Closure To A Life of Mystery
Chapter 2
The rest of Kerry's shift passed uneventfully and before long it was seven and time to go home. As she made her way out the doors she heard someone calling her name. "Dr. Weaver, wait up!"
Abby came up beside Kerry, out of breath. "Dr. Weaver, I was just wondering if you wanted to get something to eat, it would make time pass a lot quicker until that guy arrives tomorrow morning." Kerry thought for a second. "Sure, but on one condition. You have to call me Kerry, no more Dr. Weaver!" Abby agreed and they made their way to a small restaurant a couple blocks from the hospital.
Over dinner Kerry told Abby what she remembered of her life. "I know I lived at an orphanage but most of that life is just a blur. When I was seven, the Weaver's adopted me. They told me that my new name would be Kerry and along with a new name I would start a new life. Because there had been so many kids at the orphanage I didn't have anyone to give me extra help and over the four years I became completely confined to a wheelchair. The Weaver's brought me back to America and took me to numerous doctors. They couldn't figure it out they suspected maybe polio. I started physio and as I grew stronger I was able to get out of the chair and start walking. I also started school. When I was 22 I moved back to Africa until I got offered this position and now, here I am!"
Abby listened to the story, fascinated. There was so much about this woman that was hidden. "Okay Kerry, that was amazing, I never knew or even suspected any of what you told me. Now its my turn." Abby went on to tell Kerry about her life growing up with an abusive father, a mentally ill mother who was bipolar and a brother she practically raised herself. She told Kerry of her struggles as an alcoholic and how she was starting to turn back to alcohol. She also told Kerry that her dream had always been to be a doctor but that it had been cut short after her husband stopped paying her tuition.
Now it was Kerry's turn to be amazed. "Abby, I never knew any of this, I knew there was something wrong with your mother but I never knew it was anything of this magnitude."
Both women felt a connection to the other. They had both started out rough lives but managed to work hard and have successful careers. They ate a light dinner at the restaurant and decided to just go to Kerry's for coffee. As they walked out of the restaurant, Kerry looked at Abby, "thanks again for this friendship, it means a lot to me."
When Kerry and Abby got to the station to take the El, Kerry moved up the stairs slightly slower then most but nothing major. Nonetheless, a man behind them started yelling obscenely, "Move it along up there people. What are we dealing with? It must be either an old person or a cripple! Don't you know there are institutions for people like you?" Abby looked at Kerry and was amazed that she somehow held her composure. She just ducked her head and kept going. Abby was shocked, the words stung her and she wasn't even the target. Once they were on the El, Kerry glanced at Abby and tried to smile but it couldn't mask the pain. They eventually got off at their stop but until then Kerry was silent.
Once they were safely off and on their way to Kerry's, she started talking again. "I know what you're thinking Abby, you're wondering why I didn't defend myself to that man." Before Abby could reply, Kerry continued. "The reason is, there is no point. That man is the image of much of the world. They freak out and can't handle it when they see someone who is different. All through childhood I was teased so I learned to deal with it. Now, I just ignore it as much as I can." Abby nodded. "I wish I could understand, but I don't." Kerry smiled. "Anyways, enough of this, lets go make coffee and enjoy ourselves."
They walked in together and Kerry immediately turned the AC on, the house was hot and sticky after being closed all day. She leaned her crutch at the kitchen door and continued in. Abby was surprised, seeing Kerry walk unassisted looked so strange to her. Abby could also tell that Kerry wasn't comfortable, she had an awkward sway to her walk as she overcompensated with her good leg. "Need a hand Kerry?" "Nah, I've got it, we can go in the living room while it brews." She finished up and they had just sat down on the couch when an odd beep resounded through the room. Kerry smiled. "The answering machine, I always forget to check it." She pulled herself up and swayed to the other side of the room. She hit the play button and sat back down. The monotone operator voice informed her that she had one new message.
"Hi Kerry, its Nick calling. Just letting you know that my plane lands at 8:30 tomorrow morning. So, provided there are no delays, I'll be at your house by 9:00. See ya then."
Kerry looked over at Abby. "Twelve hours Abby, then I will finally know some answers." She sighed happily. When the coffee was ready, Abby insisted on getting two mugs. The two of them sat on the couch and just chatted. The time flew by and before either of them knew it, it was nearly one o'clock in the morning. Abby mentioned that she should get going, there was just enough time to catch the next train.
"Abby, that's just dangerous. I'm not letting you wander around Chicago in the middle of the night." The maternal instinct every woman possesses flared up in Kerry. "I have no choice, I'm not paying the ridiculous cab fare." Kerry thought for a second. . "Ok Abby, You have two choices, you can let me pay for a cab or you can crash here, the couch pulls out." Abby sighed. "I'm not letting you pay but you aren't going to let me leave so I guess that leaves option B." Kerry nodded. "Good girl."
She grabbed her crutch and leaned on it while she popped the hide-a-bed out. It was already made. "There's a facecloth and a toothbrush you can use in the cupboard under the bathroom sink, I'll grab you something to sleep in." Abby thanked Kerry again but Kerry said it was the least she could do after all the support Abby had offered her.
Abby headed into the washroom and Kerry went into her room to get ready for bed. She set her alarm for 7:30 and settled down in bed. She decided to go straight to bed tonight and not read. Falling asleep instantly, Kerry prayed the morning would come soon.
Meanwhile, Abby had a little bit more trouble falling asleep but she eventually began to doze a little. Soon enough, sunlight began to filter in the window and Abby awoke to the smell of coffee. She slipped her scrub pants on under Kerry's long t-shirt and headed into the kitchen. Kerry handed her a cup of coffee. "Sleep well?" "Yea.not bad. Its quieter here then in my neighbourhood." Kerry just smiled. "Do you want breakfast?" Abby just shook her head. "Nah, I'm not much of a breakfast eater." "Tsk tsk Abby, don't you know it's the most important meal of the day?" Abby just shrugged and said she didn't buy that. Glancing at the clock Abby noticed it was already 8:30. Thanking Kerry for her hospitality, Abby left to start work at nine. Just after she left, Nicholas Williams' car pulled up and there was a knock at the door.
The rest of Kerry's shift passed uneventfully and before long it was seven and time to go home. As she made her way out the doors she heard someone calling her name. "Dr. Weaver, wait up!"
Abby came up beside Kerry, out of breath. "Dr. Weaver, I was just wondering if you wanted to get something to eat, it would make time pass a lot quicker until that guy arrives tomorrow morning." Kerry thought for a second. "Sure, but on one condition. You have to call me Kerry, no more Dr. Weaver!" Abby agreed and they made their way to a small restaurant a couple blocks from the hospital.
Over dinner Kerry told Abby what she remembered of her life. "I know I lived at an orphanage but most of that life is just a blur. When I was seven, the Weaver's adopted me. They told me that my new name would be Kerry and along with a new name I would start a new life. Because there had been so many kids at the orphanage I didn't have anyone to give me extra help and over the four years I became completely confined to a wheelchair. The Weaver's brought me back to America and took me to numerous doctors. They couldn't figure it out they suspected maybe polio. I started physio and as I grew stronger I was able to get out of the chair and start walking. I also started school. When I was 22 I moved back to Africa until I got offered this position and now, here I am!"
Abby listened to the story, fascinated. There was so much about this woman that was hidden. "Okay Kerry, that was amazing, I never knew or even suspected any of what you told me. Now its my turn." Abby went on to tell Kerry about her life growing up with an abusive father, a mentally ill mother who was bipolar and a brother she practically raised herself. She told Kerry of her struggles as an alcoholic and how she was starting to turn back to alcohol. She also told Kerry that her dream had always been to be a doctor but that it had been cut short after her husband stopped paying her tuition.
Now it was Kerry's turn to be amazed. "Abby, I never knew any of this, I knew there was something wrong with your mother but I never knew it was anything of this magnitude."
Both women felt a connection to the other. They had both started out rough lives but managed to work hard and have successful careers. They ate a light dinner at the restaurant and decided to just go to Kerry's for coffee. As they walked out of the restaurant, Kerry looked at Abby, "thanks again for this friendship, it means a lot to me."
When Kerry and Abby got to the station to take the El, Kerry moved up the stairs slightly slower then most but nothing major. Nonetheless, a man behind them started yelling obscenely, "Move it along up there people. What are we dealing with? It must be either an old person or a cripple! Don't you know there are institutions for people like you?" Abby looked at Kerry and was amazed that she somehow held her composure. She just ducked her head and kept going. Abby was shocked, the words stung her and she wasn't even the target. Once they were on the El, Kerry glanced at Abby and tried to smile but it couldn't mask the pain. They eventually got off at their stop but until then Kerry was silent.
Once they were safely off and on their way to Kerry's, she started talking again. "I know what you're thinking Abby, you're wondering why I didn't defend myself to that man." Before Abby could reply, Kerry continued. "The reason is, there is no point. That man is the image of much of the world. They freak out and can't handle it when they see someone who is different. All through childhood I was teased so I learned to deal with it. Now, I just ignore it as much as I can." Abby nodded. "I wish I could understand, but I don't." Kerry smiled. "Anyways, enough of this, lets go make coffee and enjoy ourselves."
They walked in together and Kerry immediately turned the AC on, the house was hot and sticky after being closed all day. She leaned her crutch at the kitchen door and continued in. Abby was surprised, seeing Kerry walk unassisted looked so strange to her. Abby could also tell that Kerry wasn't comfortable, she had an awkward sway to her walk as she overcompensated with her good leg. "Need a hand Kerry?" "Nah, I've got it, we can go in the living room while it brews." She finished up and they had just sat down on the couch when an odd beep resounded through the room. Kerry smiled. "The answering machine, I always forget to check it." She pulled herself up and swayed to the other side of the room. She hit the play button and sat back down. The monotone operator voice informed her that she had one new message.
"Hi Kerry, its Nick calling. Just letting you know that my plane lands at 8:30 tomorrow morning. So, provided there are no delays, I'll be at your house by 9:00. See ya then."
Kerry looked over at Abby. "Twelve hours Abby, then I will finally know some answers." She sighed happily. When the coffee was ready, Abby insisted on getting two mugs. The two of them sat on the couch and just chatted. The time flew by and before either of them knew it, it was nearly one o'clock in the morning. Abby mentioned that she should get going, there was just enough time to catch the next train.
"Abby, that's just dangerous. I'm not letting you wander around Chicago in the middle of the night." The maternal instinct every woman possesses flared up in Kerry. "I have no choice, I'm not paying the ridiculous cab fare." Kerry thought for a second. . "Ok Abby, You have two choices, you can let me pay for a cab or you can crash here, the couch pulls out." Abby sighed. "I'm not letting you pay but you aren't going to let me leave so I guess that leaves option B." Kerry nodded. "Good girl."
She grabbed her crutch and leaned on it while she popped the hide-a-bed out. It was already made. "There's a facecloth and a toothbrush you can use in the cupboard under the bathroom sink, I'll grab you something to sleep in." Abby thanked Kerry again but Kerry said it was the least she could do after all the support Abby had offered her.
Abby headed into the washroom and Kerry went into her room to get ready for bed. She set her alarm for 7:30 and settled down in bed. She decided to go straight to bed tonight and not read. Falling asleep instantly, Kerry prayed the morning would come soon.
Meanwhile, Abby had a little bit more trouble falling asleep but she eventually began to doze a little. Soon enough, sunlight began to filter in the window and Abby awoke to the smell of coffee. She slipped her scrub pants on under Kerry's long t-shirt and headed into the kitchen. Kerry handed her a cup of coffee. "Sleep well?" "Yea.not bad. Its quieter here then in my neighbourhood." Kerry just smiled. "Do you want breakfast?" Abby just shook her head. "Nah, I'm not much of a breakfast eater." "Tsk tsk Abby, don't you know it's the most important meal of the day?" Abby just shrugged and said she didn't buy that. Glancing at the clock Abby noticed it was already 8:30. Thanking Kerry for her hospitality, Abby left to start work at nine. Just after she left, Nicholas Williams' car pulled up and there was a knock at the door.