Chapter 777: Beaulieu Manor
Tuesday, March 28th, Late Morning
This was something he missed, being a dad. He got up and brought his two kids to school. Since yesterday was Monday, he even got to bring his wife to the airport so she could return to Washington, DC, and her job in Congress. Since he was effectively on vacation, he had time to kill. Some parts of him told him to go to work and return to his work life. It's only been a few days, and he wanted to pick up his kids.
Keith took a moment and stepped outside the Privy Gardens to get fresh air. He pulled his coat closer to himself and looked over the sleeping plants. Beaulieu had beautiful gardens; his mother-in-law, Brooke Davis, spent a lot on them, but Keith always thought his dad's, now his home, Leighton, had better gardens, many wild planted.
He blew on his hands to warm them. It was cold, but it was beginning to warm up. Keith exhaled and took in the very early spring scents. He leaned forward and supported himself on a banister rail. Looking out of the plants, he could see the green of some of the shrubs, which were starting to take its spring-deep green.
The door opened behind him; Keith looked over his shoulder and saw his sister, Dr. Candace "Candi" Scott, MD, FAAP, walk out and take her place beside him. Keith only had to look down to meet Candi's eyes slightly; she was almost as tall as Keith. Candi sighed and brushed some bangs out of her eyes.
"Hey, how are you doing?" Candi asked.
"Today, so far, has been a good day," Keith said.
"Ellis and Nomi are over the moon that you're back," Candi said.
Keith smiled, "Yeah, it's great, isn't it," he said.
"Yeah, it is," Candi said.
"Like when the twins were young," Keith said.
"More like Sawyer," Candi said.
Keith nodded and smiled, "Yeah, that's closer," he said.
Candi nodded, "You've not asked why I'm here," she said.
Keith shrugged, "I just figured you missed your big brother so much that you had to be here when I got back," he said.
Candi smacked Keith's arm. "You're only taller than me; I'm older," she said.
"I graduated first," Keith said.
"Out of pity and the fact I started a year late," Candi said.
"Yeah, whatever," Keith said.
"Doesn't this shtick ever get old?" Candi asked.
"No, since you keep falling for it," Keith said.
"Anyway, can we have a serious discussion?" Candi asked.
Keith nodded, noticing Candi took a severe tone in her voice. "Okay, as long as you don't try to psycho-analyze me," he said.
"Well, I'm not that type of doctor," Candi said.
"You're what a proctologist?" Keith asked.
"No, but if I was, then I could head shrink you," Candi said.
"What? Hey!" Keith said.
"I'm a pediatrician working on a second specialty in cardiology, so if you had chicken pox, I'm who you see," Candi said.
"Okay, so you're saying I have my head up my ass?" Keith asked.
"Yeah, something like that," Candi said.
"Yeah, you and Izzy. I've probably been accused of that more than I care to acknowledge," Keith said.
"You're a guy," Candi said. "So, why am I in Tree Hill?"
"Yeah, why are you?" Keith asked.
"You know Dad and his heart issues," Candi said.
"Yeah, when I got into sports, I was tested for the same condition; my mom insisted, no demanded it," Keith said.
"He was going to have surgery in June," Candi said.
"I remember he wanted to wait for the school year to end and me to be home," Keith said.
"Yeah, he's having it on the twelfth," Candi said.
"What?" Keith asked.
"It got worse, and they couldn't hold off any longer," Candi said.
Keith nodded, "So, that's why you're here?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm sort of advocating for Dad," Candi said.
Keith nodded, "That explains you, but Ellie?" he asked.
"Brooke," Candi said.
Keith sighed, "Aunt Brooke involved, that means, well, especially with Ellie, that means she got herself into trouble," he said, "It being Ellie, it's big."
"I don't know the details, but it sounds like what you said," Candi said.
Keith grunted, "So, what is new with you?" he asked.
"I'm in a wedding," Candi said.
Keith laughed. "You're in a wedding, the biggest commitment phobe," he said.
Candi shrugged, "I'm friends with the bride," she said.
"God, you in an ugly bridesmaid's dress," Keith said.
"Don't remind me," Candi said.
"They'll be able to get you away from work long enough to attend a wedding, never mind being part of it?" Keith asked.
Candi nodded, "Yeah, the head of my program wants me to be, how do you say, more human," Candi said.
"Shocker there," Keith said.
"Anyway, I want to be there for Dani," Candi said.
"The bride?" Keith asked.
"Yeah," Candi said.
"Yeah, and also wearing an ugly dress," Keith said.
Candi nodded, "To Brooke's horror," she said.
"What's on your mind?" Keith asked.
"Nothing," Candi said.
"Don't bullshit a bullshitter," Keith said.
"Something I need to work out," Candi said.
"You sure?" Keith asked.
Candi nodded, "Yeah, for now," she said.
"I trust you," Keith said.
"Thank you," Candi said.
"You're welcome," Keith said.
"Thanks for looking out for me," Candi said.
"I always do," Keith said.
"I know," Candi whispered and looked off into the garden.