His eyes drifted to the number on the screen, and he recognized thom’s number.
“Kevin, what’s up?”
“I heard about your Uncle Thad. I’m so sorry.”
“How did you find out so fast? I haven’t had a chance to say a word to anyone.” Kevin’s face creased with surprise.
“Word travels fast in the medical community. You didn’t think losing one of the finest internists in Los Angeles would go unnoticed, would you?”
“I suppose not.”
“So what’s going to happen to the practice?”
“I’m not sure yet. My uncle left everything to me.”
“What! He gave you the practice?” Kevin moved his phone away from his ear.
“Not only the practice, but the real estate as well.”
“You lucky devil. You don’t know how lucky you are. You’re going to be the envy of every doctor in the LA medical association. That practice must be worth over a million. Wait till the other residents hear about this.”
“Brian, please don’t say anything to anyone yet. I still haven’t decided what I’m going to do.”
“What do you mean you haven’t decided what to do? You’re going to take over his practice aren’t you?”
Kevin remained silent.
“C’mon, you’re not seriously thinking about selling that practice, are you?”
“I’m not sure at this stage what I’m going to do. Right now, I need to focus on helping my Aunt Deloris pick up the pieces.”
“I’m sorry, here I am babbling about the future of your practice, and you’re still grieving over the loss of your uncle. All I’m saying is to take your time to think things through. Don’t jump into something you might regret. I really called to let you know that Lisa and I are praying for you and your family and to let you know that we’re here whenever you need a friend to talk to.”
“Thanks, your support means a lot to me. Tell Lisa that I appreciate her prayers.”
“Will do. How’s the girl doing?”
“Girl? You mean Stephanie?”
“Yeah, that’s who I meant.”
“She’s doing better. It’s been a long road, but we’ve come a long way since I first moved to Mendocino. She’s done so much to help me get my life back on track.”
“She really means a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
“More than words can express.” A smile formed on Kevin’s lips.
“She must be some kind of special woman to bring you back from the living dead. Hey, I know what. Lisa and I would love to go out on a double date with you two sometime if she’s ever in town.”
“I’m sure Stephanie would love that. Maybe sometime in the future. Right now isn’t a good time.”
“Of course, I understand.”
A loud noise from upstairs caught his attention. “Hey, I’ve got to go. I think my aunt is ready to leave for the funeral home.”
“Okay, I’ll let you go. Tell your aunt Lisa and I send our condolences.”
“Sure thing.” Kevin hung up the phone and folded the album shut. Wiping his face, he quickly stood and walked around the room to the kitchen. He had just finished his glass of water when he heard his Aunt Deloris come through the door.
“You ready son?”
“Yes Aunt Deloris. Let’s go.”
They made their way to the funeral home and began picking out a casket. The atmosphere was serene and quiet and brought chills down Kevin’s spine as they walked through rows of caskets to find the one they wanted. The experience seemed surreal, reminding him of his parents’ funeral ten years ago after their airplane crash. His Aunt Deloris stopped in front of a blue metal casket and looked back at him. On the inside of the lid were white birds. Engraved inside was one simple phrase. Soar with eagles until we meet again. He knew his uncle’s favorite color was blue and that his Aunt Deloris had finally decided on a casket. A female salesperson helped them with the paperwork and then they sat in a conference room, waiting on the next sales counselor who would help them to complete the final arrangements.
Kevin stepped out of the funeral home an hour later and held his aunt’s hand. Tears had poured from her eyes until they were puffy and red. They drove in silence as he took her home to rest. His aunt asked him what he wanted for dinner, but he told her not to cook, that he would order take out Chinese food instead. His aunt told him she had no appetite, but Kevin coaxed her to eat a good meal before she went to bed. Kissing her forehead, he told her he loved her and would see her in the morning. She murmured something he couldn’t make out before slipping in and out of sleep. Kevin knew her body was completely exhausted, and the lack of sleep over the last few days had begun to catch up with her. Smiling, he tread softly out of the room. He set the alarm and locked the door behind him before making his way back to the hotel.
Stephanie had been on his mind, and he longed to hear her calm, sweet voice again. But at the same time, he struggled with feelings of guilt as he wrestled with the decision about his uncle’s practice. Was there a happy solution to his dilemma? Kevin mumbled a quick prayer, asking God to help him know what to say to Stephanie. He picked up the phone and stared at it for what seemed like forever. He had Stephanie’s phone number pulled up, and all he had to do was just click on the call button. He hesitated, knowing he would have to break the bad news that it would take longer than he expected before he could return. He also knew he had to tell her the whole story about his uncle’s generous gift. Knowing Stephanie’s personality, he knew she would tell him to take over his uncle’s practice. He knew she only wanted what was best for him, and if that meant taking over a medical practice that was lucrative and financially stable, she would support his decision in a heartbeat. There was no denying the fact it was a great opportunity for him. But Kevin never saw himself working or running a big time facility like his uncle’s.
During his short stay in Mendocino, he had fallen in love with the lifestyle of a small town. It wasn’t only because of one major reason, but several. It was personal, and he liked knowing everyone in town. There was only one popular diner where everyone went for coffee before work, and there was one towering pine tree they lit at Christmas time in the town square. Everyone came together when there was a crisis or when someone needed help. There was one major church in Mendocino, and almost everyone in town attended church on Sundays. He enjoyed volunteering with the youth group and visiting the small chapel during the day or night to pray. Last, but not least, the town was nestled by the sea and the gentle sound of the waves lulled him to sleep at night and made everything feel peaceful and serene.
When Kevin had graduated from medical school, he had wanted to work in a fast-paced environment, to feel the adrenalin high that only the ER could bring. But now his outlook on life had changed. Since that fateful day of Rachel’s car accident and since he had met Stephanie, God had showed him a different path for his life. When he started residency at Harbor Hospital, he wanted to be respected and renowned just like Uncle Thad. Always worried about his career and getting farther in life, Kevin became a workaholic, never taking time for loved ones or to relax. He was too busy building a career. Even the people at the corner coffee house had become used to his ritual of two to three visits a day, and they even knew his order before he walked up to the counter.
Kevin efforts didn’t go unnoticed, and soon he was awarded a plaque of excellence by the hospital for his dedication. He had been so excited at the time, but now he saw it for what it really was, a symbol of the idol in his life that was meaningless and empty. It was just another distraction to keep him away from those he loved and his family. Yes, it would have been nice to enjoy the good life and a taste of success. But in the end, the award failed to satisfy the emptiness in his heart. He knew his priorities were wrong and that if he didn’t align them with God’s plan, he would ultimately lose everything he held dear if he weren’t careful. He now knew that having Stephanie in his life was more important than any award could ever be. He knew that, even though, his aunt and uncle had a comfortable lifestyle, the hustle and bustle and stress of running a large practice had caused his aunt to live a lonely life. Kevin cared too deeply for Stephanie to make her suffer the same fate.
While medicine was in his blood, he also wanted a life outside of the office and knew he needed to sacrifice something in order to achieve it. He thought of Stephanie and pictured them sharing that type of life together, living in a small town and enjoying romantic moments alone.
Then Kevin pulled himself back into reality and began searching for an answer to the problem at hand. He knew his uncle wanted him to continue the legacy of his business empire and be the only one to reap the profits from his years of hard work. His only problem was how could he achieve that and manage a personal life as well. He couldn’t pass the practice on to just anyone, and he surely didn’t want to let his Aunt Deloris down. Kevin was at a crossroads, and time was slowly running out. He had to make a decision, and he needed to make it soon.
Taking a deep breath, he pushed the number to dial Stephanie’s phone. She answered on the third ring.
“Hello.”
“Hey. It’s Kevin.”
“Oh hey. I didn’t notice the number. How are you doing?”
“I’m OK. It was rough, but we went to the funeral home today and did all the arrangements.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I think that was the hardest part for me. How’s your Aunt Deloris holding up?”
“She’s a mess, but I know she’s a strong woman. They’ve been together since she was 17. That’s a long time to be with someone and then lose them. I think it hit her the hardest because we all thought he was invincible. He was so healthy, we never imagined something like this would happen. I mean he was always the family rock to lean on, especially when my parents died. I don’t know. They said he had a massive heart attack. Apparently, he had been under a lot of stress at work. Two of the doctors left the practice and then he hired three more. It was just too much pressure at once, and now there’s no one but me to pick up the pieces.”
“I’m so sorry Kevin. If there’s anything I can do to help you, please let me know. You know I’m always there for you, don’t you?”
“I know you are. It’s so good to hear your voice. Just the sound of it calms me down.” There was silence on the phone as Kevin struggled with his next words. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Stephanie sat on the other end holding her breath. What did he need to tell her? She could feel the tension spread like wildfire throughout her body as she waited with anticipation for his next words. She was worried he was going to tell her he weren’t coming back. Why would he say her voice calmed him if he wasn’t going to come back? No, she didn’t think so. That would be cruel and sadistic torture and Kevin was far from cruel. Yes, he had lost his way, but he definitely wasn’t a cruel person. “Yes. What is it?”
“My uncle. When he wrote his will, he left his practice and the entire building to me. It must be worth millions.” There was an uneasiness in Kevin’s voice.
“Oh.” Her heart sunk in her chest as she prepared herself for the words that she knew he was going to say to her. She knew he would be leaving Mendocino now. He had everything that he could ever hope for now. Why would he want to come back to Mendocino?
“Yeah. I was surprised. I thought he would leave everything to my Aunt Deloris. I’m just torn. I love my uncle and know he wanted me to take over when he retired or passed on. I just don’t know if it’s right for me.”
Stephanie sat on the other end and heard the pain and frustration and confusion in his words. She knew he felt tortured between staying there or coming back to her. She knew that in order for him to move on with his life, he needed the inspiration of a challenging job like his uncle’s practice. He would finally be able to go back to work and do what he loved best. Although she wouldn’t be with him, Stephanie knew that he would always remain in her heart. Kevin had brought meaning back to her life when she thought she had none. He made her smile when she thought there was no joy left. He made her whole. How could she not give him the one thing that would help him to heal and be whole again?
“That’s great Kevin. I mean you should take the offer. You should get back to work. I think it’s the best thing to help you recover from Rachel’s accident. Maybe this is what God had in store for you all along.”
“I don’t think God would send me somewhere He knows won’t make me happy.”
“But I thought the non-stop action and energy of city life was where you wanted to be?”
“I don’t know, Steph. I like the tranquility of a small town like Mendocino. And I also can’t see myself being happy here without you by my side.”
A sigh escaped Stephanie’s lips as his words lingered in her ears. Her heart soared with joy, but at the same time, a guilty feeling crept over her as she knew that telling him to come back to Mendocino would be selfish. She determined to let him come to the decision on his own, without any influence from her. “You need to make the decision, Kevin. You need to ask God what’s right for you and what will make you happy.”
“I know. I just wanted to hear your voice. How are you doing?”
“I’m OK. I’ve been helping Mom paint the dining room and finish chores around the house. It’s kept me quite busy.”
“It sounds like it. I miss you.”
“I miss you too. Look, why don’t you take some time to think about things before deciding on what to do. I’m sorry, but I have to go before I burn dinner. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“OK. Bye.”
“Bye.”
Kevin felt like he had just broken up with the love of his life as he hung up the phone. He had enjoyed talking with Stephanie, but it seemed after their conversation he felt more conflicted than ever. Deciding to sleep on it, he took a quick shower and said a prayer before crawling into bed. His body was exhausted from the day’s activities and tomorrow would hold more surprises as he visited Uncle Thad’s practice. As he drifted off to sleep, he began to dream, but instead of two young faces staring at him, he dreamt of one beautiful face, the face he now knew was destined to be in his future.