Looking at you side ways

82

A few days later at the nursing home, Ellis, Meredith and Derek were all sitting around the round table eyeing each other. Ellis had surgical notes and papers spread around the table.

Ellis asked, "So Meredith. Are you done pouting now?"

"Excuse me?"

Annoyed Ellis asked again, "Are you done pouting now? Just because I missed your birthday doesn't mean anything. It's just a normal day like any other. A day on the calendar. We can go out to dinner anytime. I couldn't exactly cancel out of a medical conference for that now could I?"

Meredith said softy, "Certainly not."

"And it's not my fault so many important medical conferences are held the same time each year."

Sighing Meredith said, "No. Not your fault."

Derek leaned back in his chair and frowned as he followed their conversation.[i] He hated coming to the nursing home, but didn't feel comfortable when Meredith went alone. Ellis was such a bitch! She always managed to beat Meredith down or make her feel inadequate.[/i]

Meredith asked, "So are you feeling okay? Are you eating okay?"

Ellis asked sharply, "What kind of insipid question is that? Of course I am feeling okay. I had a breakfast surgical consult with Richard earlier. Some of us don't sleep away the day young lady."

"Mom. It's only seven in the morning."

Ellis scoffed and said, "And I have been up since four! I just don't know about you Meredith. Wasting time!"

Derek interjected and asked, "So Dr. Grey. What surgical consult are you working on?"

Ellis eyed the man who came with her daughter. [i]She wasn't fooled. Meredith said he was her boyfriend, but she knew better. Someone like him wouldn't be interested in a foolish little girl. He might be another surgeon trying to steal her ideas. Confused she thought, or maybe he was a shrink evaluating her or something. He certainly didn't look at all like her deferred to her. Actually she sensed hostility from him.[/i]

Ellis grabbed all her papers suddenly and neatly put them in a pile and turned them over.

She said smugly, "Something that will change lives!"

Derek's phone rang and he glanced down at it. "Sorry Mer. I have to take this. I'll just be outside for a moment."

Meredith nodded as Ellis watched this exchange.

After Derek left Ellis folded her arms across her chest and asked, "You're not sleeping with him are you?"

"Mom. I'm an adult now. It's really none of your business."

Ellis laughed evilly and said, "Well if you are, you are a stupid, stupid girl. No one that looks like that would possibly be interested in you. You are just a kid. A baby. He is just using you to get to me. He wants to know what I am working on. He doesn't even call you by your real name."

Meredith stood up and stared at her mother for a moment. "I'll just let you get back to your work."

"Good. I am busy and stay out of trouble. I don't have time to pick up after you."

Meredith had a moment of clarity and said softy, "You never did."

"Goodbye mom." Meredith turned to walk away.

"Wait!"

Meredith turned around surprised.

Ellis flipped through her papers and said as she handed Meredith a check, "Here you go. You know I don't have time to shop so just buy what you want for your birthday. I have to scrub in soon."