Chapter 13
"I hate Mondays," Emily directed her statement at the laminated top of the nurse's station, folding her arm to support her fallen head.
Elizabeth furrowed her brow as she listened to her friend. "That bad already?" she asked.
Emily looked up from her temporary shelter. "It just seems there's a lot of clean up work to do from weekend hospitalizations. You know…the weekends are always busier and the night shift seems to admit so many more patients…which I guess makes sense," she trailed off. "But Monday's suck, don't you think?"
"Yes, Em, Monday's suck," Elizabeth stated, placating her friend, because for Elizabeth every day in recent memory was taking on a certain degree of suckiness.
Emily waved her hand, dismissing herself. "Ugh! Listen to me ramble on when you're the one…" she looked sympathetically at her friend. "Let's do lunch so you can unload."
"I don't really have anything to unload," Elizabeth lied, to herself or to Emily she wasn't sure.
Emily scoffed, "Oh, come on Elizabeth…this tough-as-nails routine might work on others, but not me," she stated.
Elizabeth laughed, "I am so far from tough-as-nails."
"See," Emily slapped the countertop, "That's why we're having lunch."
"I can't believe you didn't call me," Emily stressed as she sat in the chair across from her friend. "What did you do all weekend?" she asked, looking around to be certain the break room was empty.
Memories of Friday night flashed through her mind and Elizabeth felt her cheeks redden. "I'm sorry Em, I just needed some time to think," she stated as she fiddled with her lunch. "I've been making so many rash decisions lately that I decided to take it easy and just lay low. I tried yoga," Elizabeth lifted a slender shoulder and expressed a half-hearted chuckled.
Emily sighed. "Elizabeth…you should have called me," she said, her voice laced with concern.
"What do you know?" Elizabeth asked, grimacing.
Emily cocked her head, "Patrick knew Ryan was going to end things, but I swear he didn't tell me," she rushed. "When you guys didn't come to brunch yesterday, he filled me in."
Elizabeth lowered her head then lifted her eyes to look at her best friend. "That's it?" she asked, holding her breath, afraid Emily knew just how much of an ass she'd made out of herself.
"Yeah, why?" Emily asked, looking perplexed.
"Nothing," she stated, shaking her head. "Isn't the fact that he dumped me enough?" Elizabeth asked rhetorically, breaking off a small piece of her sandwich and placing it in her mouth.
Emily reached out to touch her friend. "Elizabeth?"
The touch caused Elizabeth's eyes to water with unshed tears. "I'm a mess," she stated with a shrug and a weak smile.
"Maybe you and Ryan can work things out?"
"Oh…I seriously doubt that will happen," Elizabeth stated. The dejected look on Ryan's face was seared into her memory.
Emily considered her friend for a moment. "Elizabeth, does this have anything to do with Jason returning to town?" she asked, furrowing her brow.
Elizabeth licked her lips. "No…Yes…I don't know," she groaned. "Ryan doesn't know about Jason. I mean, he obviously knows who Jason is and that he was my boyfriend, but that's it. I didn't tell him Jason was back in town. It shouldn't matter."
"But it does."
Even though it sort of sounded like a question, Elizabeth knew it wasn't. Placing her hands over her face, she moaned, then peaked through her fingers at Emily. "I feel like I've been running around like a damn chicken with my head cut off," she stated as she ran her hands down her face.
"Elizabeth," Emily waited for her friend to look at her, "I saw the tears in your eyes last weekend and I know how hard it was for you when he left town. How much he meant to you."
A tear escaped Elizabeth's lower lid, she quickly swiped it away. "I pushed him away. I did. I was so angry that he lied to me…didn't trust me." She sighed.
Emily looked at her compassionately. "Look, there's obviously unfinished business between the two of you."
"I can't change the past Emily," she stated, shaking her head.
Emily perked up slightly. "I know," she paused. "But maybe if you just talk to him you can put it to rest."
Elizabeth released a breath, "Talk…I don't know. It's just – it's just so complicated."
"No it's not. You two loved each other once. You were as close as two people could be. And even before then you were great friends. You could always talk to Jason," Emily implored.
Elizabeth's thoughts drifted. "He won't forgive me," she murmured.
"What's there to forgive? You both hurt each other Elizabeth." Emily glanced at the clock, sighing. "Listen…I love my brother [iand[/i I love you. I just want you both to be happy."
"Thanks," Elizabeth responded with the largest smile she could muster.
The elevator chime announced his arrival to the 7th floor.
Stepping off and looking around, Jason was tense. He had called Emily at least four times in the past two hours and she never picked up and hadn't called back. Reaching out he stopped a petite blonde nurse, "Excuse me. Have you seen Emily Quartermaine? She's a resident."
"No, sorry. You might want to ask them to page her at the nurse's station. I'd do it, but Dr. Drake's waiting for these," she stated, lifting a bag of supplies.
"O-okay. Thanks." Jason offered her a small smile.
Looking to the nurse's station, Jason recognized the back of Audrey Hardy. She was alone. It had been a long time since he had been belittled by Elizabeth's grandmother. Maybe this time…
"Mrs. Hardy?" he asked.
The older woman visible stiffened and paused before turning on her heel. "What can I do for you Mister Morgan? I hope you're not here to see Elizabeth."
Maybe not.
"I'm…I'm looking for Emily. Have you seen her?"
A tense smile moved Audrey's face. "Your sister is such a delight, but I'm afraid I have not."
Mrs. Hardy stared at Jason. He fidgeted and looked away.
"Mister Morgan, I can't say I'm pleased to see you back in Port Charles," she clipped. "Despite how you hurt her, Elizabeth has been able to move on. She started a career and is involved with a very nice young man." She eyed him.
Jason swallowed hard. He hated this. Hated it with a passion, but… "Mrs. Hardy, what happened to Elizabeth after I left town?"
Audrey looked taken aback. "She improved her life, that's what."
He ticked the muscle of his jaw. "What about the accident?"
Keeping her eyes on him, she raised one perfect brow. "The accident?" Audrey took a deep breath. "Are you referring to the fender bender?" She continued, "I do not know where you're getting your information Mister Morgan, but I would suggest double checking your sources."
"She was brought to GH."
"With a superficial head wound," Audrey countered.
Why the fuck did people keep saying that to him? "That's it?" Jason pressed.
"It is. But if it wasn't, I wouldn't tell you," she responded, her voice flat. "Mister Morgan," she pinned his eyes with hers, "stay away from my granddaughter." With that, Audrey turned on her heel and left him standing there.
Later that same day…
"Elizabeth."
Elizabeth turned at the sound of her grandmother's sharp voice. "Yes, Grams?"
"Are you trying to ruin your relationship with Ryan?" Audrey stood in the hospital corridor holding charts with her arms crossed over her chest.
Oh, no. Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly, she had not told her grandmother of the break up. She cringed. "There is no relationship Grams."
Audrey huffed. "So, Mister Morgan decides to stroll back into town and you simply push a good and decent suitor aside to run back into the arms of that mobster?" she questioned abruptly.
Elizabeth blinked and a quizzical looked covered her face. "How do you – ," she paused, "That's not what happened."
"How do I know Mister Morgan is here?" Audrey asked, finishing her granddaughter's statement. "Did you think you could hide it from me?"
Elizabeth was taken aback. Her Grams hadn't spoken to her this way in years. They had reestablished a connection once her relationship with Jason ended and she went to nursing school. Elizabeth had been living her life in a manner Audrey approved of, and it had done wonders for them. Elizabeth felt he blood begin to boil.
"Grams," she stated sharply. "Did I know Jason was back in town? Yes. Did him being back have anything to do with Ryan and I breaking up? No. Ryan and I had problems of our own. The big one being that I don't love him." Elizabeth inhaled, "Do you need to worry about Jason and I? No. Jason and I are not getting back together."
"I am concerned for you Elizabeth," the older woman said, softening.
Elizabeth's heaving chest slowed as she saw the look of genuine distress on her Grams' face. Although it had felt really good to express herself that way, she hated yelling at her grandmother. She offered her a small smile, "There's nothing to be worried about."
"But Ryan –," Grams started.
"Ryan is a great guy. He really is. He's just not great for me. I've been in love Grams…with Lucky and Jason," her voice trailed off, "and I know what it feels like." She lifted a small shoulder, "And it just wasn't there with Ryan. And you can't force it," the younger woman stated with a huff and a shake of her head.
Audrey considered her granddaughter before speaking, "I know you don't want to hear this, but I have been around the block a time or two and I know what a hard climb love can be."
Elizabeth interrupted, "But it was always you and grandpa."
The older woman chuckled, just slightly. "No Elizabeth. No it wasn't. Yes, your grandfather and I loved each other for most of our adult lives, and although I was his only wife, I had two other husbands."
Audrey ignored the slight look of surprise on Elizabeth's face and continued.
"Your grandfather was a very hardworking man, Elizabeth. Steve was honorable, loyal, caring. He had such a wonderful bedside manner, was such a good listener, and was very devoted to this hospital…sometimes at the expense of the people he cared about," she paused. "He worked long hours and was here anytime he was needed. He was such a gallant man."
Elizabeth was speechless as she listened to her grandmother with rapt attention.
The older woman's eyes glistened. "When your grandfather suddenly died and I had to say goodbye to him, I would have given anything for another day together. One more day to be with him and tell him how much he meant to me and how much I loved our life. Even the times we spent apart where instrumental in making us who we were…and gave us you, Sarah and Steven." Audrey sighed and locked eyes with her granddaughter, "I want you to find that kind of love Elizabeth. Love with an honest, hardworking, caring man. A man you can trust with your heart."
A tear slipped down Elizabeth's check.
Audrey flipped her hand in the air. "Oh…listen to me yammering on, and at work of all places." She lifted the charts in her arms. "I've got paperwork to do." Walking up to Elizabeth, she pressed a kiss into her forehead. "You should consider giving Ryan another chance," she stated before walking away.
Elizabeth held her breath until her grandmother was out of sight, then exhaled as if she had been punched in the gut. Ryan? He grandmother would keel over if the older woman knew that talking about Elizabeth's grandfather in such a way had only made Elizabeth think of Jason.