4. Chapter 4 So, Youve Chosen The Hard Way.
Chapter 4: So, You've Chosen The Hard Way.
Killian
After arriving and without Madison showing her face, dinner last night made me a little unsettling.
I knocked on her door, and there was no response; I assumed she had escaped from the house just the way she had done with Nathan's supervision.
She was still in bed as I opened the door, fast asleep.
It made me wonder if these siblings understood the importance of getting sufficient bed rest.
But I speak for all medical doctors when I say that we who advise people to sleep enough often fail to do so ourselves.
I was relieved when she joined me for my midnight snack. As she returned to her room, I felt proud of myself.
But now, it's morning, and she's still not up.
I check in on her, and she's not in her bed, nor do I hear the water running in the bathroom.
She's out of the house before I am even awake, which is odd, considering that I'm the medical doctor with early responsibilities.
Anyway, I immediately calls Nathan to let him know, checking to see if it is a normal occurrence.
"Definitely." I can feel his grin from the other end of the receiver.
"Someone isn't missing me," I digress from the topic briefly.
"I'm still at the airport on the other side of this country, waiting for my connecting flight. I haven't gone anywhere yet, Killian. Besides, I doubt I'll miss you," he burns me with his words. I slap my chest for extra effect.
"Well, about your sister..." I bring us quickly back to the topic.
"Yes. I did tell you she's the type to do whatever she doesn't even want, just to prove that she's something she's not. It's pulling out my hair!" his happy voice changes into a frustrated one, and I feel bad for calling him about his sister so early. He doesn't deserve to begin to worry now, not when he hasn't even left the country.
"Hold your reins, bro. I got it under control. Her stuff is still here, so she didn't really leave," I shrug and look up in the direction of her room.
That was our biggest concern, as well as what we discussed the previous day. 'What if she came so willingly because she knew that no one would stop her if, theoretically, she decided to escape?'
It doesn't seem to be the case, though. Her arranged wardrobe and toiletries indicate that her readiness to be here was quite serious.
Forgive me for entering her room to make sure.
"Well, that's out of the way," he sighs.
"Hey, you'll probably miss your flight if we continue like this. Let's give her time, okay?" I tell him, and he doesn't say anything. He doesn't need to. His silence is enough resignation.
"Now, off you go," I end the call shortly after, feeling terrible for exciting his sensitive nerves.
I really don't get Madison, though. She has an older brother who is willing to look out for her despite how old she is. Most brothers give up on their sisters as soon as the girls turn sixteen or, at best, eighteen.
Nathan had to watch his parents die, and his hands were unable to do anything. When he lost his job, I was worried about him and offered him a place in my hospital. But Nathan refused and was willing to start again from the ground upwards.
Could it be that, deep down in Madison's heart, she blames Nathan for not being able to save their parents and uses her disappearing act as an attempt to get back at him? Or does she simply view his attempts to protect her as forms of bullying and not love?
No… she can't be that evil to her own family member.
I mean, think about it: even if we assume that she doesn't have enough money to live on her own, she would have been able to work things out on her own.
In her own way, she loves Nathan too. That's probably why she stays with him…
I bet she only agreed to come here because he gave her a deal she couldn't resist. But she also wants to prove to him that she can take care of herself without his watch.
Two strange siblings.
I can't keep my mind occupied with thoughts about them; it's Saturday.
And you know what that means...Rest day! For most people, but not for me.
I'm a doctor. Saturday is just another workday.
I head to the hospital and participate in some tedious labor. Dr. Ramone is off duty, so I am without the companionship of my medical buddy and mentor, but I survive...barely.
Dr. Stuart is able to keep me entertained, though, with her rookie knowledge on many subject areas and perceptions that I myself fell victim to at her age, and I take my time to explain to her as much as the patients allow. Being the hospital's CEO allows me to take a break at any time, but the responsibility that comes with being the leader demands that I shouldn't.
Everyone could be on a break, and I'll have to be the only one standing in to make sure that the hospital is running, no matter what. I deeply appreciate having such responsible staff that know what to do when they're supposed to do it and actually go ahead to do it. They save me from the back-breaking time and energy I would otherwise have had to spend.
When I eventually bid Dr. Stuart goodnight and give her the clearance to stay at home tomorrow, it warms my heart to have her refuse for fear of the hospital being shorthanded. Sundays always have that problem, which may explain why Mondays are eventually so miserable. The mess of a shorthanded Sunday bleeds into Monday for unsuspecting doctors.
Getting home, I feel like collapsing on my driveway, but I struggle to drag my feet into the house. I miss the days when there's little to do, usually days that are furthest away from any form of holiday, as most emergencies occur during holidays and cause the bulk of our work.
The gravel ground does nothing to ease my suffering, ensuring I get the full extent of the uneasiness of my amble. Times like this make me think of riding the entire driveway of the rock, but the next morning, driving out and hearing the tires crunch the gravel against each other is another realm of gratification. It changes my mind instantly.
My targets are set straight for my bedroom. I don't even bother taking my briefcase out of the car. It can nest there till tomorrow when I'm going back to work.
As I wobble past the living room to the stairs, I see Madison coming down the stairs, dressed in a way that even I can tell is uncomfortable. In other words, she's dressed to go out. A black skintight dress with glitter all over hides most of her curves, but I guess it's for the best.
She doesn't need anyone looking at her, not under my watch.
"You're going out or coming in?" I throw the question gruffly.
"Neither should be any of your concern," she retorts instantly and breezes past me.
In all sincerity, she is right.
"That would be correct..." I respond, making her stop just before she reaches the front door, and continues, "...if you weren't placed under my care by your brother, making you my responsibility. I want to make sure everyone under my care is well accounted for, so I ask again. Where are you going?"
My voice isn't stern. It's tired, but it still packs enough to convey the authority I have, and she hangs her shoulders and answers, "To meet a friend. Why?"
I take a peek at my watch. "It's seven minutes past nine. Don't you think this meeting could wait till tomorrow?"
She looks at me like I'm delusional, but I keep my face on hers. I heard she's tough. It's not really an issue to me. It's just the fact that I have to be accountable for her, that is.
"It can't wait. I'll be on my way now," she says and turns back to move, but my voice brings her back again, this time with a lot more frustration evident on her angelic face. She puts on a very minimal amount of makeup. I can tell because I still see the freckles on her skin, meaning she didn't apply any concealers.
"You're telling me where you're going, or your going out can wait till tomorrow. It's your choice," I shrug.
But my plan instantly backfires on me when she begins walking toward me, seething, "Let me tell you what my choice is, alright? My choice is the fact that I can go wherever the fuck it is I want to go, at whatever time I see it fit to go, and do whatever the fuck it is I want to do. I appreciate what you're doing for me, but please, I beg you, just so that we don't start off on a terrible foot, do not think for one moment that it entitles you to any information from me or whatever it is that Nathan has told you." She ends up breathing heavily after her speech.
I observe her for a few seconds before I speak. Even I tire of the banter, but a promise is a promise, and I must keep my promise to my friend.
"Listen, Maddie..."
"Don't you ever call me that name again?"
Oh, I forgot.
"I'm sorry, Madison. Let's get something clear. The only reason I know your name is because you're my best friend's sister. The only reason I look out for you is because I know that it'll make Nathan relieved. There's nothing that prevents you from leaving this house right now and telling me nothing. But the moment you leave and Nathan calls, asking about your whereabouts because you wouldn't pick up his calls, what do I tell him?" I see her face soften as I talk.
"You have been put under my care for this period. If anything should happen to you, let's forget the fact that you're an adult. Whose house would the police come to first? Mine! That's why I need to know where you're going and who you're going out with. It's for myself. Not you. Okay? I couldn't care less if you were going bungee diving in pitch darkness, but fucking tell me so that I know what to say if something goes south. Does that sound fair?" I reduce my voice at the last question when I realize how high it has been all through.
We glare at each other for a while, neither of us wanting to back down.
"VV," she lets out. "I'm going to VV with my friend, Gwen. Happy?" she says, spreading her arms in defeat. She looks really cute when she's angry or frustrated. Her tiny nose puckers, and golden strands of her hair fly around without care... not to mention the fact that she is a lot shorter than me, making her look like someone that I should really protect, no matter how queasy she gets.
"Yes. I very much am. Make sure you're back before midnight," I grunt and begin heading up the stairs.
"You see, now, that's where I draw the line. I will return anytime I want to. Even Nathan doesn't put a lien on that," she snaps, but I keep walking up the stairs without turning back.
"The house automatically locks itself at midnight. I'm drearily tired, so I don't know if I'll wake up to your call to open up. It really is your choice at this juncture," I say, and without wanting to hear another word except that of my bed, I open my bedroom door and dive in, leaving her to decide whether to test my theory or not.