Page 126 of Only Lovers in the Building

“She’s on vacation,” Patrick intervened. “You’re familiar with the idea, right? They’re not just for the top one percent. Common people like us take time off every day.”

Lily nodded approvingly. The least her brother could do was defend her.

“We have nothing against vacations,” her father said. “Your mother and I are planning a cruise next month. But Lily is no longer in college, she’s a professional. There’s no summer break.”

Her mother broke her vow of silence. “What your sister has done is relocate to another state without a word to anyone.”

“It’s only temporary, Mom!” Lily scoffed. “And I called you many times. You never answered.”

“You called twice,” her mother said icily.

“And you quit your job!” her father exclaimed. “Your name is no longer on the company website.”

Lily didn’t bother denying it. Deep inside, she was thrilled to no longer be associated with such a life-drainer. Her days were far more exciting now.

“Always another story!” her mother lamented. “We don’t know who you are anymore.”

“Who I am is an adult,” Lily asserted. “If I want to unplug in Miami for a while, that’s my prerogative. I’m not hurting anyone. I can afford it. It’s not on your dime.”

“This is not about money,” her father insisted.

“And this is not about Lily, either,” Patrick cut in coldly. “I called this meeting, remember? If you can believe it, I’ve got stuff going on that I’d like to discuss.”

They all fell silent.

“I’m moving back to the city,” he announced. “I’ve been offered a position at New York-Presbyterian.”

That wonderful bit of news had the bonus of getting Lily’s parents off her back. She cheered with exceeding enthusiasm. “Yay, Patrick!”

“Congratulations, son!”

“That is a fine hospital!”

This was the sort of career move that made sense to their parents. They could tell their circle that their son, the doctor, was now at Presbyterian. Their friends would nod appreciatively and recount the surgeries and procedures they’d all had done there.

“It will be so nice to have you and Coco close,” Mom said. “Sunday dinners have been so lonely lately.”

“Coco is not relocating with me,” Patrick said evenly.

“What does that mean?” Mom asked.

“It means I’m heading back to New York, and Coco is staying here in Virginia.”

Lily came close to dropping her phone. Patrick and Coco had been together for ages. “Are you breaking up?” she asked.

“Yes, we are,” he replied in a detached, clinical voice that Lily didn’t care for.

Was this the voice he used to break bad news to the parents of the children in his care? Or was he hurting and masking his hurt with indifference? Had Patrick always been like this? Unable to acknowledge his failures and weaknesses? He’d only gather their family to announce impressive news, a new job or promotion. Or was this just how men were, taking breakups in stride?

Their parents hadn’t noticed the change in Patrick. Her father focused on the job, sharing that the hospital was ranked number one in the state. Her mother casually mentioned that she approved of the breakup. “What grown woman goes by the name Coco?” she asked. “She’s not an actress. She’s a pharmacist!”

“Please, Mom,” Lily said, while texting Patrick privately.

LL: Stay on the call. Let’s talk after this.

PL: Sure thing. I’ll wrap this up. I have something to ask you, anyway.

Once the meeting was adjourned and their parents were off the call, Patrick got straight to it. “I wondered if I could crash at your place, since you’re not there. That would go a long way to make the move easier.”