Chapter 796: Beaulieu Manor
Thursday, March 30th, Evening
In the past, he lived in New York City. He would listen to the local Fox 5 Channel as he would write in his study. Every night at 10 PM, the local news would come on. The broadcast would open with the same line, "It's 10 PM. Do you know where your children are?" At first, it would puzzle him how parents could not know where their children are. He would think back to his childhood, and his single mom and kind of came to an adult understanding of what that meant. What that tagline meant to him was the indication to stop, check on his kids, and spend time with his wife.
Lucas looked at the venerable clock in his study; the hands read 10 PM. Ellie told him they don't do the line anymore. Also, most of his children were grown. When he noticed it was 10 PM, he would think about each and tick off where they were. It was easy; four were under this very roof, and one he didn't know because she lived away. But he still did it.
A knock on the door broke his thoughts. Lucas turned to see his oldest standing at the door. Candi was looking him over with her observant eye, which had made her a Nancy Lieberman Award finalist point guard and what makes her a solid doctor.
"You're doing it again," Candi said.
"Doing what?" Lucas asked.
"Checking off where we all are," Candi said.
Lucas shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about," Lucas said.
"Peyton told me you did that," Candi said, "I also grew up watching Fox 5 New York, and I've not missed it's ten o'clock."
"So? It's ten O'clock," Lucas said.
"Ellie's out, but the rest of us are here, and Lord knows what Kay's doing," Candi said. It always comes down to the twins."
"All of y'all had your moments," Lucas said.
"The twins more so than the rest," Candi said.
"Hmm," Lucas muttered.
Candi canted her head, "What was that hmm for?" she asked.
"You don't remember, do you?" Lucas asked.
"Remember what?" Candi asked.
"Y'all were about the same amount of trouble, just at different times," Lucas said.
"What are you implying?" Candi asked.
"Everyone has tough times, everyone falters, and everyone suffers," Lucas said.
Candi nodded, "I remember," she said, "I had my times where I was off."
Lucas nodded, "I remember, you've turned your life mostly around," he said.
"Mostly?" Candi asked.
"You're my workaholic," Lucas said and shrugged.
"What I want to accomplish, I have to be a bit of a workaholic," Candi said.
"I know," Lucas said.
"Do you?" Candi asked.
"I do," Lucas said, "It still doesn't mean I still don't worry about you."
"Dad, I'm thirty-two years old; you don't have to worry about me," Candi said.
"I know, but I am also your dad, and you never stop worrying about your children," Lucas said, his voice filled with love and concern.
"Even Kay?" Candi asked.
"All of you," Lucas said.
Candi nodded and sat down across from Lucas. She rested her hands in her lap and looked over at her dad. Their eyes met, and she nodded, a silent understanding passing between them, a bond forged through years of shared experiences and mutual love.
"So, what brings this nostalgia trip on?" Candi asked.
Lucas shrugged, "I don't know," he said.
"Could it be your upcoming surgery?" Candi asked.
Lucas shrugged, "I don't know," he said, his voice betraying a hint of uncertainty.
"It's a major step," Candi said.
"I've known about my condition since I was sixteen," Lucas said, his tone reflecting his acceptance and resilience, "I've also known that it's a condition that I could only mitigate, not eliminate."
"While true, it doesn't mean it's not heart surgery, and you could be nervous Dad," Candi said.
"I always knew this was a possibility," Lucas said.
"You don't have to be the stoic pillar of strength for us," Candi said, "We're mostly grown."
"Sawyer is still a teenager," Lucas said.
"But she's not alone," Candi said.
"You mean Keith?" Lucas asked.
"Ellie's still here," Candi said.
"For how long?" Lucas asked.
Candi nodded, "Dad, you need to relax and process," she said.
Lucas sighed, "I have a week to make sure everything is in order," he said, "Have to make sure Sawyer is taken care of."
"Dad, you have to let go," Candi said.
Lucas shook his head, "Sometimes you can't let go," he said.
"It's not healthy," Candi said.
"I'm not healthy; I've never been healthy," Lucas said.
"You need to take care of yourself," Candi said.
"Why?" Lucas asked.
"Sawyer, Nomi, and Ellis," Candi said, "There are three very good reasons there."
"It's been thirty-two years of my life, Candi," Lucas said.
"I know, I know, Dad," Candi said.
Lucas lowered his head onto his desk. Candi watched as he rested his head on the desk, still as a statue. The room took on the silence of a tomb. Finally, Lucas lifted his head and looked at Candi.
"I promise I'll take care of it once Sawyer is off to college," Lucas said.
"It might be too late then," Candi said.
"We shall see then," Lucas said.