Chapter 716: Beaulieu Manor
Saturday, March 18th, Morning
He sat on the sofa in the Lady Parlor and watched one of the young women set up the laptop on the coffee table. One woman finished the laptop set up and joined the other two on the sofa. She watched the laptop as people started calling in. The people were let into the call, and their faces appeared on the screen.
Lucas looked across the coffee table at his daughters, Ellie, Sawyer, and daughter-in-law, Izzy. He then looked onto the screen to see his daughters Candi and Kay, his mom, Karen, and sister, Angela. He licked his lips, made eye contact with everyone, then sighed.
"Thank you for giving me the time, I'll try to make this quick, and Candi's here if you have any technical questions," Lucas said.
"What's going on, Dad?" Sawyer asked.
"Uncle Lucas, are you alright?" Izzy asked.
"Lucas, what's going on?" Karen asked.
"Dad, I have to go to rehab," Kay said.
"It's important; let Dad talk," Ellie told Kay. Angela remained stoic on the screen.
"Don't start with me, sister," Kay said.
"That's right, I'm your sister, your twin sister," Ellie said.
"Karen! Elizabeth! Stop it now! You're no longer teenagers, act like it," Karen said.
"Yes, Grandma,": Kay said.
"Yes, Grandma," Ellie said.
"Your fifteen-year-old sister is acting more mature than both of you put together," Karen said.
"Yes, Grandma," Ellie said.
"Yes, Grandma," Kay said.
Lucas nodded and adjusted his henley shirt, and got comfortable. Collecting together were most of the women in his family. It was a scary prospect to him, and considering he's the patriarch of this family, he had to deal with many formidable women.
"Uncle Lucas," he heard; it was Izzy; she always called him that. She could've easily started to call him dad, but she didn't.
"Yes, Izzy," Lucas said.
"Why did you ask us here?" Izzy asked.
That was Izzy always wanting to get to the point. Izzy was busy, and Lucas felt that dealing with the eclectic personalities of her in-laws caused her to lose her mind. Izzy also came from a large family of women, but there was a more established hierarchy.
"Yes, I did ask you together, and this was going to be quick, but the twins went off on each other again," Lucas said.
"Dad, we did not!" Ellie said.
"Yes, Dad, we didn't," Kay said.
"Enough!" Lucas roared.
"Yes, Dad," Ellie said.
"Yes, Dad," Kay said.
"Luke, what do you want to talk about?" Angela asked, stirring the conversation away from the twin's usual sniping.
"As you know, I was planning to have surgery after the school year," Lucas said.
"Yes," Sawyer said mutely.
"Well, my condition has gotten worse. My surgery has been moved up to April Eleventh; as you know, they will work on my heart to make it work better," Lucas said.
"When did you find out?" Kay asked.
"Earlier this week," Lucas said.
"Why did you wait until today?" Kay asked.
"I wanted as many of you to be present when I told you," Lucas said.
"I bet you told Candi first," Kay said.
"Yes, I was consulted on his condition after Dad chose to push up his surgery," Candi said.
"Why do you get to know first?" Kay asked.
"I'm a medical doctor, Kay," Candi said.
"So?" Kay asked.
"Would you behave, Kay?" Izzy asked.
"I'm talking about being disrespected," Kay said.
"You weren't disrespected, Kay; he went to Candi because of her medical training. The point of this meeting is that he tells us all at once. No one is more important than another," Izzy said.
"That's how I feel, and you're devaluing my feelings," Kay said.
"Are you feeling offended, Kay?" Karen asked.
"Yes," Kay said.
"Are you feeling hurt?" Karen asked.
"Yes," Kay said.
"Did it change anything? Do you know that your dad is getting his surgery sooner? Did it change him needing the surgery?" Karen asked.
"I don't know," Kay said.
"It didn't, and get over yourself," Karen said.
"Why are you like this?" Kay asked.
"I am, for one, tired of you acting like an entitled brat every time it involves anyone else and your dad," Karen said.
"Fine if you feel that way," Kay said, disconnecting from the call.
"Well, I never," Karen said.
"Luke, do you want me to fly down for your surgery?" Angela asked.
"I'm flying down for your surgery," Karen said.
"You don't have to, and Angela, you should be getting ready for the season," Lucas said.
"Are you sure?" Angela asked, "I can train anywhere."
"Stay home, look after Jess," Lucas said.
"I'll see you next week," Candi said.
"See you," Lucas said as Candi signed off.
"See you soon, Lucas," Karen said and signed off.
"Keep me informed," Angela said.
"Someone will," Lucas said as Angela signed off.
Lucas looked over the coffee table at the three women sitting on the sofa. Izzy leaned forward, her hair the darkest in the room.
"What are you doing about Kay?" Izzy asked.
"I'll give her a day or two, then reach out to her," Lucas said.
Izzy nodded and leaned back. Sawyer looked at Lucas,
"Kay needs to get over herself," Sawyer said.
"You're telling the truth," Ellie said.
Lucas shook his head and sighed.