Chapter 379: Beaulieu Manor

Saturday, February 4th, Evening (Eastern Standard Time)

With a heavy sigh, Lucas walked into the parlor and found his twin daughters. Kay sat in a chair with a band working on her shoulder. Kay's girlfriend, Ivy, sat across from her, watching. Looking over to the parlor, Ellie sat at a table doing something on a tablet.

"Kay, Ellie," Lucas said.

Kay looked over to Lucas, and Ellie looked up from her tablet. His two daughters looked at him with their blue eyes.

"Yes, Dad," Kay said.

"Yes, Dad," Ellie said.

"Could you come with me, please," Lucas said.

"Sure, Dad," Kay said and took the band off her right arm.

Ellie sighed, "Okay, Dad," she said, and she put the tablet down and locked it.

Lucas watched as Kay got, kissed Ivy, and headed over to Lucas. Ellie was a little slower getting up and joined her twin and Lucas.

"Follow me," Lucas said.

"Where are we going?" Ellie asked.

"My office," Lucas said.

"Why your office?" Ellie asked.

"We need to talk privately," Lucas said.

"That's not good," Kay said.

"What's this about?" Ellie asked.

"Patience," Lucas said as he led his twin daughters up to his office.

Lucas directed the twins to sit on the sofa. Kay and Ellie took a seat on the sofa; Lucas turned a chair around and faced his two daughters.

"Is this like when you gave us the talk?" Ellie asked.

"Umm…" Lucas said.

"God, I've tried to forget about that," Kay said.

"It was so embarrassing," Ellie said.

"Yeah, we knew more than he did," Kay said.

"Good memories," Ellie said and laughed.

"Yeah, good memories," Kay said, in agreement, laughing.

"Mhmm," Lucas said.

"So, seriously, Dad, what's this about?" Ellie asked.

"Yeah, Dad," Kay said.

Lucas took a deep breath and let it out in a sigh. He felt his hands start to shake. Lucas could tell their mirth was slowly changing to concern.

"You're not sick, are you, Dad?" Kay asked.

"Dad, talk to us," Ellie said.

Lucas tried to wet his mouth. This conversation would be difficult, like when he told Sawyer. "Well, I've been," he paused and bobbled his head to think of how to say it, "Not well my whole life. As you know, I have HCM," he said.

Kay nodded, "I remember getting tested," she said.

Ellie nodded as well, "Me too," he said.

"There are times when the medicine stops working. That's what is happening to me," Lucas said.

"Dad, what are you saying?" Ellie asked.

"You're not dying on me? I can't have you die on me," Kay said.

"No, hopefully not yet, Kay," Lucas said.

"You better not die," Kay said, "I can't take it if you died."

Lucas sighed, "I don't want to die either," he said.

"You better not, Dad," Kay said.

"So, Dad, what are your options?" Ellie asked.

"When the basketball season is over, I'll start shifting my work duties, and hopefully, if all holds strong, I'll have open-heart surgery in the summer to help with my issues," Lucas said.

"Is it safe to wait that long?" Ellie asked.

"For now," Lucas said.

"Are you sure, Dad?" Kay asked.

"Yes, but your sisters have expressed the same concern," Lucas said.

"Maybe, you should've listened to Candi," Ellie said.

"It's my body and my say," Lucas said.

"But you're part of our lives; we should have some input, Dad," Kay said.

"I understand, but it's my call," Lucas said.

"Dad, we can't lose you," Kay said.

"It's my choice, Kay," Lucas said.

"It seems like a selfish choice to me," Kay said.

"Kay, I've been rather indulgent on most of Y'all, and from my perspective, how you're acting is selfish," Lucas said.

"Dad, Kay, please, let's not argue," Ellie said.

"Els, you're not validating my feelings on this," Kay said.

"Kay, believe me, I'm having many of the same feelings," Ellie said.

"So, why aren't you expressing them?" Kay asked.

"Because you are," Ellie said, "Someone has to stay level-headed in all this."

"He's risking his life; it's not fair to us," Kay said, tears starting to well up in her eyes.

"I agree, it's not fair to us, but I can also see it from his side; he wants to live his life as well," Ellie said.

"He shouldn't risk it," Kay said.

"Kay, I'm going to be down here for a while. I'll keep an eye on Dad, so will Aunt Brooke, and let's not forget Sawyer," Ellie said.

Kay nodded.

"Is there anything else?" Lucas asked.

The twins nodded. Lucas nodded and led them back to the parlor. Lucas stood in the door and watched the twins separate, going back to where they were before he called them away.

Lucas watched as Ellie carefully walked back to where her tablet sat. She picked it up and walked out of the parlor. About halfway between the table and door, Ellie stopped; she looked at Lucas.

"I'm going out, I need to think, and possibly a drink," Ellie said, shook her head, and started walking. Ellie un-shyly pushed by Lucas, and if looks could kill, Ellie's would.

Kay, on the other hand, went right to Ivy. Ivy stood up and looked at Kay.

"Karen, what's wrong?" Ivy asked.

Kay hugged her girlfriend and buried her face into Ivy's shoulder. The young woman from Chicago didn't know how to react initially. Ivy stood. Their hands at her side, confused. Finally, she reached up and started to comfort Kay.

"It's okay, Karen," Ivy said, "What's wrong?"

Kay mumbled something, and Ivy nodded. "There, there, take your time," Ivy said.

Ivy rubbed Kay's back and looked up at Lucas. Twice in the past few minutes, Lucas saw murder in women's eyes, and both were directed at him.