Mark Greene's memorial service was well attended. It was heart rending to
see Elizabeth left with such a small child. Most of the mourners thought
about Ella and Rachel. The loss of their father was devastating. Ella
would never know what she missed and Rachel would send the rest of her life
thinking about everything she was missing. Elizabeth was numb. Her mother
had handled everything. Elizabeth slept walked through the service, the
people at her home and finally the realization that Mark was gone hit her.
She knew what she had to do, what needed to be done. She tried to call
Peter Benton to discuss her plans to have another person, a parent, tell
her she was not being selfish. He was never available. Finally it hit her
the one person that she could tell her plans to that would be honest with
her without being emotional.
She walked into Robert's office and sat down.
"To what is this pleasure due?" He said then quickly added, " How are you? We didn't get to talk after the memorial. You know you can take all the time you need, don't rush into getting back here. You are needed, but do what you need to do first."
"Thank you Robert that is very considerate of you. But believe it or not I need advice."
He was shocked, why come to him. The only real discussion they had had in weeks had been when he had comforted her in the lounge the night she had found out about the reoccurrence of Mark's tumor.
"I need you to be completely honest with me. I want to go back to England. I am sick of living in that house with all the memories, good and bad, but I don't want Ella to lose the only link she has with her father. Rachel still has her mother, but I also don't want to deprive the girls of a relationship. I want to go home. I want to be in familiar surroundings. My father had offered a position with him. I am torn between what I want to do and what – Oh Robert I am so confused and tired and " She began to cry.
"Lizzie, now is not the time to be making life changing decisions. You are not in any state mentally, physically or emotionally to make this type of decision. Mourn your husband give yourself time to heal and then make the decisions about the rest of your and Ella life. See someone talk to a therapist. Don't rush into something you may regret after you have come out of this fog of grief you are in now" He said
"You're right, I haven't thought of it in those terms."
"There is a cycle of grief you have to go through. Don't rush it, get help and stay put. I know a psychiatrist that specializes in grief therapy, see him."
"How do you know this, I'm grateful, but how do you know this. " She asked confused by the depth of his understanding and concern
"When my wife died I felt this way. Dr. Keene and I had gone to medical school together. Before he made me get into therapy, I made some foolish choices and rushed into decisions I regret now." He said softly.
"I never know, oh Robert" She reached out and touched his hand. "Give me the man's number, I can't believe I'm saying this but you're right." She stood to leave and he handed her a card. They stood at the door of his office for a few minutes letting the discussion they had sink in. Elizabeth reached out and embraced Robert and kissed him on the cheek.
The Elevator door opened and John Carter walked out. He looked at the two of them. Elizabeth walked away, but Robert and John locked eyes. Before Robert could say anything, John stepped back on the elevator.
She walked into Robert's office and sat down.
"To what is this pleasure due?" He said then quickly added, " How are you? We didn't get to talk after the memorial. You know you can take all the time you need, don't rush into getting back here. You are needed, but do what you need to do first."
"Thank you Robert that is very considerate of you. But believe it or not I need advice."
He was shocked, why come to him. The only real discussion they had had in weeks had been when he had comforted her in the lounge the night she had found out about the reoccurrence of Mark's tumor.
"I need you to be completely honest with me. I want to go back to England. I am sick of living in that house with all the memories, good and bad, but I don't want Ella to lose the only link she has with her father. Rachel still has her mother, but I also don't want to deprive the girls of a relationship. I want to go home. I want to be in familiar surroundings. My father had offered a position with him. I am torn between what I want to do and what – Oh Robert I am so confused and tired and " She began to cry.
"Lizzie, now is not the time to be making life changing decisions. You are not in any state mentally, physically or emotionally to make this type of decision. Mourn your husband give yourself time to heal and then make the decisions about the rest of your and Ella life. See someone talk to a therapist. Don't rush into something you may regret after you have come out of this fog of grief you are in now" He said
"You're right, I haven't thought of it in those terms."
"There is a cycle of grief you have to go through. Don't rush it, get help and stay put. I know a psychiatrist that specializes in grief therapy, see him."
"How do you know this, I'm grateful, but how do you know this. " She asked confused by the depth of his understanding and concern
"When my wife died I felt this way. Dr. Keene and I had gone to medical school together. Before he made me get into therapy, I made some foolish choices and rushed into decisions I regret now." He said softly.
"I never know, oh Robert" She reached out and touched his hand. "Give me the man's number, I can't believe I'm saying this but you're right." She stood to leave and he handed her a card. They stood at the door of his office for a few minutes letting the discussion they had sink in. Elizabeth reached out and embraced Robert and kissed him on the cheek.
The Elevator door opened and John Carter walked out. He looked at the two of them. Elizabeth walked away, but Robert and John locked eyes. Before Robert could say anything, John stepped back on the elevator.