The Raven Room by Ana Medeiros

Author:Ana Medeiros [Medeiros, Ana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626817760
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2015-10-07T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Meredith glanced at her watch. She and Julian had decided to meet during his short break. He was leaving the hospital for the day to start a full afternoon of teaching.

She had visited Hazel a few days ago and she had been simultaneously disappointed and surprised when she saw herself faced with the reality of the old woman’s mental state. For Hazel, her son Julian was still a boy and not the complete stranger who visited her almost every day. Meredith had hoped Hazel would be able to tell her more about Julian’s childhood and teenage years, but besides repeating over and over again “rather her than him,” all she was able to gather through their conversation was how much Hazel loved her adopted son.

Meredith had walked out from the small house in Bridgeport with more questions than when she had when she walked in. She had contemplated not telling Julian about her visit to Hazel but her caregiver would more than likely tell him, so Meredith had decided it would be best if she told him herself.

“Sorry I’m late,” Julian said, sitting across from her. He was close to panting.

When he passed her a coffee, she smirked. This was the first time they were seeing each other after the night at The Raven Room. “Trying to bribe me to be your friend again?”

“If I was I wouldn’t have bought you coffee. I know you’re easy but not that easy.”

Meredith scowled at him but quickly burst out in a loud laugh. “You compliment me too much.” She noticed that he didn’t laugh with her. He merely smiled, and it was not one of his usual light-up-the-room smiles. Something was wrong.

They were sitting in the food court inside the hospital and because it was lunchtime all the tables around them were full. Besides Julian, who had his black coat on and his usual attire of slacks and dress shirt, most people were wearing scrubs. Meredith noticed she was the only female who had makeup on and was not wearing her hair in a bun or in a ponytail.

“I went to visit Hazel,” she said, sitting up straighter. She braced herself for an argument.

“Hazel?” he asked, confused. “My Hazel?”

“Yes. I brought her flowers.”

Meredith waited for him to speak. When he didn’t, she swallowed a large gulp of her coffee. “Are you upset?”

He leaned back, staring at her. “Why?”

“Why did I go?”

He nodded. “And why didn’t you tell me?”

Julian wasn’t angry. He sounded sad.

“After that one time I was there with you I kept thinking about her all alone in that house and that I had told her I would visit her soon but I never did,” Meredith started to say. “And then you and I weren’t really talking and I kind of felt bad about how I handled things that night. I did it to make myself feel better, I guess.” As the lies poured out of her mouth Meredith wanted to cover her face in shame. Julian was a good

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