"I wasn't planning on it. The party is a week before our opening game. I'm going to be swamped at work."
There was a pause over the line.
"And if you’re too busy being in residency to go, that's fine, Sydney. We don't owe them anything."
The line was quiet still.
"What's up, Syd?"
"I don't know. Sometimes I just feel bad," she said quietly.
"Why?"
"They’re our family. Don't you think we should, I don't know, want to see them?"
Hillary let out a long sigh. Yes, in a perfect world, you should want to see your family. In a perfect world your family should want to support you. But she knew the world was far from perfect, and her family wasn't even in the same vicinity as perfect. Even if the curated version her mother made them out to be was.
"Look, Sydney, I support you in how you want to handle them. But I meant what I said. I'm done with them."
"I know. A lot of things were said over Christmas."
"You mean when they cut you off?" I snapped.
"Yeah, but that was my decision."
"No, Sydney. Our grandmother cut you off because you chose med school over getting married. Do you understand how crazy that is?"
"I know . . . I just feel bad."
"Of course, you feel bad. It sucks. And it is entirely their fault."
"You're right."
The defeated tone in Sydney's voice pulled at her. She knew Sydney wanted to make them happy. Hillary had learned a long time ago that she was not going to make them happy. She had a defiant streak they could never understand. They had wanted to change everything about her—from her personality to the size of her body—her entire life. But somehow, Hillary had been blessed with a strong sense of self and a fuck-off attitude. It had gotten her through some tough times and away from her corrosive family.
Sydney, on the other hand, had been their golden child. She'd been the one who was supposed to get married and live the perfect Connecticut life they had planned for her. Being a pediatric surgeon wasn't part of that.
That thought still boggled her mind. In what world was becoming a doctor who saved children's lives an unacceptable endeavor? Over Christmas, they had told her that if she continued this pursuit, they would have no choice but to pull her trust fund. Sydney told them to do what they wanted because it wouldn’t change her mind, and it had been the proudest moment of Hillary's life.
Ever since then, Hillary had been helping Sydney while she was in residency, because that was what family did. Well, that is at least what family should do.
"Look, Sydney, you can do whatever you need to do. I’m not going to let them ruin my peace, especially right before the season starts."
"Okay, are we still on for Thursday?"
"You know it, I’ll meet you at 7."
She laid her phone on the table and opened up her laptop. While Hillary had frustratingly little control over what happened in her family, work was different. At work, she was in her element. She knew what she was doing, and people respected her for it. And it was time to get lost in it until her burrito came.
10
MURPHY
With a confident stride, Murphy made his way through the halls of the Magic Center. He was carrying two cups of coffee. One basic black, the other a triple shot latte, oat milk, half the syrup. He maneuvered the cups to one hand as he knocked on the door in front of him.
"Come in," Hillary called, and just the sound of her voice put a smile on his face.
He opened the door, "Coffee," he said with a grin.
