Chapter 35 35
"Nathan dear, your clothes are wet. Where have you been?" Marise asked in a worried tone.
"Son, what happened to you?" Robert asked. Seeing Nathan all drenched and looking somewhat angry and sad.
"Did you know?" Nathan asked, ignoring his parents' question.
"Know what?" Robert asked, confused.
"Did you know that the Turners were leaving? Why didn't you tell me? Why?" Nathan asked in a loud voice.
"You even went on to buy their shares from the university."
His parents briefly looked at each other before Robert turned to him.
"Son, it was the very least I could do after what happened between you and Brooke. All I did was make it easy for Doctor Turner to move with his family." Robert sought.
"But - but why? Why didn't you tell me she was leaving?" Nathan asked. His voice is sad now.
Maries, Nathan's mother knitted her brows. She looked at her husband again and then back at Nathan. "But why do we need to tell you that, dear? After all, you two are already divorced." She pointed out.
Marise recalled the day Brooke came to say goodbye to them. She became teary eyed again because she loved Brooke as much as she is her own daughter.
"Because of the divorce, her parents felt it was best to take her away from Silverbrook. Away from us. Mostly you. But that also means cutting all ties with us." Maries sniffed back her tears. "Your divorce caused more than thirty years of friendship to end. That is gone, forever, Nathan." She added. Robert patted her back to calm his wife down.
"What?" Nathan questioned with wide eyes. His heart beat faster. He is becoming sweaty once again.
"Brooke was so fond of you. The divorce really broke her heart. No parents would want to see their child in such a condition. The only way for her to heal from heartbreak is to take her away from you. So Doctor Turner felt the best solution was to take his daughter far away from you and Silverbrook." Robert explained.
Nathan's heart felt heavy again. He moved backwards and sat in the chair closest to him.
"What is wrong, dear?" Marise asked. "Is this not what you wanted? Brooke has left you alone. In the process, she also left us." A tear fell down from her eyes. She is still hurt from losing a daughter-in-law like Brooke.
Emberwood
Brooke forced herself out of the bed in the morning. She felt lazy to get up and prepare for school, just as she has felt the past two days. But this is medical school. She couldn't afford to miss a day of school without any good reason. So she forced herself up and prepared for her morning class.
After having a quick shower, she wore a top and jeans before walking downstairs.
She walked down to an oddly quiet house. She couldn't hear any of the movements or sound of the maids doing their morning chores.
"Surprise!!!"
"Happy birthday, Bee...."
Brooke was cut off guard by the sudden scream from her parents and their house maids.
Brooke smiled at her parents' gesture. The dining area was decorated with balloons and flowers. Then there is a carrot cake that looks so inviting that was set on the table.
They sang the happy birthday song to her and at the end, they all clapped and cheered.
"Thank you all, so much. This means a lot." Brooke felt emotional for some reason.
Recently, her breakfast was always cereal. But now seeing the mouthwatering variety on the table, she felt the need to indulge in them.
"Maybe I should skip school today." Brooke announced before settling at the dinning.
"What! Not a chance, sweetheart." Jack said. "One of your professors is my subordinate at the hospital. I wouldn't want him asking me for your whereabouts. I can't tell him you missed school because of your birthday."
Brooke and her mother laughed. Jack joined in as well.
"Fine. I will go to school then." Brooke concluded. She gave her parents an individual hug before digging into the food. "Thank you mum and dad for all these. I love you so much."
"Anything for you, sweetheart." Jack said.
They all had their breakfast. Doctor Turner informed them that they will celebrate her birthday later. They will go to one of the best restaurants in the town in the evening. The family of his secretary were also invited.
"We invited Ana and her family, hope you don't mind?" Marise asked. "Ryan will be there as well."
Ana is Doctor Turner's secretary that they moved to Emberwood together with. She has basically become family to them.
"I am sorry we don't know many people yet in this town. So the celebration won't be the ones you are used to back in Silverbrook." Doctor Turner explained.
"It's fine, dad. I appreciate all your efforts." Brooke said to her father. She then turned to her mom. "I like Ana and her family and Ryan is basically family too." She assured her with a smile.
They had their breakfast and Brooke checked the time. She had to leave immediately or she was going to be late.
"I have to go now. I will see you all later." Brooke got up and said. She kissed her parents goodbye and left.
Later that evening.
Brooke groaned, holding her stomach. She walked out of the medical school with a bloated stomach.
"I shouldn't have eaten so much for breakfast." Brooke scolded herself. It's been a while since she had something other than cereal for breakfast. But earlier that morning, she ate so much and now, she is paying the price.
"Hey, Bee." Ryan called out.
Brooke turned to his direction. He is leaning on his car, waving at her. He has a bouquet in his hand. "Happy birthday, Bee." He said when she got closer. He handed her the bouquet.
"Thank you, Ryan." Brooke said and accepted the bouquet.
"I came to pick you up so that we can go to your dinner party together." Ryan said.
They both walked back to his car. Since Brooke moved to Emberwood, this was the fourth time Ryan came to meet her at school.
When he is not around, he doesn't bother to keep calling her phone, even though he has her number. He will disappear taking care of his family business. Trying to build a doctors network in Emberwood.
"Thank you for the flowers." Brooke said when they got to the car.