Chapter 37
Ashley sits in her room replaying in her mind the argument that unfolded between her and Dr. Taylor. She's brought out of her thoughts when she hears her name announced over the Center's intercom system. "Ashley Davies you have a visitor in the visitor's lounge… Ashley Davies you're wanted in the visitor's lounge." Ashley leaves her room wondering who would be in the visitor's lounge wanting to see her. Most people visiting would just come to her room. As she enters the lounge she sees Mr. Van Der Meir waiting in a chair.
"Ashley how are you?" He asks taking her hand giving it a gingerly shake.
"I'm good Mr. Van Der Meir."
"I've been keeping up with your progress and I'm very pleased, very pleased indeed. The therapy with your hand is coming along quite well. I've also noticed you've been seeing a psychiatrist. Is that working for you?"
"Yes it went well. I ended my sessions with her today."
"Are you ready to do that Ashley?"
"Yes, she said coldly."
"Oh! Well I'm sure if Cynthia felt you needed more therapy sessions she would have said so."
"Cynthia… Cynthia Taylor, you know her?"
"Oh, yes she's my brother's daughter and a damn good doctor. She was an excellent surgeon, somewhat like yourself, but she had an accident that ended that career. Uh, I mean she changed her field of medicine. Her accident didn't end her medical career. She's a very good psychiatrist. I'm sorry Ashley I didn't mean to say that your career was over because of your accident."
"I understand what you were trying to say Mr. Van Der Meir. So if Cynthia Taylor is your niece, that makes her Alex's cousin," Ashley said astonished.
"Yes, but they don't speak, so there's no need to worry about them talking to each other about you and Spencer."
"Yes well I hope you're right. You and I both know how determined Alex can get when she tries to get information on things that are none of her business."
"Yes you're quite right. Clearing his throat, so I guess you're wondering why I'm here?"
"To fire me," Ashley said half joking, remembering Aiden had told her he was coming.
"Hmm! No, no of course not. Here's the deal. I know you're still having therapy sessions for your hand, so doing surgery right now is out. I've talked it over with the hospital board and they agreed that with all the surgical knowledge you have stored in that brilliant mind of yours we would like it when you do come back to the hospital, you come back as an instructor… an attending. You can work the emergency room's rotation schedule if you like, but the board wants you to instruct our incoming surgical residents on the different aspects of surgical techniques. We think you would make an excellent teacher Ashley. The hospital still has a waiting list of interns and residents who want to do their residency at the hospital because you're one of the surgeons. Of course you won't be doing any actual surgeries but you'll be in the operating room giving instruction and we'll renegotiate a new contract for you, which means a new title and more money. Would you be interested in doing that Ashley?"
"I… I don't know what to say Mr. Van Der Meir. I thought I would come back to the hospital and get on the rotating schedule to work the emergency room only. But to get a chance to teach surgical residents the different techniques of surgery, wow!"
"So what do you say?"
"Yes, yes I'll do it."
"Good, very good. Dr. Dennison mentioned to me that you might be getting out of here in two weeks. But it depends on your progress so when they do release you from here come see me and we'll get your new contract drawn up and signed."
"That would be great. I'll call you when I get a release to go back to work."
"Ashley I wasn't going to bring this up but I feel we need to clear the air."
"Oookay! I guess you want to talk about Alex. You don't want me to press charges against her? Is that why you offered me this position so I would be obligated to you Mr. Van Der Meir?"
"No, no Ashley that job offer has nothing to do with my daughter. That offer is what the board wanted to do and I agreed with them. You are a brilliant doctor and we would be crazy to let you go. Do you realize if we can get one resident to perform surgeries as good as you did, how much money the hospital would get in grants for studies. No Ashley you've earned that position. I just wanted to tell you that Alexandra will not be brothering you anymore. Her mother and I had to send her away. She kind of had…well she had a nervous breakdown. We sent her to a clinic in Switzerland. The doctors there say she's going to need a lot of extensive therapy."
"Oh! Well that is unfortunate Mr. Van Der Meir. What brought on the nervous breakdown?"
"The police were trying to connect her to Carmen's incident against Spencer. They told her they knew she had conspired with Carmen to do harm to Spencer and she was going to do hard time in the penitentiary and I don't mean the kind that Martha Stewart was in. She couldn't take it. She just started chanting your name over and over. We had to call the doctor to sedate her." Wardell had to turn away from Ashley to wipe the tears that had fallen from his eyes. "It was so sad Ashley. It was one of the saddest days of my life, having to put my daughter away like a crazed animal. She's in a catatonic state and they don't know when she's coming out of it. I thought you might want to know so you wouldn't be looking over your shoulder waiting for her to pop up."
"Thanks for telling me and again I'm sorry."
"Goodbye Ashley, I'll see you soon." "Most definitely, Mr. Van Der Meir."
Ashley's POV
Mr. Van Der Meir looks like he's aged twenty years, I thought as I watched him leave. It saddens and angers me to think of the unnecessary pain that their daughter was putting them through. I like Mr. Van Der Meir and his wife. They were very kind to me when I was dating their daughter. I'm also angry with the situation I now find myself in with Dr. Taylor, Spencer and Aiden. I have to be careful, I don't want to lose my friendship with Aiden but I also have to protect Spencer.
Cynthia Taylor is Alex's cousin. That's how she knows Alex. I knew that was Alex she was talking to on the phone the other day but how do I tell Aiden this? He already thinks I'm paranoid about her and to tell him she's been lying to him, he will never believe me. I don't know if I'll friendship can handle this new information but he needs to know.
/
"Cynthia's what's wrong, what's going on? Have you seen Ashley today?"
"Yes, she fired me Aiden."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"She no longer wants me as her doctor."
"Why not?"
"She says she doesn't trust me as her doctor."
"That's bullshit Cynthia, Ashley still needs help."
"Perhaps, but it will not be given by me Aiden."
"Come on let's go to my office." "Dr. Dennison can I get you to sign this order?" A nurse asked.
"Cynthia just have a seat in my office, I'll be right back."
I can't be here. I don't want Aiden to find out what happened. At least not today, not now, Cynthia thought. I've got to get out of here. Maybe I can get passed him while he's busy with the nurse.
Cynthia gets up to leave.
"So," Aiden says as he bumps directly into Cynthia trying to leave. "Cynthia where are you going? Here have a seat. You're not going anywhere until you tell me what happened between you two."
"Aiden I don't think I should discuss this with you. I was her doctor and eventhough she fired me, I cannot discuss her case with you. Besides you're her friend."
"Yes, but I'm also your lover and I care about you. So I would like to know what she said to you to make you so distraught."
Cynthia remained silent looking at her hands resting in her lap.
"Okay, than I'll tell you what I think she said. She thinks you're in love with or attracted to Spencer," he said looking at her. "And that you are only seeing Ashley at this stage with her therapy to get closer to Spencer. Am I right?"
Cynthia nods her head hesitantly confirming Aiden's guess.
Knock, knock.
"Aiden I need to talk to you about…" Ashley sees Cynthia in Aiden's office, noticing that her eyes were red and puffy.
"Oh! Sorry to interrupt, I'll come back later when you're alone."
"Ashley stop and get your ass in here, close the door."
"Aiden I think…,"Cynthia began to say but was interrupted.
"No, Cynthia, we're going to clear this up right now. Ashley what the hell is wrong with you? Did you actually accuse Cynthia of being in love with Spencer?"
Ashley looks at Cynthia who eyes were downcast. "Yes, Aiden I did. Because she is, aren't you Dr. Taylor?"
Cynthia said nothing with her eyes still downcast not looking at Ashley or Aiden.
"I could tell him myself Dr. Taylor but I think it would be better coming from you."
"What is she talking about Cynthia?"
"Aiden… I…," shaking her head. "I'm so sorry. Ashley was right. Somewhere in time I began to fall in love with Spencer. I can't tell you the rhyme or the reason, it just happened. I couldn't believe I was feeling those feelings for her. I needed a distraction, I thought so when you asked me out and that date ended with us in my bed, I thought great. I'm not gay. But I didn't think of you when you were making love to me. I thought about those blue eyes staring into mine. It was Spencer's eyes making love to me, not yours Aiden."
"But Cynthia you were so… so passionate when we were physically together, when we made love. You couldn't have faked that."
"All I had to do was close my eyes Aiden and imagine you were Spencer, hugging me, caressing my skin. Imagining it was her fingers setting me on fire. I wanted that afterglow Ashley had after she and Spencer made love. I was jealous that Ashley had that and I wanted it."
Ashley remained silent while Cynthia continued her confession to Aiden.
"I wanted Spencer, Aiden. I wanted Spencer enough to try and sabotage the relationship Ashley had with her. I was very insensitive to yours and Ashley's feelings. I'm so very sorry."
"Fuck Cynthia I was in love with you, I laid my heart out there for you and all you did was stomped over it. I was going to ask you to move in with me. How could you play me like this? I loved you."
"Aiden I…"
"No! I don't want to hear anymore."
"Aiden please believe me, it wasn't you it was me. I'm very sorry, just know that I did love you a little, it wasn't all faked. You're a fantastic lover, any woman would be proud to have you."
"And what about knowing Alex, Dr. Taylor? And don't try to deny knowing her, I've already talked to your Uncle Wardell," Ashley said.
Cynthia glares at Ashley. "What? When did you talk to him?"
"Today, about an hour ago. He had high praises for you as a doctor. Too bad he doesn't know the real you."
With a defeated sigh, "yes I know Alexandra, she is my cousin and yes she wanted me to give her information about you and Spencer. Ashley I only told Alex to leave you and Spencer alone. There was no way she would be able to come between you two. I never discussed your case with her. Alex and I are not on the greatest terms as far as cousins go. She can be an annoying selfish bitch sometimes."
"If you told Alex that than why were you trying to come between Spencer and me, when you knew you didn't have a chance?" Ashley asked.
"I don't know, my attraction for her got the better of me. I couldn't think straight. I can easily give advice to others but when it comes to me, I'm sometimes unwilling or too stubborn to take my own or anyone else's advice." Cynthia takes a step closer to Aiden to hug him but he stepped back from her embrace.
"Goodbye Cynthia."
"Aiden," she said with a sorrowful look in her eyes… "goodbye. Ashley please tell Spencer I'm sorry."
"Yeah."
Cynthia walks out the door, but not before taking one last glance in Aiden's direction. Seeing his back was still turned away from her, she quietly walks out.
"Aiden… I'm sorry," Ashley began to say.
"Leave me alone Ashley."
"Aiden."
"Please!… just go Ashley. I need to be alone right now."