Obsession With My EX-wife

Chapter 27: All Is Forgiven

Catherine forced herself to smile as Dr. Shelton walked into her office. "Why don't you have a seat?" she said. "What can I do for you?"

Dr. Shelton took a seat, took a deep breath, and said, "Catherine, please tell me how you feel about our most recent arrangement. Do you agree with it?"

When Catherine heard this question, she felt like she had been pressed into a corner and had no choice but to lie. So, without much hesitation, she said, "Yes. I agree with it."

Dr. Shelton: "That's good to know, but I have had a change of heart. You know Ryan's condition better than anyone, and it might be improper to change his attending doctor. Thus, I have decided to return him to your caseload. What do you think?"

Catherine was so flabbergasted that she couldn't speak. All she could do is shake her head in happy amazement. When the head of the department saw her shaking her head, though, he mistook her inability to speak as displeasure, and he said, "Of course, I will increase your salary by 500 dollars every month. What do you think?"

When Catherine saw how anxious Shelton was to hand Ryan back to her, she became suspicious. Something must have gone terribly wrong – she realized. Before she could process her thoughts, though, he stood up and said, "It's done. He's yours. I'm leaving now."

Catherine set aside her doubts as the department head left her office, and once he was out of sight, she allowed herself to smile. She felt like she was in a dream, and she pinched herself to make sure that she wasn't. She was so happy that she felt like jumping for joy.

Once she had regained her composure, Catherine stepped out of her office and headed in the direction of the Children's Ward.

***

Ryan was in his room, sulking. He couldn't believe that Catherine had allowed another doctor to take charge of him without telling him in advance. Moving forward, he didn't think that he would be able to trust a single word she said.

Ryan had his Nintendo Switch in his hand and was playing Mario Party when Catherine walked in. When he saw her, he looked up briefly and said, "Get out. You are no longer welcome here."

Catherine was stunned. It had been a long time since he'd talked to her like this. "Are you angry?"

"No s**t, Sherlock," Ryan grumbled. "Where did you get those impressive detective skills? Preschool?"

When Catherine saw the vase fragments on the ground, she squatted down and began to clean up his mess. Ryan didn't even look at her, and Catherine felt like she'd earned his scorn. After all, she should have spoken to him before the handover happened. "You're right to be angry," she said. "I'm back now, though, and I am sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"I do have a right to be angry," Ryan said. "You're right about that! You're so irresponsible!"

"Your right," she admitted. "It was irresponsible of me. I shouldn't have behaved in the manner that I did. And I am truly sorry. Hopefully, we can move past it. I would like to continue to work with you if you allow me to. Can you forgive me now?"

Finally, Ryan looked up from his game. He smiled shyly and said, "I can forgive you this time, but don't do that again."

Catherine: "I will never do that again. I promise."

Ryan: "Look, you are single now. Do you want to be my Mother?"

Catherine was stunned. She had not expected Ryan to ask her such a question. She smiled and said, "Aren't you a bit young to be matchmaking?"

Ryan smirked and said, "I am mature for my age. Dying will do that to a person. But never mind that. Think about it. My dad is handsome. He is definitely more handsome than your ex-boyfriend."

"My ex-boyfriend?" Catherine raised her eyebrows.

Ryan: "The one who came to talk to me the other day."

Catherine nodded thoughtfully and said, "I thought you had a good relationship with him. I mean, you guys were chatting up a storm!"

Ryan: "I had a favorable first impression on him, but first impressions are not always reliable."

He really is mature! – Catherine thought – He doesn't talk like an average child does! She smiled and said, "You must have had a bad first impression of me…"

Ryan refused to answer this question. He turned his face towards the window and watched the tree outside as it blew in the breeze. "Never mind that," he said. "You're trying to distract me from the question. What is your answer? Do you want to be my Mother?"

Catherine frowned and shook her head. "Sorry, kid. It's not going to happen."

Ryan: "Are you going to wait for him all your life?"

Catherine looked at Ryan very seriously and said, "First of all, my being single has nothing to do with him. Secondly, I am not going to be single all my life. I just haven't met Mr. Right yet. Thirdly, my love life really isn't any of your business."

Ryan: "Maybe my father is your Mr. Right. And if he is, then your love life is my business. Don't you think?"

Catherine didn't expect the kid to be so persistent. "My instinct tells me that your father is not suitable for me," she said.

Ryan: "That is a bit presumptuous, don't you think? You haven't even met him. I think you should meet my father first, and then decide whether he is your Mr. Right."

Catherine: "You have been in the hospital for such a long time, but your father has never been here to visit you. I prefer a more family-oriented man."