For the next few months, Meredith began focusing more on getting her second location ready. She's planning on having it opened by summer, which isn't that long away if you think about it. She had it painted and new flooring and lighting installed by mid January. She also had new counters installed by February. Now she's looking for furniture and decor since the major things are done.
"I kind of like this table." Meredith said, flipping through a catalog. "With these chairs. What do you think?"
"I think you shouldn't be asking me." Derek said.
"Well you're building a house. You must have some expertise."
Yes, Derek decided to go through with his original plan when buying his piece of land, and began the process of building a house. He worked with his contractor with designing it, and agreed on a two story, Classic Victorian style, with an open floor plan.
"I don't do decor, which reminds me. You'll need to help me pick furniture when the house is finished."
"Of course I will." Meredith made marks in the magazine and glanced off at Derek on his laptop. "What are you working on?"
"A possible clinical trial that could shrink inoperable brain tumors. But it has never been tested on humans so I'm trying to find as much research on it as possible; see if there's a great possibility that it'll work."
"Are you doing it by yourself?"
"Probably get a resident to help me; but overall, yes." Derek said. "It's going to be a long painful process."
"I hated when my mother was working on a clinical trial." Meredith admitted. "I would rarely see her. She would always spend her day and night at the hospital. She wouldn't leave until she was successful."
"So where were you then?"
"I had a nanny. But when I was old enough, I would stay at home alone. I remember throwing some crazy parties as a teenager."
"Oh really? What would these parties include?"
"Tequila." Meredith admitted. "You can blame my absentee mother for me getting involved with tequila. Ever since, nothing has ever gone right when tequila and I are involved with each other."
Derek shook his head at Meredith. "I might be getting involved with someone way over my head."
"Trust me, I'm more tamed now." She laughed. "I wouldn't want you to know high school/ early twenties Meredith."
"Well now I kind of want to know her. Can she make an appearance?"
"You don't want that."
"Why not?"
"I don't think you could handle her."
"Oh really?" Derek had a full grin on his face. "I think I can."
"Well she's not coming back to existence." Meredith said. "And that's final. We're done with this conversation."
"Well you're no fun whatsoever." Derek laughed. "I think party Meredith and I would get along quite well."
"Too bad we won't ever know."
Ellis Grey had showed up to The Village Cafe, which surprised Meredith. Her mother doesn't usually come there, so Meredith wondered what she wanted. Meredith brought her mother a coffee and then sat down with her at a table. Ellis wanted to talk.
"I'm planning on stepping down as chief. "
"What? Why?" Meredith asked.
"I've been getting forgetful lately. I couldn't remember the steps to a simple procedure I've done thousands of times."
"Everyone is forgetful mom."
Ellis shook her head. "I was tested. I am in the early stages of developing Alzheimer's. I'm hoping it won't advance fast."
"Wait, what?" Meredith was confused. "Are you going to retire then?"
"I'm going to say I'm stepping back from surgery to travel. Nobody needs to know my diagnosis. It's embarrassing, so I need you to promise to keep it a secret; not tell anyone. Can you do this for me?"
"I don't want to, but if that's what you want, I can."
Ellis and Meredith talked more about her diagnosis. Ellis is going to look for a home, because she knows Meredith won't be able to care for her when she get's to the extent where she'll need it. She also told her she will be working on her will so Meredith won't have to go through obstacles trying to get her mother's affairs in order when she dies; not saying she's going to die anytime soon. Ellis just wants to be prepared for her future while she's still sane and able to.
Meredith was sad for the rest of the day. She hated to hear that her mother has Alzheimer's just because she knows how awful that disease is. Meredith never thought her mother would get Alzheimer's, never once. She thought her mother was healthy and would die one day from old age. But now knowing this diagnosis, it all makes sense. Meredith was thinking about a few months ago when her mother started to act different. She didn't think much of it; thinking her mother was just not caring, but it was all the beginning of the disease. Sometime in the future, her mother won't remember who she is, and that will break Meredith's heart when that day comes. The worse part about it all, though, is Meredith having to keep this a secret; meaning she has to go through this all alone.
Meredith went home and was happy to see Doc hadn't made her house a mess. Lately Derek has been sleeping over, hence why Doc is here.
"Jump up, Doc." Meredith patted a spot beside her on the couch. She figured since she can't tell anyone about her mom, she could tell Doc. Meredith just really needed to talk to someone about this, and Doc was the best option without breaking her mother's promise. "You're a good listener, aren't you?"
Thanks for all the great reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying this story, but sadly it'll be ending very soon. I'm hoping I'll have all the chapters up by the 27th because then I'll be busy with college. But then again, I might want to be mean to you all and make you wait for the final chapter because it's an epilogue that comes right after a cliff hanger in the chapter before it :p
I won't be doing a sequel for this story; or at least I wasn't planning to just because I'm happy with how it ends. I already began the sequel for 'Accidental Life' and the sequel choice that won in the poll is following Meredith's and Derek's teenage children. I really like how the first two chapters are that I kind of want to post it now, but then I know I shouldn't. I was thinking possibly when my Thanksgiving break comes in November, I'll post the first chapter, so you'll have to wait until then unfortunately.
I'm going to shut myself up now, and say bye. So, see you in the next chapter :)
