Chapter 6 : We Meet Again

Her chest constricted and her mouth went dry. She had not expected Stefan to become so cold towards his grandmother. What would she answer if Gran asked?

She thanked the receptionist and headed towards the emergency unit. Opening gran's door and peeping through, she found gran lying still on the bed waiting for the nurses to prepare her for the surgery. She looked so old, fragile, and helpless.

Annabelle's heart went out to gran who had helped her during her time of need. Sensing the door open gran looked up, their eyes met, silently pleading with each other not to lose hope. She went inside and held gran's hands in her own explaining softly what was going on so that she did not get terrified.

"It's just a hairline fracture, Gran. They will fix it and you'll be fine. We can go home then," Anna comforted gran.

"I know dear. I'm strong and I'll go through this. You take care of yourself," said gran, touching Anna's cheek.

"I will, promise, " said Anna with a smile. She was glad that gran was taking it well.

One hour later gran was wheeled into the OT. The surgery would take 2-3 hours, so she sat outside the OT and waited. It was already 12 noon and her rigorous classes along with the stress of the morning had totally exhausted Annabelle both mentally and physically. She still contemplated calling Stefan but didn't have the courage. Ellie had gone home to get her stuff as she needed to stay with gran at the hospital after the surgery. She promised to be back in twenty minutes.

Exhausted, she dozed off thinking about Stefan. She had grown into a confident twenty-one-year-old woman who knew her place and could not afford to waste time over someone whom she could never have. She was not his type and he would never have any feelings for her other than pity. Still, she couldn't move on, her heart refused to listen to reason. It still dreamt of Stefan and hoped for the impossible.

Stefan entered through the door and strode towards her. His bright blue eyes, soft curly brown hair, grown a little since she last saw him, tall muscular body, muscles bulging from his thin white shirt, his silk tie loosely hanging around his neck, black slacks hugging his lean muscular legs, all reminded her how much she had missed him. She could feel his eyes full of emotions staring intensely at her after having missed each other for so long. He came closer and sat down close to her, his eyes never leaving her face. His hand rose up to softly caress her cheek.

"Stefan, " she murmured sleepily.

She turned restlessly in her sleep.

Rosy", he whispered, kissing my forehead softly.

She stirred in her sleep, his voice sounded so real. She opened her eyes from her dream of Stefan only to find his face inches away from hers. She rubbed her eyes, and all sleepiness left her, only the realization that Stefan was here with her and sitting with her.

"W - when did you come?" She stammered nervously, pinching herself to confirm whether she was dreaming or really here with her.

A fleeting emotion passed over his face which she didn't recognize before he turned cold, serious, and emotionless like always. "It's been 10 minutes, " he answered.

"How have you been Rosy?" he asked, scanning her face as if memorizing her features.

Annabelle's throat constricted at his question. After four years of treating her like she didn't exist, ignoring her very existence, he had the nerve to ask her how she was doing? All her resolve to keep control over her emotions faded away, and she felt her blood boil, as anger dominated her feelings.

Annabelle is not my type...

There is nothing between me and Annabelle and there never can be.

His words came back fresh to her memory and she swore that she would stay away from him forever. "I'm good,'' she said, trying to control her feelings and the hurt which felt raw and fresh although she thought she had buried them long ago. Checking her watch she saw it was 1:30 already.

"What about you?" She asked with a poker face knowing well that he must be happy with his family.

"I'm alive. How long will the surgery continue?" He changed the topic.

"Another hour or so, I guess, " she answered, looking down at her feet. The tension between them was too much to bear, she thought as she fidgeted with her hands.

"I'll get you some coffee," he offered and got up to leave for the cafeteria.

"No, thanks, I'm heading that way, I can get it myself," she declined his offer.

Stefan nodded, slightly taken aback, but regained his composure and led the way to the hospital cafeteria awkwardly. Annabelle followed, she was exhausted and hungry after her hectic class schedules and all the running around since morning. Her black lycra pants and red tank top clung to her like a second skin, her long hair although tied in a messy bun, had loosened and a few strands had escaped. She knew she looked a mess and she needed a shower badly, but she couldn't leave gran at the OT. They got coffee and sandwiches and sat opposite each other at a corner table overlooking the small fountains surrounded by flower bushes near the main entrance. There were a few people occupying some of the tables, otherwise, the cafeteria was quiet.

"So, how's your family? Your wife and child?" Annabelle asked, hiding her bitterness. She had never wanted to confront him about his remarks four years back, but now she couldn't think of anything else to say to Stefan.

"My daughter Arielle is currently vacationing with my dad and Audrey at our Florida resort". Stefan answered with a sparkle in his eyes at the mention of his daughter's name. He must be loving her so much, thought Annabelle. "Dad received Martha's call. He was thinking of hurrying back but I promised to update him if the need arose," he said, sipping his coffee.

"Yeah, I had a word with gran before the surgery. She's taking it well. It's a hairline fracture and she'd be fine in a month's time. Uncle Nathaniel could come anytime later, " said Annabelle, and Stefan agreed.

"This is Arielle's first outing. I didn't want to bother them. They needed this break," Stefan told her, munching his food.

When he did not mention his wife, Annabelle asked, "Your wife too accompanied them? She never met gran?"

Stefan's jaw clenched, his eyes turned cold and distant. "We separated and divorced four years ago,'' was all he said as he got up and threw the rest of his food uneaten into the trash bin.

"I'm going to the OT lobby," he announced and left.