My Handsome Uncle, Please Be Mine!

Part 41.

“Try calling me?” challenged Doctor Gaston.

“Ma… I can’t call you that, doctor!” Clara refused, scratching her non-itchy head.

“Emm, okay, I won’t force you!” the man said. “Now, tell me why Joe kicked you out?” he asked.

Clara lowered her head, the events of earlier that evening still vivid in her mind.

“I went into Kimmy’s room and found the oxygen tube detached from her nose, and Uncle Joe came in, thinking I was trying to harm Kimmy,” Clara closed her eyes. The image of Joe, bundled with his anger, was etched clearly in her memory.

“Do you really like him?” Gaston inquired. He was curious if Clara pursued Joe or vice versa.

“Yes, I like Uncle Joe, I don’t know since when exactly, but I’ve always looked forward to seeing him every time,” Clara said. She smiled, reminiscing about her feelings of love. Every meeting with him would become an unforgettable moment.

“Did Joe reciprocate your feelings?” he asked again. Clara was indeed beautiful, and Gaston couldn’t help but notice her, despite his numerous observations.

“Yes,” Clara nodded. “Uncle Joe promised to marry me!” she said, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.

“Really?” Gaston raised his eyebrows incredulously. Joe hadn’t even been divorced from Vivian for three months, yet he promised to marry Clara. That wasn’t like a man like Joe Sebastian.

“Wait, have you two ever slept together and engaged in marital relations?” he guessed. It was possible, right? Joe, being a widower, could have engaged in such relations with Clara. “No! Joe is not that kind of man; it’s impossible for him to sleep with a woman who is not his wife!” she added.

“We’ve kissed!” Clara said innocently.

The man looked at Clara, his gaze landing on her rosy lips.

“Do you want to try to salvage your relationship with him?” Doctor Gaston asked.

“Yes, of course!” Clara replied enthusiastically.

“Alright, tomorrow I will help you explain things to Joe! Now, you should sleep!” he ordered.

Gaston moved towards his room to get a pillow and a blanket.

“Sleep in my room, Clara, you need a comfortable rest after such a tiring day!” Doctor Gaston said, placing the pillow on the long sofa in front of Clara.

“No, doctor, I’ll stay here; you need to rest enough because many patients are waiting for you at the hospital!” she replied.

“Okay!”

Doctor Gaston walked to his room and left Clara to sleep outside.

He lay down, thinking again about Clara’s beautiful face. Then he reached for his phone, intending to call Joe.

The call connected.

“Hello,” the man said on the other end of the phone.

“Hello, how’s Kimmy?” Gaston asked.

“My daughter is awake; I’m relieved!” Joe replied.

“Thank goodness. By the way, this is about Clara. She’s back at my place; did you really kick her out?” There was emphasis on the last part of his sentence.

“Oops, I was really worried earlier; I’m sorry!” he said.

“I know, tomorrow I will go to the hospital, and you have to explain everything to Clara!”

“Yes, I will apologize!” Joe felt very guilty.

“She really loves you, I think her feelings are sincere. You don’t intend to leave her, right?”

“No, tomorrow I will explain everything! I don’t want Clara to misunderstand!” Joe explained.

“Good!”

“I entrust Clara to you, beware if you dare to do anything!” Joe warned.

“So, you don’t trust me?”

“Yes, she’s very beautiful, and I’m afraid you’ll be attracted to her!” Joe honestly expressed.

“Beautiful? I don’t particularly like beautiful women! Anyway, I want to sleep now!” Gaston bid farewell.

“Okay!”

The phone call ended.

Gaston’s mind drifted back seven years ago when his fiancée passed away in an accident.

He felt sad and deeply affected by the loss. Since then, Doctor Gaston chose to close his heart and focus on serving and immersing himself in his profession as a doctor.

“Enough!” he muttered, rubbing his face roughly and intending to sleep.

==❤==

The next morning at the hospital.

Joe watched Vivian feeding Kimmy. He was very grateful that his daughter was awake and seemed to be fine.

“Look at Kimmy! She would be so happy if her parents got back together. Vivian is willing to leave the entertainment world and choose to be a good mother to her daughter. At least… give her a chance. Besides, you’ve only been divorced for less than three months! Ask your heart, Joe, have you really forgotten your ex-wife? It’s no secret that you pursued her first!” Mrs. Linn whispered, sitting next to Joe.

His throat tightened. His lips pressed tightly, showing his stiffened jaw.

“Leave Clara, Papa and Mama will never approve of your relationship! Understand!” she said firmly in a soft voice.

Joe sighed in frustration. He was no longer a bachelor who could freely choose his partner. There was Kimmy, his flesh and blood, his daughter whom he had to prioritize. As a father, he would do anything for his daughter’s happiness. However, reconciling with Vivian was not the right choice. What should he do?

Doubt began to creep into Joe’s heart.

“Papa!” Kimmy called out.

Joe snapped out of his reverie and moved towards his daughter.

“Mama said Papa and Mama can’t be together anymore, unless they get married again!” Kimmy said in her cute voice. “Papa and Mama are going to get married again, right? For Kimmy?” she asked hopefully.

“Yes, Mama and Papa will get married again!” Joe replied, solely to comfort Kimmy. He didn’t want anything bad to happen to his daughter again.

==❤==

“Doctor Gaston, I’m scared!” Clara complained. The image of Joe when he was angry made her shudder.

“We’ve arrived at the hospital; explain everything to Joe so there won’t be any more misunderstandings between you two!” the doctor requested.

“What if Uncle Joe doesn’t want to listen to my explanation?” Doubt seized Clara’s heart and mind.

“Joe is in a good mood; let’s go meet him right away!” he urged her.

“I’m not sure!” When she was still at Doctor Gaston’s apartment, Clara was very enthusiastic about explaining everything to Joe. But when she arrived at the hospital, her courage vanished into thin air.

“I’ll accompany you!” Doctor Gaston persuaded.

The elevator opened, and Clara entered, standing beside Doctor Gaston, lost in thought.

The elevator opened on the third floor of the hospital.

“I’ll escort you to the door!” the doctor said.

Clara nodded weakly. She moved towards Kimmy’s ward, summoning her courage.

She stopped in her tracks, preventing Doctor Gaston from entering. The two of them stood at the doorframe and listened to what Joe, Vivian, and Kimmy were discussing.

“Yes, Mama and Papa are going to get married again!” Joe’s words rang clearly in Clara’s ears.

Crushed.

Her hopes shattered. What was her significance to Joe all this time? Was Clara just a pastime when he felt bored? Or was Joe just carried away by his feelings and had no intention of marrying her?

It felt like an atomic bomb exploded in Clara’s heart.

Love.

Affection.

Admiration.

All evaporated from Clara’s heart, replaced by heartbreak that sliced through her.

“Turns out Uncle Joe hasn’t completely forgotten Aunt Vivian!” Clara murmured softly, tears streaming down her face. She clutched her chest, feeling suffocated.

She ran towards the stairs that would lead her to the hospital rooftop. Not only was she saddened by Uncle Joe’s statement, but Clara also felt embarrassed in front of Doctor Gaston. He must have thought that last night she was just fantasizing about Joe wanting to marry her.

Clara stopped. She knelt down, hiding her tear-streaked face.

Doctor Gaston stood behind her. He didn’t know what to do. One thing was certain: Clara must be very hurt.

“Don’t cry! I’m afraid the hospital roof will flood from your tears, Clara!” the doctor said.

“Why did you come here? I’m embarrassed; leave me alone!” Clara said, still hiding her face. Her voice sounded hoarse.

“Come home with me; I don’t want you to despair and jump from the hospital building roof!” Doctor Gaston stepped forward, closer to Clara.

“Why? Is Doctor Gaston afraid that my ghost will haunt and scare you every night?” Clara looked up. Their eyes met.

“Calm yourself down; stay at my apartment for a while; I don’t mind!” Doctor Gaston said. He felt sad about what happened to Clara.

Finally, Clara obeyed. She had no other choice for now but to stay at Doctor Gaston’s place. Otherwise, today would be her last day in Jakarta before Bond Sebastian sent her to London.

==❤==

In the afternoon at the hospital.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

Doctor Gaston had examined many patients, now he was just checking on Kimmy’s condition. He intentionally put Kimmy last so he could chat longer with Joe.

Gaston turned the doorknob and entered Kimmy’s ward. It was the right time because Joe was alone, and Kimmy was resting again.

“Aren’t you sleeping?” Doctor Gaston asked. Joe’s face looked pale.

“I’m grateful that Kimmy is awake!” he said, smiling. He considered his friend’s question unimportant.

“Kimmy’s condition has improved; she can go home tomorrow and just follow up as an outpatient!” Doctor Gaston said.

Joe nodded, feeling like something was missing. “Where’s Clara?” he asked, realizing that he had been waiting for Clara since earlier.

“Clara is at my place; she came back disappointed and heartbroken!” Doctor Gaston said bluntly.

“What did you do to her?” Joe raised his voice.

“Not me, but you, Joe! Are you serious? Did you just treat Clara as a plaything?” Doctor Gaston said flatly.

“I like Clara, I love Clara, and…” his sentence trailed off.

“And… you’re going to reconcile with Vivian??” that’s what Clara heard this morning.

“What?!! So Clara came here already?” Joe asked.

“Yes, and she went home disappointed and heartbroken after learning that you and Vivian are going to reconcile!” he replied angrily.

“This is so…”

“Enough, Joe, as your friend, I’m disappointed in you; if you can’t make Clara happy, it’s better not to give her too much hope! She’s still too young and naive!” he said, expressing Clara’s current feelings.

“No!” Joe tried to explain.

“What’s not? Reconcile with Vivian, and as for Clara, leave it to me; let me make her happy!” Doctor Gaston said firmly, feeling satisfied that he had conveyed Clara’s feelings that morning.

Then, he walked out of Kimmy’s ward, leaving Joe very annoyed.

To be continued.