For the first time in a long while, Luke found himself on edge, distracted – as if something was making him uneasy. So he rose from his desk and left his office and headed towards a property he bought years ago on the outskirts of Oakdale. The property held two places he felt very strongly about – Snyder Lodge, which is a Retirement village/Nursing home and also a Childcare centre – Mayer Manor.
He never had a strong drive to care for the elderly or had a particular interest in children, but what he does have is a strong connection to family. He always felt that he was so blessed to have his family and was lucky enough to have been left a huge fortune from his birth father that he wanted to not waste the opportunities he had and to contribute to the community. The catalyst for this was the death of his partner Noah. This happened 5 years ago. The Luke of old would have resorted to inappropriate ways to escape his pain – he had done it before. Knowing Noah would be disappointed in him made him not stronger but determined to redevelop a life plan.
Luke parked between the retirement village and the childcare centre, named in Noah's memory and made his way out the back to a huge chessboard out in the sun. He waved at his friend Katie on the way through, smiling to himself as she chased one of the kids from the childcare centre as he ran squirting coloured paint all over her. One of the tenants of the village was sitting beside the chessboard, his face lighting up as he saw Luke walk over to him. Tom was 72 and got a lot of joy beating Luke at chess and telling stories of his youth.
After an hour long game, with Luke again playing abysmally, his best friend Casey piped in.
"Bloody hell Tom, cant you let the sorry bugger win for once?"
Luke replied with "Hey, Case, you off soon? I am starving?"
"Yeah, just came out to bring you in for dinner Tom. You about ready? Or do you want to finish him off again?"
Tom chuckled, but took his cane that Casey held out for him. "See you next time Luke. And remember – the Queen's Gambit!"
"Sure Tom, but you know you will have to teach me that again!"
Luke sat on the bench in the sun and let his mind wander to Noah. He missed Noah. More because he was so incredibly lonely, and that Noah was taken from him – not that Noah was the love of his life. He thought to himself that he was not so sure if that really existed. His life so far has not turned out the way he planned, but back when Noah died, what did he know – 26 and so incredibly naïve. He was still a child when his future fell apart. Now he was 31 and Luke felt his life was already planned out for him, happy but not fulfilled and with no way to control it.
Luke could feel Casey staring at him. He looked up and saw what he often saw from his two best friends – Katie and Casey. He saw a mixture of pity, caring and confusion.
"Luke, I know I say this all the time, and I know Katie does her fair share of nagging too. But Luke, you need to live. You're a 90 year old in a 30 year old body. Its like you given up on life."
Luke sighed deeply. "Not this again Case. I am happy. I enjoy my work a lot, I am close to my family and I have great friends. I don't need anything else."
"Noah wouldn't want –"
"Well neither you or I know what Noah would want, cause he is dead."
"Luke. C'mon mate.."
"Look Case, I am not saying that if Noah was still alive I would be with him or even happy. I am not pining for him. I am not anything. I am just living my life. Can we just not do this again? Lets get going already. I want to talk to you about the money I am donating to the Memorial. I really need some advise."
Katie ran to the phone, panting by the time she answered it. "Hello?"
"Katie its Reid. Reid Oliver."
"Reid? Reid you idiot, I know your voice without you needing to give me your surname! How are you? Why haven't you been calling me back? Did you get the photos of Jacob I emailed you?"
Reid laughed; she always gets so excited on the phone "Slow down Katie! Sorry, I have been busy –"
"You are always busy and last time we skyped you looked horrendously tired. Probably not eating properly either."
"Ah, have you forgotten who you are talking to? Eating is one of the many things I do very well."
"So what's news?"
"Well, I have had a few calls from Bob and your husband – has Chris not told you?"
"He said he wanted to talk to you about something. He was asking if I thought you would ever come back here. I thought he was joking, or maybe talking about a referral he had. What's going on?"
Shit, Reid thought to himself. He should not be telling Katie any of this – her bloody family should be. "Well, sweetie, Bob is getting older now – "
"What the hell is wrong Reid, does he need you to treat him?"
"Calm down and let me finish. As I was saying, Bob is getting older and he is close to, if not well over retirement age. Chris would have been the logical choice to take over as Chief of Staff at Memorial but it seems Chris wants to stay heading the Paediatric wing. So Bob has offered me the position."
"What? That's fantastic. You're coming home?"
"Oakhell isn't home for me. Hasn't been for a long time"
"Don't be stupid Reid. OakDALE will always be your home"
Reid laughed in spite of himself. Katie was always brutally honest with him. It's why they have remained such good friends.
"But Reid. Will you not get bored back at Memorial? I mean, I thought you were taking a position at the Mayo?"
"Well, that is the other attraction – Bob said they have confirmed funding from a donor and have been sorting what to do with the money. Bob wants to set up a Neurology Wing – only on the proviso that I develop the plans and run both it and the hospital."
Katie didn't realize she was holding her breath the whole time Reid was speaking then. He obviously had no idea where the money was coming from. He is not going to be happy. Unless, maybe he does know and that is why he is returning – no that's ridiculous. Luke and Reid always acted like they hated each other, but she knew their true feelings were just as strong but more like desire or love. Those two were pretty intense during their short and steamy relationship before Reid ran away from it all. But it was messy when it ended. Really messy. And Luke was broken for so long. She is going to have a serious talk with her husband tonight. He really needs to run all thoughts passed her before he acts on them.
"Hello, earth to Katie"
"Reid, shit sorry. Its just, Reid, do you know where the money for the new wing is coming from?"
"Well it better be set in stone cause I have quite my job here, packed my unit and I arrive in Oakdale tomorrow."
"What – why didn't you call me earlier? And Reid, its not that its not set in stone, I know it is."
"How do you know that? Since Chris hadn't even mentioned I was coming?"
"Umm, the donor is the Grimaldi Foundation. And the CEO is on the hospital Board to help design the new wing – so that means you and Luke will be working directly together as of tomorrow."
Shit. Fuck. Fuck.