Christmas Lights

2.

I remembered her now. Her name was Meredith, her last name...I think started with G and was hyphenated. Possibly, I wasn't sure. And that made me feel a little self absorbed, how could I not know the name of a woman whom I'd worked so closely with for the last decade? I shook my head and silently berated myself as I weaved myself towards the freeway.

I heard a beep on my phone signaling I'd missed a call. I picked it up and saw it was my mother's number. I blew out a harsh and heavy breath as I realized I now had another weight toppling on my head. Here I was thinking I'd just work my way through this blasted holiday, I hated the holidays...I didn't want to accept or recognize them. I wanted to be Scrooge for Christ sake. What was such a crime about that?

Now I had to go into a board meeting tomorrow and fire a woman with two children just before Christmas, and then find a fake girlfriend to bring home to my mother and lie to her for a week. If only the two could just take care of themselves and let me be...

The thought made it to my feet before it absorbed into my mind as I found myself suddenly screeching to a halt in the middle of the dark, wet street. I panted heavily as I stared wide eyed at nothing in front of me as cars honked behind me. I quickly pulled over as I felt my mind reeling to wrap around the idea that had suddenly, and without warning, popped into my head.

She was a woman.

Ma wanted me to bring a woman home.

She had kids.

Ma loved kids.

It was like the god damn Publisher's Clearing House had rang my doorbell.

I quickly picked up my cell and dialed the night receptionist.

"Seattle Grace Hospital, Surgical Wing?"

"This is chief Derek Shepherd." I said into the phone "I need you to get me the address of a current employee a Meredith...uhh...Meredith...the one that works at the admitting desk."

"Meredith Grey?" she asked "Oh...wait, am I supposed to do this over the phone?"

"Jesus Christ I don't have time for this!" I yelled into the phone "Just give me her damn address or your ass will be on the curb too!"

There was silence for a moment, "Just a second sir." She meekly whispered, though I was sure I heard her mutter something under her breath. "Twenty-five Sixteen, Mulberry Avenue."

I didn't thank her before hanging up, I put the address into my in-dash GPS and whipped my car around and sped off into the direction it told me to go. I didn't slow down until I turned into an older suburban neighborhood, it might have been the queen Anne neighborhood everyone with kids raved about...but what did I know? I loved in an uptown Penthouse—all by myself.

I took a few more lefts and rights before I was told that I'd reached my destination, pulling my black BMW into the driveway of a two story colonial with an old blue jeep parked. I sat in my seat for a moment as I took in a deep breath and did my best to prepare what I was going to say. I got out and locked my car behind me as I walked fast up the walkway and stairs, before I could talk myself out of it... I only hesitated once before ringing the doorbell, then cringing in regret as I realized that it was after ten o'clock and her kids were most likely asleep.

A foyer light flicked on as I heard heavy footsteps coming to the door—she was definitely not happy with whoever had just rang her doorbell at this time of night. I held my breath as she unlocked the door and cracked it open to peek out to see who it was, then flung it open with angered surprise. Her eyes darted at me.

"Are you kidding me?" she hissed "What, harassing me at the grocery store wasn't enough? You have to follow me home too?"

"I didn't follow you home." I corrected her "I...had your information pulled. It pays to be chief."