Hiding in the Shadows

15. Questions and Fabricated Answers

"So are you sleeping?" Carolyn asked.

"Some." He said.

"Drinking?"

"Some."

"Wallowing in your own self pity?"

"Ma." He said. "Don't."

"I will Derek, I will because you left without a word to me or your sisters. You were hurt, I understand that, but punish Addison not us. We are your family. Not that you noticed. You don't call us, you don't write, hell...even a damn text...just something that says 'Hey I am alive, don't worry.'"

Shame, an emotion he was getting quickly used to, washed over him.

"I'm sorry." Also something he was getting used to.

Carolyn looked in the distance focused on some random object and sighed.

"The family reunion is next week. I expect you to be there..." He made a sound of protestation. "If you are not there, I will bring every damn last one of your family here." She warned.

"Ma, I would need time off."

"Already taken care of, Richard says you have vacation time coming to you. Says you haven't missed a day since you started...Are you dating?" She asked suddenly.

"Ma..." He groaned.

"What I worry about you. You need to find a nice girl and settle down. You are forty years old son."

"I did settle down and look at where it got me Ma." He reminded her.

"I said a nice girl." His mother said. "Look, there are some nice girls back home in Connecticut. I can introduce you to them next week." His mother said.

Oh no. He could not let that happen. His mother thought she should fix everyone up. He panicked and desperately thought of a way to get out of that particular hell. His eyes fixed on Meredith, who was at the coffee cart in the cafeteria.

"Meredith..." He whispered.

"Who?" His mother asked.

He sat up straighter. An idea struck him...it could work...he would make it work. It was just a little white lie, his mother would be none the wiser and then she would be gone...

"Derek?"

"Meredith. I am dating a woman named Meredith."

"Meredith. How long have you been dating her?"

"Just a little while."

"What does she do for a living?"

"Doctor...well intern." He said.

"Intern?" Carolyn raised her eyebrow.

"She is um...older than a regular intern...I think.' He muttered the last part to himself.

"How much older?"

"She is 30ish..."

"Does she..."

"Ma..."

"Sorry I am just excited for you is all. I want to meet her."

"No! I mean...no, we just started...seeing each other...and she is a little um...shy." He stuttered.

"So...I can't meet her?"

"No...not yet."

"So...bringing her to the family reunion would be..."

"Out of the question, now can we please drop it?" He asked.

"Yes...of course we can." She smiled.

Little did he know that his mother was nothing if not tenacious and right now what she wanted was to meet this mystery woman with or without her sons help or permission.

She was going to meet this Dr. Meredith, make no mistake about it.