Chapter two

Mia POV

Listening to Ana recount the events leading up to her hospitalization left Mia feeling as if someone had dumped a truckload of bricks on her chest. She recognized the loneliness, the quiet desperation, the fear; punctuated by shallow breaths, the heavy pauses, and the things Ana didn't dare say out loud.

Her mind flashed to waking up in a hospital after wrecking her car against a tree, the crash shattering her spine. The sudden eviction from her former life sparked unnamable anger. And it wasn't as if her caregivers had been particularly negligent; on the contrary, the hospital staff had treated her well. Mia, however, spent the better part of the following six months raging against God and anyone who claimed it was unlikely she would ever walk again.

Ana talked fast, avoiding lengthy explanations, hovering over the fine line between despair and hope. Once or twice, Mia heard her sniff away the tears at the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Mia held her breath, reflecting on how closely their experiences aligned.

"They keep asking me if I'm ready to go home...but the truth is, I don't have anywhere to go."

In the short silence that followed, Mia realized they'd reached a point in the conversation where all similarities ended. While they had both been struck by adversity, Ana was facing the future without a place to call home and without the love and support of her family.

All too soon, their conversation was abruptly ended by the hospital staff, leaving Mia staring at her phone in disbelief. She felt the urge to do something to help, something more than simply visiting her.

Her lips curved into a slow smile as a new idea came to mind. Excited, she called the hospital, but her attempts to reach Ana were unsuccessful.

That Sunday, she invited her parents and Elliot to an impromptu dinner at Escala. Usually, the family gathered at Grey Manor ever since Elliot had his own bachelor pad and Mia had moved in with Christian as soon as she came of age. While the three siblings enjoyed a close relationship with their parents, they found this arrangement to be the best way to limit parental interference.

"Thanks," Mia thanked Christian as he assisted her in pushing her wheelchair closer to the table.

Watching the easy flow of the conversation, Mia couldn't help but think how she often took her family for granted.

"You've been awfully quiet tonight, and you barely touched your plate," Grace said to Mia. "Is something bothering you, honey?"

Mia cleared her throat, "Yesterday, a friend called me; she's a patient at Sonrise."

"Oh, really?" Grace mumbled.

"Her name is Anastasia, but she goes by Ana."

"What a small world," Grace cocked her head.

"Anastasia is such a regal name. I don't think I remember you mentioning her before," Carrick said to Mia.

Mia acknowledged her father's comment with a nod and then turned to her mother, "she's been there three weeks and doesn't understand why she's been there for so long. Can you please look into this?"

"Honey, I'm working there this week, so she's legally my patient. I wish I could give you more information, but it's an issue of confidentiality. Is she a friend or more like an acquaintance?"

"She's a friend. Sonrise is a short-term facility, isn't it?"

"Yes. Most patients stay a maximum of 30 days before they're transferred to a permanent facility. Since I'm working there once a month, I don't see patients on a long-term basis."

"Can you, at least, tell me if she's been transferred or scheduled to be discharged?" Mia asked pointedly, "Ana doesn't belong in a place like that, Mom. This has to be a mistake; Ana is not crazy."

Grace shook her head. "I cannot make any exceptions, sorry."

"Who is going to find out? There is no one else here but family."

Everyone shifted in their seat uncomfortably.

"Okay, well...I'm visiting Ana first thing in the morning. Mom, that place is horrible; they make it nearly impossible for her to make and receive calls. Every time I try calling her back, she's either unavailable... or a different patient answers. I don't get it. Why isn't she allowed to use her own phone? What is the point of that? I mean, really. They're isolating her. Is that supposed to be good for her mental health or something?"

Grace gave her daughter a pointed look and measured her words carefully.

"It's all part of their high-security protocol. Your friend needs to sign several forms authorizing visits. And if you want to speak on her behalf, there is also a release form."

"Good, it looks like all Mia needs to do is get on the list," Elliot said matter-of-factly. "By the way, where do you know her from? I never forget a name."

"Jog our memories here," Christian agreed, "how come none of us seems to remember her?"

"I never invited her over; you've never met her."

"How come?" Elliot asked.

Mia shrugged, "It's a long story."

"We have all the time in the world," Carrick said, taking a bite of his dinner, "it's Sunday. We got nothing else on our to-do list this evening," He turned to his wife, who nodded in agreement.

"Okay, well...Ana comes from a middle-class family. We met at that stupid basketball camp you guys enrolled me in," she said in a begrudging tone, "back in sixth grade.."

Grace and Carrick nodded. Elliot suppressed a chuckle.

"I hated it; I didn't know anyone there."

"Your mom and I wanted you to broaden your horizons," Carrick affirmed, exchanging a knowing look with his wife.

"That time in your life was particularly challenging for you," Grace replied tactfully, "we thought you could benefit from a new social experience combined with a fun physical activity."

"Mom, Dad: I know what you were trying to do. But it didn't work; basketball camp didn't magically turn me into the sporty type."

"I believe you were in the middle of telling us how you and Anastasia became friends," Christian pointed out a bit impatiently.

"Yeah. Well, the only good about that camp was meeting Ana. She covered for me so I wouldn't have to play and ran after that ball like she was possessed," she chuckled, "We bonded and promised to stay friends forever."

"I remember you mentioned making a friend, but I thought you two lost touch," Grace muttered.

"We didn't see each other much, that's for sure. We went to different schools. Sometimes months went by, and I'd get a text from her. I felt bad because she didn't seem to have other friends."

"A one-sided friendship, how pitiful," Elliot remarked, clicking his tongue.

"Look, it wasn't exactly like that. I liked Ana. It's just..."

"Just what?" Elliot pressed. "I know you, Pumpkin...what are you not telling us?"

"Her parents and her brother...all three are weirdos..."

Everyone gave her a long, questioning look.

"Weirdos?" Grace furrowed her brows.

Mia scrambled for words. It occurred to her that perhaps she should have kept her mouth shut. "Huh...you know, like the Addam's family."

"It looks like her folks may have a taste for the macabre or are a little too obsessed with death...but who isn't nowadays?" Elliot joked.

"No, they are more like antisocial, keeping to themselves, that kind of thing."

"Mia...how come Anastasia never visited you after the accident?" Christian asked, reaching across the table for his sister's hand.

Mia blinked. Except for Christian, her family usually tiptoed around the issue of her accident, afraid to bring up bad memories.

"Like I said, we didn't see each other much over the years; we mostly texted."

Everyone nodded, encouraging her to continue.

"Anyway, after the accident, so many people came to see me," she continued, her eyes filled with unshed tears, "but their visits became few and far between. I wasn't the fun girl anymore...the Mia Grey everyone knew was dead."

"They were not real friends, honey. You're better off without them," Grace said.

"Look, I didn't tell Ana about the accident; I didn't want her to pity me like everyone else."

"Well, if all you want is to visit your friend at the hospital, I see no harm in that, sweetheart," Carrick said.

"That's not all I want, Dad. I want Ana to come and live with us... she can be my companion... my paid companion."

"Something tells me you're serious," Elliot mumbled carefully.

Everyone else simply stared.

"Yes, Elliot, being a companion is a career too."

"A career?" Elliot mocked as he downed his second glass of wine, "sounds like the description of a live-in maid to me."

"Does she have any nursing qualifications?" Grace and Carrick asked in unison.

"Not that I know of..." Mia made eye contact with her parents and ignored Elliot.

"What is Ana's educational background?" Grace asked.

"Where did she go to college?" carrick wondered.

Mia decided to be as vague as possible. Her parents were such sticklers for a college education. They were both still reeling from Christian's decision to drop out of Harvard.

"Ana is a secretary."

Christian cocked his head, "where does she work?"

"Hmm... she's a substitute secretary."

"Impressive," Elliot sneered, and Mia glared at him.

"Honey, I don't think you need a companion. Your dad and I can schedule more time off work to keep you company and your brothers..."

"Mom, Dad... I couldn't have asked for a better family. But I feel something is missing in my life... a true friend, someone my same age to go to the mall with at a moment's notice...someone who isn't juggling a full schedule with work, school, and a million other things. Do any of you know of someone like that?"

"Mia, a friend, and a companion are different things," Christian said, "a companion is more likely to drop out of your life as soon as your paths diverge. I don't think you've thought this through. Do you want Anastasia Steele to be a life-long friend or a short-term companion?"

"Who says I don't want both?"

…...

After their parents went home, Christian, Mia, and Elliot gathered in the living room.

"I don't know if this girl would work out. You two don't seem to have that much in common. She sounds like a loner, and you little sis, you were always the life of the party," Elliot shrugged one shoulder. "Besides, she seems way too needy."

Mia sighed, wishing Elliot would leave soon. She loved her brother dearly, but he became super-annoying when he'd had too much to drink.

"I don't think Ana is a loner; she avoided inviting people to her house because of her family's odd behavior."

"That makes sense," Christian said, "you can pick your friends but not your family."

"Well, this is certainly a first," Elliot teased, giving his brother a nudge, "you're vouching for this woman, and you haven't even met her yet...interesting."

"Elliot, get a life, will you?"

"Take it easy, Little Bro. It's just been so long since you showed this much interest in a girl."

"Taylor will be driving you home," Christian retorted while pressing a button on his cell phone.

"Huh-huh," Elliot hummed. "I hope that one day, you find a woman that cures you of your trust issues once and for all."

Christian glared at him.

"Elliot, please, go home," Mia said, linking arms with her eldest brother and accompanying him to the door.

"And I wish you finally settle down with ONE woman," Christian said, "And when I say that, I'm expressing the sentiments of our entire family." He then thanked Taylor with a nod as the older man held the elevator for their brother.

Later

After performing a basic Google search on Anastasia Steele, Christian told Mia that her digital presence was scarce. But that there was a record of her being a runaway teen twice between the ages of 16 and 17."

"Yeah, Ana ran away with Jose, her high school sweetheart. They eloped the second time. Her parents called the police, had Jose arrested, and got their marriage annulled. They threatened her with juvie and grounded her for months."

Christian rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "was she into drugs or alcohol?"

"No, I don't think so. She was always a nice girl...please believe me."

Christian nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you to visit her."

"Really?"

"I know how much this means to you. We should at least find out Anastasia's diagnosis. You know how I feel about Psychiatrists in mental hospitals. They're more about putting people on meds. Mom and I have had many discussions about this; she's even admitted that Sonrise doesn't employ the best practice but that she cannot fight the system. At least, Mom has the decency of admitting she doesn't always have all the answers."

Mia regarded him carefully. "You mean like after she discovered what happened with you and Elena?"

"No," Christian barked. Don't go there, his eyes silently warned her.

"But Christian, you know what that woman did was..."

"Stop," Christian stood up, ready to exit the room.

"Okay, sorry," Mia said with pleading eyes, "I don't want to argue; I only brought it up because I know you understand since you went through something similar when it all became public. I don't understand why you're still defending her, though."

"Elena helped me mature. I was out of control, drinking and getting into fights at school," Christian said with a long sigh, " listen, I think it's time to call it a night."

"Wait, don't go."

"I really want to help you, sis, but if you keep bringing up the past..."

"Okay, I'm sorry I brought it up."

Christian returned half-reluctantly to his seat.

"You're the greatest brother in the entire world, you know that?"

"Sh..." Christian glanced at the door, " Elliot is probably halfway home by now. Still, don't forget he has elephant ears, able to hear sounds not available to the average human."

Mia chuckled.

They sat in companionable silence until Christian got up again and made a beeline for his desk to retrieve his briefcase and power up his laptop.

"What else do you know about the Steele family?"

"I met Ana's parents twice. I was 15 the first time I met them. I didn't like them; something about them was off."

"And the second time?"

Mia exhaled uncomfortably, "You know how I said Ana was always trying to run away?"

"Go on," he said, peering down at his computer screen. "I'm shooting Barney an email to do a thorough background check on everyone with a pulse connected to Anastasia Steele."

Mia's expression brightened. This meant Christian was seriously considering Ana becoming her companion.

"Okay. Right after Ana turned 18, she decided to move out. She asked me if she could stay at our house for a few days until she could find an apartment."

"A few days? Christian raised his voice, "Without my permission?"

"Sorry... I was going to tell you!"

Christian shook his head in disbelief, "go on."

"Her parents lived in a condo in a nice neighborhood. Ana had decided to move out and asked me to pick her up. She was upset and wanted to leave the second I arrived. She told me she'd gotten into a huge argument; anyhow, we were about to drive off when her parents showed up and surrounded the car...her mom started crying hysterically and pleading for Ana not to leave them. I didn't know what to do. Her mom acted like the new Spider-Woman, planting her tentacles by the passenger window. Her dad stood behind the car, blocking me. I couldn't back out or move an inch forward without running over their tippy toes."

"Wait," Christian said, "I believe you're getting spiders mixed up with octopuses. Tentacles are like arms, and spiders, on the other hand, have 8 legs."

Mia rolled her eyes, playfully punching him in the arm.

"Mom and Dad are a little overbearing and overprotective sometimes, but Ana's parents are something else," Mia replied. "The entire neighborhood, it seemed, came out to stare at the freak show that day."

Christian's eyebrows rose.

"They were being grossly manipulative."

"Exactly. I'll never forget the look on Ana's face. I told her, let's wait it out, but she gave up. She turned to me and apologized, grabbed her bags, and followed them back inside the house."

"I imagine she tried leaving again at a later time."

"I don't know exactly. We drifted apart after that. I had other friends to hang out with back then," she exhaled, "I later learned Ana remarried Jose. Her parents were furious, and even though she was legally an adult, they created more havoc by repeatedly showing up at their apartment unannounced. Until one day, Jose kicked them out and told them to never come back."

"Did she have any children with this guy?"

"No."

"She must have loved this fellow to marry him a second time, Christian wondered, raising his brows in interest.

"I think their love affair was more like infatuation. I never liked Jose; he cheated on her-"

"How long ago was this?"

"Ana filed for divorce about a year ago and went to live with her family. Jose married the stripper the next day."

"Why? Why didn't she get her own place?"

"On a secretary's salary?"

"It's doable," he pursed his lips, "it really doesn't make sense. Think about it, sis. After finally being an independent woman, she returns to live with her dysfunctional family."

"I think she was a bit depressed after the divorce, Mia shrugged one shoulder, and besides, it was only supposed to be for a short while," she paused thoughtfully, "Look, Chris, you better than anyone knows what it's like to be in an impossible situation. I think she will be the perfect companion. Please don't judge her without giving her a chance."

"I'm only trying to make sure this friend of yours doesn't end up hurting you. As to her becoming your companion, no promises until we get the green light from Barney."

Mia pursed her lips.

"Look, one can never be too careful nowadays. "For all we know, there could be another explanation for your friend's situation. What if her family owned a huge collection of rattlesnakes they kept in their basement? Uh? What then?'

Mia let out a nervous laugh, "Wh-what?"

"Think about it. It explains Anastasia's history as a runaway teen. Perfect excuse not to have visitors. Don't you think? Other families withdraw socially to hide the alcoholic's unruly behavior and/or the skeletons in their closet," he paused for effect.

"So what?" Mia shrugged. "I don't think Ana should be judged by her family's nutty behavior. Besides, lots of people think snakes are cool."

Christian rolled his eyes, "They only say that to show off. Anyway, sis, the more you tell me about Anastasia Steele, the more intrigued I am. The only thing so far that would be the deal breaker would be to hear that she likes to sleep in the company of snakes."