Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
ONE MONTH LATER
G raham
I had just gotten out of surgery when my phone rang. Pulling it from my pocket, I saw it was my Aunt Dorinda. Sighing, I answered it.
“Hi, Aunt Dorinda.”
“Hello, darling. I’m coming to Los Angeles for a two-day law conference, and I can’t wait to see you.”
Shit.
“When are you coming?”
“I’m flying out the day after tomorrow. Make time in your schedule to see me. I will not take no for an answer.”
“Sure, Aunt Dorinda.”
“Excellent. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
I hadn’t talked to her in a while and never told her about Ella. Charlotte told me that I needed to confront my aunt to help with the healing process. I guess I had no choice since she was coming to Los Angeles.
Walking down to the ER, I asked Karla where Ella was.
“She’s in room three with a patient.”
Glancing at my watch, I had time before my next surgery.
“Hi.” Ella walked over. “How did your surgery go?”
“It went good. I need to talk to you.”
“Okay. Let’s go up to my office. Karla, page me when Mrs. Livingston’s test results come back.”
“Will do, Ella.”
We went up to Ella’s office and took a seat on the couch.
“What’s going on?”
“My Aunt Dorinda is flying in and wants to see me.”
“Oh. How do you feel about that?”
“Not good, but I have to see her. Maybe the three of us can have dinner.”
“I’d like that. You know I have your back.”
“I know you do.” I kissed her. “I haven’t told her about you yet.”
“Then I guess she’ll be surprised. Don’t stress out about her.”
“I’m trying not to. I have to text her my address. Would it be okay if I gave her your address since I’m practically living with you?”
“Yeah, sure. I can have Four Kinds cater dinner for us at the house.”
“Thanks, babe. I love you.” I pulled her into me.
“I love you too. And I mean it. Do not stress out about her. Everything will be okay.”
“With you by my side, I know it will be. I have to scrub in for my next surgery,” I said. “I’ll see you later at home.”
“It’s bonfire night,” she said.
“I know.” I smiled as I left her office.
Two Days Later
I tried to calm the nerves that riveted through my body. Pouring a shot of whiskey, I threw it down the back of my throat.
“Drinking already?” Ella smiled.
“You don’t have any Xanax, do you?” A smirk crossed my lips.
“No.” She walked over and placed her hand on my chest. “Deep breath, Dr. Malone.”
The knock on the front door startled me.
“You better answer that.” Ella reached up and kissed my lips.
I opened the door and stared at my Aunt Dorinda’s smile.
“Graham.” She hugged me. “It feels like it’s been forever since I saw you last.”
“It’s good to see you, Aunt Dorinda. Come in.”
“This is a lovely home. You didn’t tell me you bought a house.”
“It’s not mine.”
“Hi.” Ella walked over.
“Aunt Dorinda, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Dr. Ella Kind.”
“Your girlfriend?” Her brow arched. “You didn’t mention that either. It’s nice to meet you, dear.” She extended her hand.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” Ella placed her hand in hers.
“You have a very lovely home. What type of doctor are you, dear?”
“I’m a cardiothoracic surgeon, neurosurgeon, and trauma surgeon.”
“Excuse me?” My Aunt Dorinda cocked her head. “You must be all of what? Twenty-one?”
“I’m twenty-two.”
“Ella is a very gifted person, Aunt Dorinda.”
“A genius?” she asked.
“Yes. She’s a genius. Can I pour you a glass of wine?”
“That would be lovely. White if you have it.”
“We do.” I walked over and grabbed a wine glass from the cabinet.
“Dinner is ready,” Ella said.
“Are you living here, Graham?”
“Practically.” I smiled. “Ella and I spend every moment we can together. I’m very much in love with her.”
Ella set dinner on the table, and we sat down.
“Do you have any family here, Ella?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Ella comes from a large family, and they all live on this beach, including her parents, siblings, uncles, and cousins.”
“Wow. How nice.” Aunt Dorinda smiled.
We made small talk. My Aunt Dorinda talked extensively about her cases and a man she started seeing.
“I’m happy for you,” I said. “He sounds like he’s a nice guy.”
“He is. You can meet him when you decide to visit me in New York.”
After we cleaned up, I inhaled a sharp breath because I needed to tell her I had told Ella everything. I needed to confront her to put the past to rest.
“Let’s go out on the patio. It’s a beautiful night,” I said.
I knew outside would be a safer place to tell her.
“Is that your family, Ella?” Aunt Dorinda pointed to the bonfire.
“Yes. That’s them.”
We took our seats in the lounger.
“This is nice.” Aunt Dorinda smiled. “You have such a beautiful view of the ocean.”
“Aunt Dorinda, there’s something I need to tell you.” I looked at Ella.
“What is it, Graham?”
“I’m seeing a therapist. Her name is Dr. Charlotte Kind, and she’s Ella’s aunt. I told her and Ella about my father’s death and what really happened.”
I could see the anger consume in her eyes. “How dare you. You had no right. After everything I’ve done for you since you were a child, and you go and betray me like that?”
“Betray you?” I shouted. “You have no idea what that did to me. The only thing you cared about was saving my father’s reputation.”
“As far as anyone is concerned, Dr. Malone’s reputation will always be that he died of a heart attack,” Ella spoke.
“You stay out of this!” Aunt Dorinda loudly voiced.
“Don’t you dare speak to her like that!” I shouted, standing from my seat.
“Graham, it’s okay,” Ella said.
“No, it’s not! You knew how much I was suffering after witnessing what my father did!” I shouted, pointing at my Aunt Dorinda. “And you didn’t care! You could have gotten me help, but you were too scared I’d tell the truth! For seventeen years, I’ve been a mess, dealing with PTSD.”
“You’re a brilliant doctor, Graham. It can’t be that bad,” she said.
“Because I buried myself in my work to try and forget. But my personal life was a shitshow, Aunt Dorinda! Not only did my father fuck me up, but you did too. Thank God you never had children of your own.”
“I don’t have to sit here and listen to this.” She stood up. “Your father was a weak man, and what he did is unforgivable. But he had his reputation of being a stellar doctor and surgeon, and that’s how people should have remembered him. You had no right telling anyone what happened, Graham.”
“And you had no right making me keep that secret. I was thirteen years old—a kid, and I needed help.”
When she stared at me, I saw nothing in her eyes. No empathy and no regrets.
“I’m disappointed in you, Graham. It’s apparent you’re weak, just like your father.”
“Okay. I’ve heard enough, lady.” Ella stood up. “Get the fuck out of my house now! Graham’s aunt or not. You’re a horrible person with no soul.”
“How dare you, young lady.”
“No! How dare you, Dorinda! Just get out!”
“She’s right, Aunt Dorinda. Leave. We’re done here,” I said.
“You’re right, Graham. We are done here. What you’ve done is unforgivable.”
“And what you’ve done is unforgivable,” I said.
She opened the sliding door, grabbed her purse, and walked out the front door. I let out a breath as Ella wrapped her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Don’t be. Like you said, she’s a horrible person with no soul.”
Nathan walked over. “Are you okay, Graham?” He placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Yeah, Nathan. I actually am.”