Chapter 48 : Goodbyes

This night after coming home, they decided to call Morgan and Alex. At this time, they must have been home - in fact Morgan' home to be honest - Alex slept there almost all nights, for months. They were the only people with Mrs. Weeks they really wanted to talk about their crazy life project. Claire called Morgan. In less than three ringtones, she answered.

"Hey Claire, what's going on? You miss me, right?"

"Shut up! I've something important to tell you. And I do miss you but it's not the moment to have a girl talk."

"I knew it ! You're free on Saturday? We could go to restaurant and dance?"

"With pleasure ! It feels so good to imagine! You come and get me? Alex can come and stay with Neil?"

"Great idea! They could talk about golf or all these annoying things they like. And now I'm listening!"

"Alex is there? Call him. I'm with Neil and we would like to announce you something… And no I'm not pregnant, Morgan."

She looked at Neil and whispered "yet" in a very low voice. He smiled. He did know she wanted to have kids. It was just not the good time. He kissed her in the neck, making her shiver. She rested her head on his shoulder while she kept talking.

"In fact, we wanted to tell you first that we have found new positions. We're leaving Bonaventure hospital in three months."

There were some seconds of silence, then… "Oh my God, but this is amazing!" Morgan was literally yelling in her phone. Claire and Neil could barely hear Alex who was next to her. "I mean this is why you wanted since you're back. I'm so happy for you. Even if it means you will be like 3000 miles away from us and it's a lot. But it is so important for you."

"Congratulations to you too. Hope you can hear me because I'm sitting next to a crazy woman."

"Oh shut up, I know you like this."

Alex and Morgan kept talking together for like 2 minutes. Neil and Claire laughed while listening to them. They were so funny. Yet at first, it was not the impression they gave to us. Almost ten years later, they have learned to know them and to be fair, they were happy to have them in their life. They spent the rest of the night to talk about Raleigh and their new jobs.

"What about you going at our home on Saturday night? I know we talked about going outside Claire but maybe we can postpone to the next weekend?"

"It will be great!"

[…]

Neil and Claire went to work each day, trying to find a way to announce they were leaving. Days passed and they still had no ideas how to tell their coworkers that in three months they won't be there anymore. They wanted to do things right. To tell them in advance, not to take them by surprise. But they feared their reactions. She was scared Shaun would break. It was a tough time for him and he was weak. Neil kept telling her, he was a big boy, that he had grown up a lot since he arrived in Bonaventure but she still saw him as his little brother she had to look after, the one she had to protect at any cost.

Neil was more scared about Audrey and Marcus' reactions. He had been knowing them for more than 20 years. They had been to university together, done their residency in the same hospital and finally worked in Bonaventure. He didn't know how they were gonna accept his decision. Especially after Audrey made it clear she was disappointed he chose Claire over her. But it was a fact, he was in love with Claire. To be honest, it was the first time he was feeling this way. If Audrey couldn't understand it, it was not his problem. He had already been honest with her, not hiding how he felt since Claire and he had been officially together. After all she was a growing up, she could handle it.

On Saturday, they met Morgan and Alex for dinner at Morgan's apartment. Finally, a moment where they could be frank and honest! Keeping their secret from the other ate them up from the inside.

"Still haven't say anything?" Alex asked them as they ate the beef roast Morgan had prepared in the afternoon.

"Not yet… We're looking for the best way to do it and the right moment…" Claire answered.

"Maybe there's no right moment… You just need to tell them, to clear the air. You'll feel better after. And if they are really your friends and colleagues, they'll be happy for you. Or they are only toxic people surrounded you."

This Alex's last line hit them. He was right. If they could not understand, they were not really their friends if they didn't accept their decision. Just Shaun will need some more time to proceed the information. But deep down, Claire knew he will understand.

"Enough talking about this, tell me how this hospital in Raleigh is? And this Dr. Cameron? What will you handle there? Morgan wants to know everything!"

Morgan managed to ease the atmosphere and made them all laugh. Claire and Neil explained their new jobs there and also their quick meeting with Dr. Cameron's husband who was a doctor there too.

"A pretty interesting character." Neil added. " I've never seen a doctor like this before! But I've made some researches on my own and apparently the guy is a crack when it comes to find the most complicated diagnosis. And he's not an… easy person, to say things politely."

"Or as I'll say, he's an ass. But you know… Being cutthroat is an excellent MO…"

Claire and Neil shared a look. He reminded them of one of their first moments… In the stairs when he told her she was smart, special, that she needed to play the game on her terms and that she didn't have to wait for it. One of the moments that determined her career, one of the moments that defined their relationship.

"What? You don't agree?"

"Oh yes we do! You were a queen to this game, Morgan."

"I still am."

"You should see her with the pharmaceutical commercials. She literally drags them and always gets what she wants. This is funny… And precious."

"Thanks, honey."

The night continued. Talking, sipping good wines, Claire and Morgan left the table when Neil and Alex started to talk about going golfing together.

"Oh God, if I hear him once again talking about golfing, I'm gonna slap him."

Claire laughed. "Same feeling here. I can't understand this new obsession they have for this sport that is not really one. But God, I don't say a word or he becomes crazy and spends hour to explain to me how golfing is amazing."

"I know. Alex is the same. Even if I've told him, this is the most idiotic game in the world, he keeps telling me I don't understand a thing. Anyway, ready for this new ride in Raleigh?"

"Kind of excited and anxious too. I mean I'm glad to leave San José and all the bad memories I've here. But I'm sad to leave you and Alex… And also Shaun even if we were less close those last years…"

"You don't really leave us, you just flee from earthquakes. " Morgan laughed.

"Oh God, yes. No more earthquake in my life or I could become crazy! But I definitively missed our night out!"

"Don't worry, we will find a way to come to Raleigh or to make you come for the clinic. You know, there'll always papers to sign."

"Or something to celebrate… I mean, Alex and you… It seems like it's working well."

"I don't have to complain."

"Really? Alex is one of the nicest guys I know! And he literally eats in your hand."

Morgan blushed. She didn't know how to admit she cared about this man, like she had barely before. He was nice to her. Maybe too much. And he made feel as she was important. Claire noticed her friend's uneasiness and pressed her forearm.

"I know the feeling. You will finally find the words. It will come with time. But don't stop holding to this feeling because it is the best I've ever experienced."

Claire left her friend and joined the table when Neil and Alex were debating over basketball. She dropped a kiss on Neil's cheek. Morgan joined them some minutes later bringing the dessert. The evening ended a few hours later when Neil and Claire came back to their car to go home. After this night with their friends, they were more appeased. As they went to bed this night, they had both decided that on Monday, they will tell all their friends and coworkers they were leaving Bonaventure by the end of the year.

[…]

"So, we do it this today."

"Yes, I've already called Marcus and Audrey and told them to go and have lunch with us today."

"Great. What about Shaun? I'd like to have more time to talk with him…"

He looked at her with his puppy eyes. She was too cute when she was worried for Shaun. "We can ask him to come here after his shift is over?"

She looked at him with a smile. "Thanks."

Marcus and Audrey came to Neil's office at lunch time. Claire was already here. She had stayed for the whole morning here to work on her files, not to be late. Like old time she sat cross-legged in the coach with her computer on her thighs. Neil sat at his desk and completed his patients' files.

"Hello everyone."

Claire and Neil got their heads out of their files. "Hey Marcus!"

"Audrey is with a patient, she'll be there in 10 minutes."

"Perfect, just time for us to get ready. What do you think about ordering some Italian food from Veronica's?"

"Sounds great."

Neil called his favorite restaurant and ordered enough pasta and pizza for the fourth of them. Audrey joined them later. Just in time to start eating with them.

"Sorry, I had a problem with a stubborn patient."

"Just in time, Veronica's just delivered our lunch."

She sat next to Marcus. Claire looked loudly at Neil. He nodded discreetly.

"So why did you ask us to come and have lunch with? Not that we didn't enjoy being with you but…"

"First, we thank you for being with us today. We wanted to tell you something before we make an official announcement. As friends and dear colleagues, we think it's important you know that…"

Neil took a deep breath. Claire took his hand. She nodded. "We're leaving." Claire preferred to be clear.

"You're taking a sabbatical once again?" Lim laid into abruptly.

Claire was surprised by the tone she had used.

"In fact, we're leaving Bonaventure, San José. We have taken a new job in Raleigh starting in January…"

Marcus and Audrey remained silent for a while. The atmosphere was heavy, weird, uneasy.

"This is great for you two. But why leaving? You have anything you like here? And what about the HR?"

"Actually, the HR already knows. They even gave us a departure date. We end on December, 17th. We still have some hours to catch and we start on Raleigh on January, 4Th."

Audrey didn't say a word. She didn't even look at them. Only Marcus talked. "It's gonna be weird not to see you around… But I guess you're pretty sure of your decision…"

"We are… Claire and I talked about this option for months before making a move. Then this opportunity came and we had a good feeling with Dr. Cameron and it was done."

"I don't know how to explain. Neil and I just felt it was the good moment to start something new. This trip in Thailand really changed us, the way we look at things, at life…"

Neil looked at her. "We just knew. And this is excited and scary but I can't wait to take this new start."

"So congratulations! I really hope you find what you are looking for in Raleigh. Right, Audrey?"

Audrey gave them a faint smile. "Of course. Congratulations for this fresh start. We all miss you so much here. Bonaventure won't be the same without you."

They ended to eat and Marcus and Audrey left Neil's office. Marcus shook his hand and hugged Claire before leaving. "Glad for you, guys."

Audrey nodded at them and gave a smile. "Congratulations and good luck in this new chapter of your life."

As they vanished in the corridor, Claire took Neil's hand in hers and rested her head on his arm. "That was… weird."

He laughed. "Totally… But I'm feeling better. They know. Even if Audrey didn't feel so happy for us. Marcus was surprised but I'm sure he enjoys us starting a new life."

Neil remembered the talking he had with Audrey some weeks ago. When she told him she hoped he had chosen her over Claire. But he'd rather not tell Claire about it because it was irrelevant. He was leaving the city where he learned to be a good doctor, where he almost lost his life and met the love of his life. There was no place for drama here. He turned to Claire.

"She'll get over it. Let's focus on us. And also let's find the best way to tell Shaun the news."

He leaned on Claire and kissed her. "I thought we agreed not to do this in here?"

"Don't care what they say, we're leaving!"

And she leaned on him to kiss him deeper while giggling. The definition of happiness for both of them.