Chapter 364 – Beginning with a Daring Encounter

“I think I’m jealous of my dad,” Benne said, and Celsie laughed as she stepped out of her office dress and placed it in the laundry basket.

Benne watched her in surprise since she didn’t seem embarrassed as she usually was to take off her clothes in front of him. He didn’t comment on it and just followed her movement with his eyes as she walked into the closet to find something to wear.

“No need to be jealous. Don’t worry. I promise to get you something better on your birthday,” she called out to him, “What do you think I should wear?”

“Something comfortable. I could give you one of my t-shirts,” Benne offered as he walked into the closet to join her.

“Why haven’t you taken off your clothes yet?” Celsie asked when she raised her head and noticed that he was still fully dressed, apart from his shoes which he had taken off the moment they walked into the bedroom.

“Because I’m waiting for you to do it. I told you it’s your duty to undress me until you can look at my naked body without feeling embarrassed, remember?” He said, and she raised a brow.

“You said you would undress me too, but I just did so myself,” she pointed out.

“I could take off your undies if you want me to, but what I can’t assure you is that we will make it downstairs in time to set the table with the others,” Benne said with a naughty smile, and Celsie laughed.

“And you believe I have more self-control than you do? Take off your clothes,” Celsie ordered as she unzipped her suitcase and took out a black mini jean skirt and a floral patterned t-shirt.

“That sounds hot,” Benne joked, and Celsie giggled.

“What is going to be hot is your sister’s temper when she gets there before you. Join us when you’re ready,” Celsie said as she walked out of the closet with her clothes in hand and went to dress up in front of the mirror.

She was glad that she and Benne had been able to put the unpleasantness of earlier behind them. Now the major thing on her mind was how she was going to tell Lucas about Rachel.

She was going to have to tell him about it at some point that evening, as she doubted that she would find the courage to tell him about it if she kept it to herself for much longer.

“Are you okay?” Benne asked as he stepped out of the closet, already dressed in a white t-shirt and jean shorts, while she was just buttoning her t-shirt.

“Yeah. If you were Lucas, would you want me to tell our parents about Rachel first before telling you?” Celsie asked curiously.

“The wise thing would be to tell your parents so that you all find a way to tell him about it as a family, but the best thing for him would be to tell him about it first. I’m not sure I would appreciate it if either Jade or Bryan went behind me to tell my parents something about you,” Benne said, and Celsie nodded.

“So I have to tell Lucas about Rachel before telling my parents,” Celsie said, and Benne nodded.

“We could just tell our parents together at the same time. Why don’t you stay back and give Lucas a call right now? Then we can tell our parents about Anita and Rachel after dinner tonight?” Benne asked, and Celsie shook her head.

“It can wait. I have to join you guys in setting up…”

“It shouldn’t wait. I will do your share of the work. I’m sure the others will understand. Just give him a call right now, and join us when you are done,” Benne said as he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead before walking out of the bedroom.

Lucas sat on the edge of the bed he had spent most of his childhood with his face buried in his hands as he thought about his life.

Submitting his resignation letter had been more difficult than he had thought possible. The hospital’s medical director had refused to accept it and had insisted that he give him a proper explanation for his resignation.

“You are one of my best doctors. I would be crazy to let you leave,” the medical director had said, throwing Lucas’ resignation letter in the trashcan as he got off his seat.

“I understand how you feel, Dr. Drew, but I’m sorry, my mind is made up,” Lucas said apologetically.

“No, you don’t understand! I’m retiring by the end of the year, and I was going to hand over to you. How can you just quit? How can your mind be made up? You asked for some time off, and I gave it to you. If you need some more time off, then you can have it, but I’m not letting you go, Lucas. You are not just a doctor here; you are also my friend,” Dr. Drew insisted even though he was old enough to be Lucas’ father.

Lucas was almost tempted to tell him that playing tennis with him in his spare time hardly made them friends. But that would be too rude considering that it seemed like the man actually considered him a friend. He had always thought the man invited him to play tennis with him because he was bored.

“I can’t continue to work here,” Lucas insisted.

“Why? What is wrong? Did you get a better offer? Is there something I can do?” Dr. Drew asked, looking at him with such concern in his eyes that Lucas started to feel guilty.

“It is not you. And this has nothing to do with getting a better offer either. I’m just done here. I’m done with this phase of my life, don’t you get it?” Lucas asked in a half yell, and Dr. Drew took a closer look at him when he heard the frustration in his voice.

“Are you okay? Are the wedding plans stressing you out?” He asked when he noticed Lucas’ bloodshot eyes.

“No. It’s not the wedding. The wedding is off. We are not getting married anymore,” Lucas said, making Dr. Drew move away from his desk.

“You are not getting married anymore? Did Rachel break up with you?” He asked in surprise since he knew that they had been dating since their high school days.

“Are you okay?” He asked as an afterthought thinking that Lucas was heartbroken because Rachel dumped him.

Lucas took in a deep breath, “I ended things with Rachel. Her father got me this job and…”

“Is that it? So you are quitting because you broke up with her? Did you think I’m going to fire a young doctor of your caliber because you had a fallout with your fiance, and my friend wants me to fire you? You think I gave you this job just because of your relationship with my friend’s daughter?” Dr. Drew asked incredulously.

“It doesn’t matter. None of that matters. I don’t want any ties with her or her family. I don’t want them to think they made me who I am. I don’t want to ever have to feel like I owe them. I’m deeply sorry,” Lucas said with a shake of his head.

“Even if you’ve made up your mind, you will have to give at least four weeks’ notice as stated in our agreement. Not that I can ever replace a doctor of your worth, but I will need time to get someone to take over from you. What about your patients?” Dr. Drew asked, and Lucas shook his head once again.

“Take a good look at me, Dr. Drew. Do you honestly think that I’m in the state of mind to handle any case at the moment?” Lucas asked, and without waiting for Dr. Drew to say anything else, he gave him a polite bow and walked out of the office.

Somehow, before he got to his office, news had spread all over the clinic, and two female nurses and a male nurse were waiting for him outside his office.

“Dr. Miller, is it true? Are you really leaving us?” One of the ladies asked as he approached.

“It’s true. I know it is sudden, and I’m sorry. But I have to go,” Lucas said as he walked past them into his office, not willing to be drawn into another emotional confrontation since he could already see the tears gathered in the eyes of one of the nurses who he knew had a crush on him.

As he packed his belongings into a box, there was a knock on his office door, and he took a deep breath, “Come in.”

The door opened, and his heart broke when a lady wheeled her twelve-year-old son, who was his patient, into his office, “Dr. Miller…” The child’s voice broke when his eyes fell on the box which was partially filled with Lucas’ personal effects, and tears gathered in his eyes.

In his misery, he had forgotten about most of his patients, “Denv,” Lucas called softly as he went around his desk to meet the child who had been his patient for the past two years.

“Please don’t leave,” the young boy begged as tears flowed down his cheeks.

“Please don’t do that,” Lucas pleaded as he crunched down in front of the kid and brushed away the kid’s tears with his thumb.

“Why are you leaving, Dr. Miller?” The kid’s mother asked, sounding equally emotional.

“I need a break. I need a change of environment. I’m sorry,” Lucas apologized.

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