A/N: Alrighty so here is chapter 4 for you. So sorry for the late(r) update, but with my 21st birthday on the 5th and work and being out of town, life just got ahead of me! Hopefully this semi-long chapter will make up for it. Enjoy, and thanks again so much for reading!
*The middle of this chapter is rated M and may be a slight trigger for survivors of sexual assault*
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Chapter 4
Addison Montgomery was unlike any other patient Jake had ever treated. For one thing, when he met her he wasn't even his doctor; he was just a guy picking out fruit in the produce aisle, when out of nowhere a redheaded woman in a grey Yale sweatshirt asks him a question about pineapples.
"Hey," she had stammered, trying to get his attention while holding two pineapples. "Uh, how do you tell when these things are ripe?"
Whoever she was, she was beautiful. Clearly she was nervous, that much he could tell, but he actually found her stuttering surprisingly adorable in a "wow I could just kiss you right now" sort of way. Jake had walked over to the woman carrying the two pineapples, a small smile forming on his lips.
"Well," he said, leaning down to smell the pineapples – a fruit he honestly didn't even like – and instead getting a whiff of her perfume. He kicked himself internally for thinking this, but she smelled wonderful too. "Smells sweet," he said. "That's how you know…that it's ripe."
The woman smiled at him, and Jake almost went weak at the knees. There was something about that smile…something that made him wish he could see it every day…every hour, and every minute. He had absolutely no idea who she was but from the very first moment he laid eyes on her there was just something about her that had him…
He had visited that same produce aisle the next day too, hoping, however foolishly, that he would see the woman in the grey sweatshirt again.
"Get a grip, man," he told himself over and over. "She's not coming back…it was just a question about pineapples; there's no way she's thinking about you as much as you're thinking about her." But then, leaning against the handle of his cart next to a stock of oranges, he saw her. It took everything he had not to let his jaw drop to the floor; if he thought she was beautiful yesterday, she was nothing short of stunning today, dressed in a scoop-neck red dress that revealed her perfect skin.
She looked up at him and smiled again, that oh-so-perfect smile. Their carts stood next to each other.
"You come here every night?" She smirked.
"I couldn't get the idea of fresh pineapple out of my mind," he answered smoothly, impressing even himself. She laughed. "What about you? Do you come here every night?"
She shook her head, smiling slightly. "Nope."
Jake sighed, deciding to tell her the truth. "I lied." She gave him a strange look. "I hate pineapples." A knot formed in his stomach, thinking she would find him too forward or too…something else he had no intention of being. But instead, she laughed again, and Jake immediately felt himself relax.
And that did it; without even knowing each other's names they went on their first date together…if one could call it that. It was…probably the strangest date he'd ever been on, to say the least. They – or rather she – had decided right away to leave out all personal details, right down to their first names. Jake decided to go along with it; anything to make her feel more comfortable. She went on about wanting to "make a change" and not do any of the things she used to do when it came to dating and what not. It didn't seem like she had any cruel intentions, so again…he went along with it.
So much so that he saw her again, and again, and again…and then invited her to Fiji.
Now, months later, here they were working at the same medical practice. Him, and Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery; that was her name. There was a definite awkwardness in the beginning; he had gone in for an interview at Seaside Health & Wellness, a Santa Monica practice that was looking for a new fertility specialist, and lo and behold there she was. A doctor, running her own practice.
Then, once he learned of her desire to have a baby, she became his patient. Never mind the whole "being back with the ex-boyfriend" thing, Jake didn't like to think about that. For one, it was confusing as hell to him – how she could claim to love someone who consistently put her down for wanting a child of her own, who showed her virtually no support in her biggest dream. For another, he knew from the first minute he saw her that he loved her. He loved her, not Sam Bennett. Jake loved Addison in the way she deserved to be loved, yet she couldn't see it. Jake loved her so much he would have a baby with her, marry her…
He was patient with her, giving her the medical help and advice she needed, and told himself that he would wait; he would wait for her to be ready, to see that once she and Sam split – which they inevitably did after the second failed IVF – he would be the one there for her, still loving her.
And now that's where they were. Addison and Sam were broken up and was Jake waiting, all-the-while encouraging her not to give up on her dream, to try for surrogacy.
"You excited?" He asked her one morning as the two of them walked into the office kitchen. Today was her first day meeting potential surrogate mothers. Surrogate mothers who, Jake believed, would be a good fit for her.
"I…am cautiously optimistic," she said.
"Is today the day you meet the surrogate candidates?" Amelia asked, sitting at the counter.
"So I'm told," Addison replied.
"I've narrowed it down to a couple of women who I think would be a good fit for her," Jake said.
"Oh, no." Amelia sat up. "It's like when the guy buys you a sweater for Christmas; it's fluffy, tight, and low-cut. What women want and what men think they want are-"
"No, look there are certain criteria they have to meet," Jake interrupted, not wanting any negativity around Addison today. "They have to have given birth to their own child whom they are raising."
"You really want a car with all that mileage on it?" Amelia asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We have to make sure that she's gone through a healthy pregnancy devoid of all major complications," Addison said, sipping her coffee.
"Exactly," Jake said. "It's also essential that the surrogate knows how she's gonna feel being pregnant and giving birth."
"Makes sense," Amelia nodded. "You don't want her to run away with the baby or anything."
Jake cringed internally.
"Thank you," Addison replied sarcastically. "Thank you, Amelia. Now I can worry about that."
"Look, Addison, we're going through an agency. Everything's above board, there'll be a contract. You'll be fine."
Addison contemplated. "You're right. Because so far getting pregnant, IVF, adoption – it's all gone so swimmingly. I've been a smashing success on all fronts," she laughed ironically.
Even though he'd said this so many times, on so many different occasions, Jake wanted to tell her not to give up. There was something inside him that said Addison wasn't done yet, that she would eventually get it.
She would get everything she wished for.
The surrogacy process was a nightmare, Addison thought as she sat inside her office with Jake. Never mind the emergency case she had this morning with the potentially abusive husband – fantastic – Addison was finding herself in her own level of hell dealing with these nut job women who came in wanting to carry her baby.
Jake told her she was being too harsh, too particular, but what did he know? She told herself that yeah okay, he was just trying to help, but still…this was her baby they were talking about.
She remembered the first woman, Donna…
"I'm so sorry, I had an emergency surgery, I'm Doc-Addison, I'm Addison."
"Donna was just telling me about her husband, who's stationed on an aircraft carrier," Jake said, as Addison sat across the table from the woman named Donna.
"Oh, that's terrific," Addison noted.
"He's a navy pilot," Donna said quickly. "And we're proud but it's challenging. We have two great kids, ten and six, but they miss their dad and it's busy for me…"
Does this woman ever take a breath between words? Addison thought to herself, feeling overwhelmed already. "So uh…" she said. "Being a surrogate would…"
"Will help out financially," Jake finished. Addison nodded.
"Being a surrogate is noble, but it's a business," Donna continued. Addison just kept nodding, feeling increasingly uncomfortable by the minute. Did this woman just compare her baby to a business…? "You're a professional, Dr. Montgomery, you must recognize that I have a valuable skillset that I want to put to work for you."
Yeesh.
Now, Addison was preparing herself to meet the second candidate Jake had picked out for her. Of course, he was doing his best in trying to help her keep an open mind, but even still, Addison had a feeling as soon as she walked back in the conference room she was just going to find something else she didn't like…
"You have to go into this with an open mind," Jake encouraged her, the two of them leaving her office for the conference room.
"All right," Addison said exasperatedly. But as soon as she looked up and caught a glimpse of the woman inside, she got another bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. And this happened with every single candidate from then onward. It was a feeling she couldn't explain, to anyone really. Jake would just tell her she was being too picky, too judgmental, Violet had told her she doesn't necessarily have to pick the right one, she just has to pick a good one, and Sam…well Addison wouldn't know what Sam thought because he was off trying to find himself again…without her.
There was just something about these women; Addison couldn't picture any one of them carrying her baby. She was supposed to carry her own baby, just as she had twenty-nine years ago, with baby Alina…
Of course she had let herself wonder if baby Alina had anything to do with her issues finding a surrogate, but then she shoved all of those thoughts to the back of her mind. She was sixteen for God's sake, she shouldn't have wanted to keep her baby, and she hated remembering how her baby was conceived…that night at the prom…
May, 1982
Hartford, Connecticut
"What a geek," a fifteen year old Addison Montgomery heard Alyssa Larson sneer behind her back one morning after biology class. Alyssa was head cheerleader at her high school – Westdale Academy – and was very pretty, having dated over half the football team. Essentially, she was everything Addison wasn't, and wanted her to know it. Today, Addison had just gotten the highest score on their latest biology exam…102 percent.
Addison just held her books closer to her chest and continued down the hall to her locker, pretending not to hear the gaggle of girls snickering behind her. She should be used to it by now; with braces, somewhat unruly red hair, and a first-chair spot in the school marching band, the boys weren't exactly banging down her door. Still, she felt the sting every time one of those girls picked on her, called her a geek, a nerd, ugly…
"Hey," a bubbly voice came up from behind her. It was Addison's best friend, Sophie Bremmer, a lanky, mousy-haired girl who played the clarinet with Addison in band.
"Oh, hey Soph," Addison greeted her solemnly.
"What's your damage?" Sophie asked. "You ran out of class so fast…we all know you got an A on that test." Sophie nudged her shoulder.
"It's not the test," Addison sighed, squeezing her books again, just wanting to get to her locker. "It was Alyssa." For some reason, not even her best friend could cheer her up right now.
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to anything that bleached-out airhead says, she's just jealous that you've totally beaten her on every test this year…or probably of her entire life."
Addison chuckled, thankful for her friend's honesty in her time of need.
"Anyway," Sophie continued. "There's something I have to tell you."
She seemed excited. "Okay, dish," Addison told her.
"Jason Mitchell was totally making eyes at you today during biology class, I saw him." Sophie grinned. Jason was quarterback of the football team and the most popular boy in school; Alyssa had been pining after him for months, and he was definitely out of Addison's league.
"Get real, he was not," Addison rolled her eyes. Although inside she was squealing; maybe her best friend could cheer her up after all. Jason Mitchell?
"Amanda noticed it too," Sophie said, referring to another band member who had class with them. "He's totally going to ask you to the prom." Sophie looked like she wanted to jump up and down from excitement.
"Oh yeah, good one!" Addison said sarcastically, opening her locker. "People like Jason Mitchell don't go to prom with girls like me. And besides, I've already agreed to go with Skippy…" Addison finished her sentence quietly, already cringing at the thought of being arm-in-arm with Skippy Gold from math class, their braces getting caught together if he tried to kiss her…
"Oh Skippy-shmippy, this is the real deal!" Sophie squealed. "Jason Mitchell and Addison Montgomery, the hottest couple at Westdale," she said dramatically.
"Do you even know who you're talking to anymore?" Addison asked, turning to look at her best friend.
Sophie placed both hands on Addison's shoulders and looked her square in the eyes. "Yes I do, and I'm telling you, something's gonna happen. Big time."
Jason hadn't asked her to the prom after all. As Addison had suspected, he arrived arm-in-arm with none other than Alyssa Sharpe, who shot her a smug glance as the two of them walked by. Addison was of course partnered with Skippy – who luckily hadn't tried to lock their braces together yet – to no one's surprise. But, Sophie was right about one thing – Jason was making eyes at Addison…and he hadn't stopped, not even at the prom.
About halfway through she began to get butterflies, pretending not to notice Jason but feeling his beautiful blue eyes burning a hole through her forehead. What was he thinking, anyway? Didn't he think she was a geek like everyone else? Standing at the edge of the dance floor with Skippy, "Waiting for a Girl like You," by Foreigner had just come on and people were gathering to slow dance. Addison cringed, completely not in the mood. It wasn't that she didn't like Skippy Gold, they got along fine in math class, but…she didn't like him as a prom date.
"Hey, um, Skippy I think I'm gonna step outside and get some air," Addison said, giving him the most apologetic look she could muster.
"Are you okay?" He asked. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"No!" Addison said, eyes growing wide at the thought, before catching herself. "I mean…no. I'm fine, just a little warm is all."
"Oh, okay then," he nodded, giving her a sweet smile that made her feel indescribably guilty for feeling the way she did. "I'll just get us some more drinks then…be back in a bit?"
"Yeah, yeah definitely." She gave him a small smile before heading outside. The dance was in her school's gym; heading out toward the front of the school, she leaned against the porch railing and took a deep breath. Dressed in a sequined turquoise dress, she didn't feel ugly per se, she just felt…weird. Like something wasn't right, and then there was the fact that Jason had been staring at her for the past three days…
"Hey, Addison?" A male voice came up from behind her. Addison's heart skipped a beat…it was Jason. She turned toward him a little too quickly, trying not to swoon from the head rush.
"Jason," she breathed. "What are you doing here?"
"I just thought I'd get some fresh air," he said, standing next to her.
Addison raised an eyebrow. "Jason," she said again. "Really, what are you doing?"
"I'm not quite sure I follow," he responded with a slight smugness.
"Well for starters, shouldn't you be inside escorting Alyssa tonight?"
Jason chuckled.
"Also," Addison continued. "Why are you even interested in talking to me? We're not exactly in the same social circles, you know."
"All this talk about social circles," Jason said, smirking. "Can't a guy take interest in a beautiful girl without being questioned about it?"
Addison felt her stomach drop. Was he really talking about her? Was he really interested in her?
"Walk with me," Jason said, placing a hand on the small of her back and leading her out. Her skin burned underneath the fabric of her dress where he touched her. Her hands went clammy, and her stomach was crazy with butterflies.
"Oh-okay," she stammered, walking alongside him. It was a clear spring night in Hartford, the stars out and air crisp. They walked out toward the football field, the sound of the river flowing several yards behind the bleachers. Addison thought about her date, how he would be waiting for her back inside, but still she kept walking with Jason, her thoughts morphing into how she would explain this to Sophie. "Where are we going?" She asked.
"Just around," Jason shrugged. "I want to get to know you a little bit, Addison. You intrigue me."
"I intrigue you?" She asked. "Believe me I'm really not that intriguing…"
"Oh I think you are," he said. "You're smart; you beat everyone on that last biology class, you know?"
"Oh…did I?" Addison breathed, even though she already knew she had.
"You seem like a strong, independent woman and I like that," Jason continued, ignoring her. "Where are you going for college?"
"Um, Yale," Addison answered automatically. "My father expects it…"
"I'm a Harvard man, myself. Well, I'm going to be; my father is." Jason looked straight ahead as they walked, and Addison began finding him cockier and more smug by the minute. She wasn't sure she liked it at all.
"You interested in football, Addison?" Jason asked.
"Um," she started, knowing he wanted her to say yes. "Not really…but I'm in the marching band." She looked down and spoke quietly.
"Well," Jason said, taking her hand. "We'll just have to fix that, now won't we?"
Before Addison knew it they were standing next to the bleachers; it was quiet, no one else was around, and Jason – a good three inches taller than her – looked down at her.
"I…" She wanted to speak, to ask what he was doing, but soon his lips were against hers, silencing her. "Jason," she said against his lips, pushing against his chest with both hands. "Please…stop," she said once she could catch a breath.
"Mmm stop what?" He smirked. "I told you I wanted to get to know you better."
"Well, yes, but…" Addison tried to push away from him again, suddenly feeling very nervous; and it didn't help that they were the only ones around for quite some distance.
"So, let me get to know you, Addison." Jason's words were forceful, almost as forceful as his grip around her waist, his mouth against hers.
"No, Jason, stop!" Addison struggled. Jason was pulling her back behind the bleachers. She felt the tears sting her eyes…what did he want from her?
"Shh, shh…" he silenced her, lying her down on the ground. Already she imagined the dirt stains she would have to explain to her mother once she saw the dress. "Don't fight it."
"Jason, please, stop…stop it!" Addison cried as he held her down. Suddenly she felt the sting of his hand across her cheek.
"I said, don't. Fight. It." Jason said with gritted teeth. Addison started crying, hearing the tear of her dress, the unzipping of his pants.
"No, no…" she said, over and over, but no one heard her.
"Shut. Up!" Jason whispered in her ear forcefully. She felt like she was having an out of body experience, like she was watching this happen to someone else. This kind of thing didn't happen in upper class Hartford, Connecticut, and yet…and yet, it seemed to be happening to her.
February, 2012
Los Angeles, California
Addison had gone to work the next morning hoping for her cases to go by smoothly, to help distract her from the disaster that was meeting her potential surrogate mothers. Of course, whenever she wished for a smooth day, it always ended up being anything but. It started with Violet, yelling for help from the lobby for a (beat up) patient – Joanna – who Addison later learned was on the run from a potentially abusive husband. Violet of course had no doubt that the husband was responsible for Joanna's condition, but once Joanna could get a word out, lying on the floor of the Seaside lobby, all Addison could think about was the fact that she was pregnant.
They had rushed Joanna into the hospital, the first time Addison had been in there since her encounter with the emergency fellow Dr. Levin. She had no idea what it was about that woman – why she made so many mental notes about her, why she let her get under her skin so much, and finally, why the only thing she could think about besides the surrogacy and Sam and Jake was her.
"Thirty-seven year old female, unconscious with blunt trauma to the face and abdomen," the paramedic had shouted as he, Addison, and Violet pushed the gurney inside the ER. Addison had been on a one-track mind, only thinking of getting to the ultrasound machine to take care of that baby as best she could. But then she heard that voice again, that beautiful accent, and her mind clouded over.
"Wide-bore IV times two, cross and hold four units," Dr. Levin said, meeting them in the trauma room, again with Pete.
"She's pregnant," Violet said.
Pregnant…Addison regained her thoughts. "I need an ultrasound!" She shouted.
"And I need a brain scan and a trauma panel," Pete said.
"Her husband did this," Violet repeated. "I met Joanna six months ago in an airport. She was afraid to go back to New York because he hit her during an argument."
A pediatric specialist, of course Dr. Levin was on Addison's ultrasound almost immediately, already opening her mouth to speak. But Addison wanted to beat her to it. "There's blood in her belly. Baby looks about twelve weeks old."
"We should get the police," Dr. Levin said.
"She told you that he hit her again?" Addison asked Violet, ignoring the young doctor.
"She didn't have to," Violet said quickly.
"Dr. Turner, what's going on? I got a call." A man walked into the ER, and Addison knew immediately from the look on Violet's face that he was Joanna's husband.
"Who's that?" Pete asked.
"That's the husband. You should not be here!" Violet shouted menacingly.
"Oh my God how did this happen?" The husband asked, ignoring Violet and stepping toward the gurney.
"She was beaten badly," Dr. Levin said forcefully, the look on her face similar to Violet's, her cheeks paled. Suddenly Addison felt a surge of protectiveness wash over her that she couldn't explain; she didn't even think she liked this doctor all that much and yet the thought of this guy getting any closer to her made Addison want to punch him out.
"I need to be with her," he said.
"Uh, no, that's not gonna happen, you need to get out," Dr. Levin said, shaking her head tensely.
"I don't understand," the man said.
"We both know you did this," Violet told him. "You don't have to play innocent."
"What? No. No, look, when you talked to her at the airport and you made her stay, that was my wake up call. I got help, and I've been doing the work – anger management, therapy – Jo and I are doing so much better. I swear to you this wasn't me! I need to be with her."
The husband stepped forward forcefully and it was all Addison had not to body slam him to the ground. Fortunately, Pete beat her to it.
"Get your hands off me," the husband growled.
"Step back, back up," Pete shoved the man, starting what almost turned into a full on brawl before Charlotte came in with someone from security, putting a stop to what could have possibly ended his career.
After Joanna's surgery, Addison was exhausted. Of course it was complicated; first of all, she was bleeding, and badly. Then, the – potentially abusive – husband told Addison to give her a hysterectomy, no matter what, as he was her next of kin since she lost consciousness. And then, it turned out that Addison didn't have to do a hysterectomy after all; Joanna lost the baby, but she was able to safely keep her uterus, despite her husband's demand.
Meanwhile, Violet was in a complete tizzy about this guy, claiming she had spoken to Joanna in an airport months ago and Joanna had said she was afraid of her husband, that he had hit her during an argument. Because of that, Violet was so convinced it was him who hurt her this time around too.
Addison's head hurt, standing in the staff lounge and nursing a cup of coffee. She had enough on her own plate without thinking about all the battered women out there who deserved so much better than the hand they were dealt. All the babies out there who died because of abusive men.
She had surrogates to think about.
Dr. Levin had observed the surgery, standing close enough that Addison could swear she felt physically pulled to her. But she hadn't stayed the whole time; as soon as Addison had announced she could save the uterus, the young doctor had left the room without so much as a glance back at Joanna. It had left Addison curious.
"Hey," a quiet voice sounded from the corner of the room. Addison jumped; she didn't know anyone else was in there with her. Dr. Levin stood from her arm chair, still dressed in scrubs and holding a cup of her own; Addison took in a deep breath, meeting her gaze.
"Oh. Hey," she responded, sounding slightly more cheerful than was appropriate.
"Are you alright?" Dr. Levin asked.
"I…" Addison started, not entirely sure how open she wanted to be with this girl. "Yes. Thank you."
Dr. Levin raised an eyebrow, and for a moment Addison could swear she saw a reflection of herself. "Try saying that like you mean it."
"What are you, a shrink?" Addison chuckled sarcastically, but stopped short, noticing Dr. Levin's unwavering gentile expression. So different from the fierceness Addison had experienced just days ago. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Dr. Levin sighed. "I hate dealing with patients like Joanna too. But unfortunately it's just one of those things that comes with being a peds. doctor. Kids come in with bruises up and down their arms…they tell you one thing – that it's no big deal, they fell down the stairs – but then the next thing you know a woman comes in a week later, unconscious with a crying child on her tail…" Her eyes filled.
Addison stood there, frozen. It was all she could do to nod, trying not to let her mind wander to that night at prom, almost thirty years ago now.
"Is Joanna going to be alright?" She asked, snapping Addison out of her trance.
"Oh, yeah, yeah she is. You know she lost the baby but she…she'll make a full recovery," Addison said.
"I hope that means getting rid of that shit-head husband too," Dr. Levin muttered. "I will never understand how someone could hurt the person they claim to love like that…svoloch, ya nadeyus chto on idet v ad…" She continued to mutter in Russian, no longer even paying attention to Addison and refilling her cup with coffee.
Addison just watched her, momentarily flashing back to her prom night, and wondering if this young doctor had experienced the same thing…
"Did you-" Addison started, but had no idea how to word the question burning at the tip of her tongue without crossing a line.
"…and Joanna deserved to have her baby!" Dr. Levin continued, switching to English and still ignoring Addison. "And even on the off chance she didn't want to keep it because it was his, I'm adopted, I understand! I know how to help mothers in that situation!" She placed a hand on her hip, catching her breath.
Normally, Addison would have taken this moment to try and ask her question again, but she was too preoccupied with the word "adopted." Adopted; that was what her baby girl was too. But where she was now, Addison had no idea. She could be on the other side of the world, for all she knew. "I…you're adopted?" Addison asked.
"My parents adopted me when I was six months old. My birth mother couldn't keep me…my mother said she was 'some teenage screw-up' or something, but my mother is hardly ever right about anything, so…"
"I know the feeling," Addison chuckled, then her chest clenched. Her mother was no longer alive. "I mean…I knew the feeling." She looked down.
"Oh," Dr. Levin said, sitting back down. Addison did the same. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Addison said. "It was over a year ago now and we were never, we were never that close."
"I'm not close with mine either," Dr. Levin said. "Both my parents are Russian; not that that means anything, but we lived there for over half my childhood and over there, the culture…parents and children are not usually very affectionate toward one another. My mother takes that very seriously and expects nothing less than perfection from me, and is always yelling at my papa. My papa…he's the absolute sweetest person in the world. Again I say, I will never understand how certain people can be attracted to the one person who hurts them the most. My parents, Joanna…"
"Me and Sam…" Addison trailed off.
"I'm sorry?"
"Oh, nothing. Just, an ex-boyfriend I'm still trying to get over."
"Did he hit you?" Dr. Levin asked, seriously, sitting up in her chair.
"Oh God no. No no, not Sam. He just…wasn't right. I thought he was. I thought he was the one…after Derek and Mark, and the messy, messy love life I had here in LA, I thought I was done when we got together. Turns out I was very wrong," Addison said, sipping her coffee and becoming more and more surprised at how easy it was to talk to this girl.
"That's good," Dr. Levin said, exhaling.
Addison suddenly remembered her earlier question. "Were you…I'm sorry for how this sounds, but were you…ever with someone like Joanna's husband?"
Dr. Levin turned away, curling into herself. "Yes," she whispered after a moment. "Edward Sharpe, a lawyer, graduated top of his class from Harvard Law. I met him when I was in med. school there…my mother of course loved him. Papa didn't, like he knew something bad was going to happen before it did. It wasn't always bad though…at first he was great, supportive with school and everything; eventually we got engaged, but that's when he got really possessive over me, wouldn't let me go out with friends and such.
And then he started getting physical during arguments. When he broke my wrist last fall…that was when I knew I had to leave him. I think the only time I've ever heard Papa yell at Mother was when she told me I should have stayed with him and 'dealt with it.'" Dr. Levin sighed, sinking deeper into her chair. "Figures…I fell in love with someone who turned out to be exactly like my mother."
Outside Addison could hear the beeping of pagers and the intercom going off, but she paid no attention. After hearing the end of that story, she felt so much anger toward this girl's mother; as a woman who longed for a child, she could never understandhow a mother could tell her daughter to stay with a man who hurt her. If anyone ever hurt her child, broke her child's wrist, she would make sure he – or she – never saw the light of day again.
"I'm sorry," was all Addison could muster. "You didn't deserve that."
"Thank you," Dr. Levin nodded slowly. "It took a little while to realize, but I know you're right. Joanna didn't deserve that either. No one deserves that."
Addison thought back to a discussion she had with a former patient who was diagnosed early with Huntington's. "People should get to experience everything good that life has to offer; they should get to have someone who loves them…unconditionally."
The two women sat together in silence for a moment.
"It was actually very nice talking with you, Dr. Montgomery," Dr. Levin said, looking Addison in the eye. Right away Addison noticed the color of her eyes – they matched her own. "I'm sorry if our first meeting was kind of…"
"Me too," Addison said, cutting her off. "And…you should call me Addison. Anyone who tells me what you just did and is not a patient gets to call me Addison."
Dr. Levin smiled. "Well in that case." She stood up, sticking a hand out to shake Addison's. "You can call me Alina."
Sometimes when we were stuck, we would stop for a minute to rest, regain our strength…let the waves take us for a while. Even if we weren't going anywhere, it was still…
Sailing.
Reviews are always welcome. Thanks so much for reading!
