Chapter Ten
Meredith entered the house, a grocery bag tucked under her arm. The nanny met her at the door, carrying Ellis.
"Hey baby girl. How are you feeling?" she kissed her forehead, relieved to feel it still cool. The little girl eagerly went to her mother.
"Do you mind if I have some time with them?" she said to the nanny.
"No, of course not, Dr. Grey! It will give me time to finish putting away the laundry."
Meredith smiled her thanks, and the nanny headed up the stairs.
"Hey, guys!" she said, trying to sound as cheery as possible. Look what I got!" She took the item from the shopping bag, revealing a half gallon ice cream container.
"Ice cream!" shouted Bailey, who she noticed was wearing a pink tiara. Meredith couldn't help chuckling to herself. She would definitely make sure he got his truck time.
Zola regarded her mom more carefully. She was young, but smart. Her mom didn't come home during the day, and she certainly didn't bring ice cream in the middle of the day. Something was wrong.
"Come on, guys! Let's go have some ice cream!" She started for the kitchen, but noticed Zola wasn't moving. "Come on, Zo!" she said brightly.
"No. Something's wrong." She was afraid to move. The last time there was ice cream for no reason it was Uncle Alex bringing it to tell her that her mom had been hurt. She took a quick inventory. She didn't know who was hurt, but it could be her aunts or it could be Uncle Alex. Whoever it was, she didn't want the answer.
She set Ellis down in her playpen, and setting the ice cream on the table, sat down next to her oldest daughter.
She stroked her face gently. "Sometimes I forget what a smart girl you are."
Zola's breathing quickened, and she was fighting the urge to run from the room.
Seeing her daughter's distress, Meredith continued.
"Something happened, but it's okay now. Uncle Alex…"
"No!" she screamed. Not her Uncle.
Meredith gathered her quickly in her arms, surprised by the reaction. "Zo Zo, he's okay. He's okay!" she repeated it over and over until she calmed down. Bailey had returned from the kitchen, and watched with tears in his eyes. Ellis watched the scene, alarmed.
"What h-h-happened?" she said, between sobs.
"He fell, and hurt his neck a little. That's all." Meredith felt terrible. She had failed at not scaring her "He's the one who told me to get ice cream for you."
Zola calmed down. "Really?"
Meredith brightened. "Really, Zo. I wouldn't lie to you." She stared earnestly into her daughter's dark brown eyes.
After a minute, Zola decided she was telling the truth. "Okay."
Meredith let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding.
"Okay," she repeated. "There's something I want to talk to you about. Do you want that ice cream now?"
Zola nodded. If Uncle Alex had told her to bring it, it was okay.
They went in to the kitchen, Meredith gathering Ellis up along the way, and put her in the highchair in the kitchen. She went about the business of getting the dishes and spoons for the ice cream, hoping the next part of the conversation went better.
Once they had all been settled with their ice cream, Meredith began. "I've been thinking about Uncle Alex. He does a lot for you guys, doesn't he?"
"Yeah, he always helps me with my homework, and makes breakfast and plays with us," Zola started.
"And loves us," Bailey added sweetly.
She tousled his hair. "He sure does. That's what I want to talk to you about. How would you like it if he was more than your Uncle?" she struggled with the phrasing.
"You mean like a dad?" Zola asked, a spoonful of ice cream hovering halfway to her mouth.
"Your dad will always be your dad. But I was thinking maybe he could be your legal guardian."
"What does that mean?" Zola asked.
"Well, it means that everything stays like it is now, but he would be able to make decisions for you guys if he needed to."
Zola took a bite of ice cream. "Do I still call him Uncle Alex?" she said thoughtfully.
"You can call him whatever you would like."
Bailey watched his sister. Ellis ate her ice cream, or at least tried to. She was wearing more of it than she had eaten.
"How about Daddy Alex?" She decided.
Meredith's eyes instantly filled with tears. "I think he would really love that, Zo." She said quietly.
Zola grinned widely. "When is Daddy Alex coming home?" she asked.
"Oh, not for a few days, sweetie. He has to wait for his neck to get a little better."
"Can I see him?"
"Maybe in one or two days. He needs to rest right now."
Zola nodded, finishing her ice cream. "I have an idea!" she jumped out of her chair and took off for the living room.
Meredith turned her attention to Ellis, and seeing the ice cream all over her, she laughed, then grabbed her phone. "Ellis, look at Mama!" Ellis smiled, more ice cream spilling out of her mouth. "Oh, that's perfect!"
"What about me, Mama!" She turned to see her only son making a silly face, ice cream all around his mouth.
She laughed heartily and took his picture, too. "Daddy Alex is going to love that!" She said, relishing the new moniker. She couldn't wait to tell him.
She started cleaning up, and several minutes later, Zola came back to the kitchen.
"I made this." She held out a construction paper card. The front featured a picture of a family in front of their house. She had to hold back tears, as it was the first time since Derek had died that she had drawn a dad.
"Open it, mom!" she said, excitedly.
Inside the card, printed as neatly in crayon as she was able, it said "Get well soon, Daddy Alex! We love you! Love, Zola, Bailey and Ellis."
Meredith was unable to hold back the tears any longer. She crouched down to her daughter. "Oh, Zo, this is so beautiful!" She wrapped her in a hug.
"Do you think he will like it?" She said.
There's only one thing he will like more," she said, handing her the card. "A picture of you with the card." She took her phone back out. "Say cheese!"
"How about I say Daddy?" she said.
The view got blurry, as Meredith snapped the picture through tears.
