Family

The next morning, Beau was startled awake by the loud ringing of his phone. Groaning, he kept his eyes closed as he blindly patted the nightstand, fumbling for the device. Once he found it, he answered without checking the caller ID.

"Hello?" he mumbled groggily.

"Hey, Beautiful," came Lanet's familiar voice, smooth and warm. Beau's heart skipped a beat, his eyes slowly opening to the bright sunlight streaming into his room.

"Beau, are you there?" Lanet asked after a moment.

"Yes, yes, I'm here," Beau replied quickly, his voice still thick with sleep. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing well. I hope I didn't wake you—you sound sleepy," Lanet said, a hint of amusement in his tone.

"It's fine," Beau assured him, a smile spreading across his face. "A call from you will surely make my day."

And he meant every word.

Lanet's voice carried warmth over the line. "Glad to hear that. I just got my schedule and wanted to let you know I'm free Wednesday afternoon."

"Great, I'll see you on Wednesday then," Beau replied, excitement bubbling in his chest.

"And bring Star's birth certificate and transcripts too, alright?" Lanet added.

Beau's eyes widened slightly at the reminder. He really meant it when he said he'd apply for Star. "Of course, thank you," Beau said sincerely.

"Alright, let's talk later. I need to start working," Lanet said.

"Of course. Have a productive day," Beau responded, a wide smile spreading across his face, even though Lanet couldn't see it.

Lanet chuckled softly. "Have a lovely one."

As the call ended, Beau stared at the screen for a moment, the smile lingering.

____

Later that evening, after finishing his shift at the hospital, Beau walked out to find Ariel leaning against the reception desk, deep in conversation with the receptionist.

"Hey, sis. What's up?" Beau greeted as he approached her.

Ariel turned to him with a teasing grin. "Well, someone's glowing," she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

"As always," Beau quipped, sticking out his tongue.

"Uncle Beau, look, look!" Star's excited voice called out as he emerged from the pediatric ward with Teddy by his side. Star waved excitedly his face beaming with pride.

Beau leaned toward Ariel, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You still think Teddy likes Nova?"

Ariel's cheeks reddened slightly as she glanced toward Teddy. "I see what you were talking about, but he hasn't said anything," she admitted sadly.

Beau smirked knowingly. Teddy spent so much time at their house, always ready to lend a hand—whether it was helping Ariel with Star or tackling household chores. It was hard not to notice how much effort he put into being around them.

"Uncle Beau, look what Teddy and I got for Grace!" Star exclaimed, pointing toward the little girl in the wheelchair that he and Teddy had worked on together. Grace wheeled herself around the clinic with a big smile on her face, a teddy bear nestled on her lap.

"That's really nice of you guys," Beau said warmly, smiling down at Star before turning to Teddy. "I really appreciate that you come here sometimes. These kids love you." It was true—Beau had seen how the children's faces lit up whenever Teddy came to visit.

"Alright, everyone, time to go home," Ariel announced, signaling for them to follow her.

"Good night, Dr. Langley and family!" Lucy, the receptionist, called out, waving as they exited the clinic.

Beau waved back and climbed into Teddy's car along with Ariel and Star. Once they were settled, Beau turned to his sister. "Hey, sis, may I borrow your car for a day or two?"

"A day or two? Are you planning a road trip?" Ariel asked, glancing at him with a curious expression in the rearview mirror.

"Yes, sort of," Beau replied vaguely.

"Oh? Where are you going?" Ariel pressed.

Beau groaned, frustrated by the questions. "The city. Can I borrow it or not?"

"Someone's in love," Teddy teased from the driver's seat, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Beau fought the urge to spill Teddy's little secret about his crush on Ariel. Instead, he snapped, "Teddy, shut up and focus on the road."

"Why can't you just admit you're in love?" Ariel chimed in, clearly enjoying herself.

Before Beau could respond, Star piped up from the back seat, his curious eyes wide. "Uncle Beau, are you married?"

The unexpected question left Beau momentarily speechless, while Ariel and Teddy both laughed at Star's innocent question.

"Oh, God," Beau muttered under his breath. Why had he even asked Ariel? He should've waited until they were home.

He ignored the two adults in front of him and turned his attention to his nephew. "No, buddy, I'm not married. I just like someone."

"So, you're best friends with this person?" Star asked. Beau wasn't sure what Star thought love was, but at least the boy seemed to understand the difference between liking someone and loving them.

"Did Grace like her teddy bear?" Beau quickly changed the subject, not wanting to delve into his love life with a ten-year-old. Star, ever eager to talk, happily took the bait and launched into a detailed recount of his day in the pediatric ward.

After some time, they finally arrived home. As they pulled into the driveway, Beau spotted a familiar car parked outside.

"Oh, Dad's here," he remarked, hopping out of the car. He walked up the driveway and saw his father leaning on something that was hard to make out in the dim light.

"Hey, Pops," Beau greeted warmly.

"Hello, son," his dad replied, pulling Beau into a tight hug, the kind he had always given him throughout his life.

Ariel, Teddy, and Star joined them, all wearing big grins on their faces. Beau glanced at them, then back at his father, who was also grinning.

"What's going on?" he asked a single eyebrow raised.

Just then, the outside light flicked on, and his dad stepped aside, uncovering the object he'd been leaning on.

"What the heck, Dad?" Beau's voice rose in surprise as his body buzzed with excitement.

Star stood beside him. The little boy's voice was filled with pride as he giggled, "See, I told you we were making you a better bike, look at your face now."

His father stepped forward, holding out a set of gleaming keys.

"Dad, you made this?" Beau asked in awe, his breath catching as he took in the sleek, luxurious cruiser before him. It was nothing short of perfection.

"I had help," his father replied with a grin. "The boss and Star contributed. It's not Harley-Davidson but hey."

Beau couldn't stop staring at it. "Wow, it's beautiful. I can't believe this is what you've been working on all these months." His voice trembled slightly. This wasn't just a bike to him—it was a symbol of love and dedication, something his father had worked tirelessly on for him. He couldn't recall ever being this excited about a gift before.

Ariel's voice broke through his thoughts, playful and teasing. "Gosh, are you going to get on or just hang your mouth open all night?"

Beau smiled, though he barely noticed her jab. Ariel's teasing had always been part of the package. With a quick glance at his father, he took the keys from his hand and rounded the bike.

"It has a big full-color touchscreen, speakers, LED headlamps, and a 1801cc V-Twin that produces 156Nm of peak Torque," his father said proudly, his chest puffing out slightly as he listed the features.

Beau couldn't help but laugh. "Wow, I hope I won't come home someday to find it dismantled," he teased, though his heart swelled with gratitude.

They all chuckled at his comment. "Nope, it will be in one piece," his father assured him with a wink.

Beau couldn't help himself; he pulled his father into a tight, grateful hug. "Thank you so much, pops. You too, little man," he said, glancing down at Star, who was beaming up at him. "And please express my gratitude to old Jack."

His father laughed, giving him a playful shove as he stepped back.

"I'll take good care of this one. I'm taking her for a ride. I'll be right back."

With a final glance at his family, who were heading inside, Beau mounted the cruiser, feeling the power of it hum beneath him. He revved the engine, the deep rumble vibrating through his body, and then, with a huge smile still on his face, he sped off into the night, the road stretching out before him like an endless promise.