Chapter 702: Tree Hill
Wednesday, March 15th, Afternoon
He sat in front of the desk, a strange feeling considering most times he's the one behind the desk. Lucas Scott flipped and looked at the nicely dressed man and nodded. Lucas looked at the corner to see the lab coat hanging coat rack.
"Lucas, how are you feeling?" the doctor asked.
"Been feeling more fatigue and sluggish," Lucas said.
The doctor nodded, "That tracks," he said.
"What tracks?" Lucas asked.
"Your condition," the doctor said.
"What about it?" Lucas asked.
"We can't wait for the end of the school year," the doctor said.
"What do you mean? Please, give it to me straight," Lucas said.
"Okay," the doctor said, "Your heart is getting worse, and if we wait until June, it might be too late."
Lucas nodded solemnly, "So, what are we talking about?" he asked.
The doctor nodded, "The same procedure as before, just sooner," he said.
"How much sooner?" Lucas asked.
The doctor looked at him, "The earliest date right now is April 11th," the doctor said.
Lucas nodded, "Book it," he said.
"You're positive?" the doctor asked.
"Yes," Lucas said.
"Alright, you're booked," the doctor said.
"Is there anything else?" Lucas asked.
"We'll be setting up some appointments to clear you for surgery," the doctor said.
"Okay, do we need to make them now?" Lucas asked.
"No, I have to find the availability, and we'll be in contact," the doctor said.
"Okay, can I go?" Lucas asked.
"Yes, you can, Lucas," the doctor said.
Lucas nodded; he stood up and left the doctor's office. He left the building and headed to his veteran SUV. Lucas drove from the doctor's office and headed to the river. Lucas drove along the river road.
As he drove along the river, Lucas looked out as the river passed by. His mind drifted back to his past and his childhood, where he grew up along the river. He remembered playing first along the bank and then on the River Court with a basketball.
He paused as pulled up to the River Court. Lucas idled his veteran SUV and looked at the two lonely basketball hoops; he remembered the countless hours he played here with his friends or just hung out here and spent time with friends.
Lucas drove further along the river and came to a quiet patch of the road. He pulled over to park his veteran SUV and got out of his veteran SUV. Lucas walked along the river banks and studied the place where the river and shore met.
In a lot of ways, this was where the journey began. Lucas looked over the place; he remembered that moment. Brooke has a saying that fits places like here and moments like what he remembered. "The moment that everything changed."
Lucas sighed and bent down on one knee, and touched the ground. Finally, he stood up, returned to his veteran SUV, and got into it. Pulling away, he turned back towards Tree Hill.
As the more rural road changed, Lucas knew he was entering Tree Hill. He smiled as he passed the building that bore his family name. It was his wife's dream to have a building for her music label. They finished the building about three and a half years ago. But he wasn't going there.
Lucas drove his veteran SUV to a nearby coffee shop. The coffee shop was popular with those working in the Scott Building. Lucas had sampled the coffee at Roasters Coffee Shop several times, and today he'll be doing this as well.
Parking the car, Lucas got out and walked to the coffee shop. He entered the place of business and got in line. Lucas looked around the coffee shop and waited to head to the barista. Lucas ordered his coffee and a pastry, then went to a place to sit and wait.
When everything was done, a barista brought Lucas his coffee and pastry. He sat at the table, enjoyed his baked goods, and sipped his coffee. He looked out the coffee shop's window at the river.
There was fog rolling over the river. The cold was returning; Lucas hoped it wouldn't hang around like it did a few weeks ago. Lucas closed his eyes and thought about his life; the fog was ominous.
Lucas thought about everything he had to do before this all would go down. Of course, there would be all the preparations for the operation. Who would he tell first? He would have to tell his daughters and Keith when he got home, which would be soon. One that he would have to talk to first would be his oldest, Candi, a doctor working on her cardiac specialty.
He took a sip of his coffee and finished his pastry. Quickly brushing off the table, Lucas stood up and left, bringing his coffee with him. He got to his veteran SUV and drove off, and watched as the fog rolled in more and more from the river.
Lucas watched the traffic and sighed. He drove through the streets and through the intersection where Kay had her accident. Lucas took a deep breath and remembered how his daughter's life changed that cold and icy night on this street.
Lucas drove through Tree Hill; he passed Club TRIC. Later he passed by the former location of his mom's cafe. He soon left the downtown section of Tree Hill, drove down the street he used to live on, and pulled into Leighton's driveway.
Lucas looked at the place he once called home. He sighed a nostalgic sigh and drove out the back entrance. He set the nose of the veteran SUV towards his new home of Beaulieu Manor.