, though. Thankyou for coming everyone. Thanks to this surgery, i get to see all of you."
"I'm sorry i haven't visited you more..." Derek apologized.
"It's fine. You're a busy lawyer, right? A lot of people are relying on you. Work hard for them, not me."
"Ma..."
"And please look after him, Meredith."
"I will" She nodded firmly to her words.
She then felt a piercing gaze on her and turned around. She found Derek's father giving her a severe look. She started to get a little uneasy, when he sid to her, "Can i have a word with you, Meredith? I wan't to talk to you about something. Let's go outside"
"Okay..."
Everyone else is gathered around the hospital bed, talking. She followed Derek's father out into the hallway.
"It's nice to see you again. I'm sorry i didn't say hello to you sooner"
"Forget about that for now." As patients and nurses walked passed them, Derek's father stared her down. "I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
"I'll get straight to the point...Just what dud you say to Amy?"
"Huh?"
"She stayed at Derek's apartment a little while ago, right?" He clarified.
"She did, but she went home after a few days..."
"That's par for the course with her. She runs away from home whenever she's unhappy, and goes to Derek's place. She cones back after awhule, and does as i say as if nothing happened. But not this time...She came back, but won't listen to my orders. She's saying she won't work for a company, and that she'll live off of her paintings and other rubbish... I've been asking myself what coyld have changed...and the only thing is...you."
"Me...?"
"Since you've shown up, she's changed. Not only that, even Derek is on her side.
"Well..."
"It's the same with Derek. He never defied me before. He would always do as i say. But now, both Derek and Amy are... just what do you think you're doing to my children?!"
"But, i..." Meredith attempted.
"Don't lead my kids down the primrose path. Becoming an artist is a ridiculous, unattainable dream..."
"...Dad!" Derek came out of the hospital room. He saw her talking to his father and walked over to them. "I was wondering what was taking you so long...what are you two doing?"
"We're having an important conversation" Derek's father said.
"An important conversation?"
"I was asking her to stop encouraging Amy to pursue those silly dreams of hers. "
"What did you just say?" Derek's face flushed. "What are you taliing about, how is it her fault?!"
"D-Derek, calm down..." She saw that Derek was getting mad.
" Amy changed after staying with you. After spending time with Meredith, to be exact. It must be her fault."
"How dare you...that's a horrible thing to say to her!" Derek's voice rose.
"How dare you speak to me that way. Have you changed after soending time with her, too?"
"You may be my father, but i can still get angry with you..."
"Be angry, then. But, have i ever been wrong?"
Derek's face turned bright red at the impudence of his words. When she looked down, She saw Derek's hands are balled into fists, trembling in anger.
This is not good
Yes. You have been wrong."
"What?"
"Just now...you're wrong for accusing her. Meredith isn't like that. I know that kore than anyone."
"Oh, you do, do you"
"I do. Because...i'm her fiancé!"
"Derek..." She breathed.
Derek met his father's gaze, sparks flying between them. After an extended silence. Derek looked away, and took her hand. "Let's go, Meredith"
"But..."
"Wait, Derek."
"I've had enough of this, let's go."
"Derek!" His father's firm voice echoed down the hall. Derek took her by the hand and walked away, without so much as a glance back.
000
They've come to a park near the hospital. As they sat on a bench, Derek muttered, "Meredith...sorry. I probably made you feel awful back there..."
"It wasn't your fault. I was a little surprised...but, I'm fine. So, please, don't make that face anymore...?"
"I'm really sorry." Derek slumped over, sighing deeply. "my father's already been like that. he's already so strict on his kids... Especially with me, because he said I'm the only boy, and i have responsibilities... you can grow up, but your parents always see you as their kid."
"that's true for everyone. My parents are still worried about me, too."
"but my father goes too far. His words 'Have i ever been wrong'? talk about arrogant..."
"But that's how much he loves you."
"Huh?" Derek looked at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
"He acts like that bevause he loves his son...You know, this strange woman suddenly appears out of nowhere."
"You're not that strange."
"And if he didn't love you...he wouldn't have raised you the way he did. You're kind to everyone, and you always think of others before youself...If you weren't brought up with lots of love, you wouldn't have grown up to be such a great person."
"Mer..."
After staring at her for a while, Derek let out a sigh. "...thanks. My father doesn't know anything about you. "
"hm?"
"I guess i know you pretty well, Meredith. Better than him, anyway. Derek smiled kindly.
She looked down shyly, and saw their shadows lengthening on the ground. The sun is setting, straining everything wuth the colors of the sunset. "it's evenung already huh..."
"It's almost 5... It's almost time for mom to be having dinner..."
oh
She suddenly remembered something.
"Oh no.."
"What's wrong?"
"I ran out of the art show without explaining anything to Mark! He's probanly worried...i'll give him a call." She quickly pulled out her phone. Just as she started to call him...
"Meredith..." Derek took her by the arm, and pulled her close. Next thing she knew, she's wrapped in his arms, resting againsts his broad chest.
He doesn't say anything and just held her tighter. She doesn't know what to do either, so she stayed in his arms, unmoving.
"...Sorry" Derek suddenly let her go. He seemed unsure of what he just done, and had a nebulous expression on his face. "I'll...go ahead back to the hospital...i'm really sorry." His cheeks are slightly red as he walked away.
What was that? she thought. And why?
He heart started pounding. On her arms, her back, she can still feel Derek's embrace. As hesitation and a glimmer of hope found their way into her heart... she gazed at Derek's back as he retreated into the distance.
Next week...
Unable to ask Derek why he hugged her, she passed the days with this weird distance between them.
"W-who is this...?!"
Could Derek have an illegitimate child?!
Hope you enjoy this chapter, one step closer~ Currently kinda stuck on how this story will end, so i'll just keep writing and see how it goes. Don't forget to review!