Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
She watched me, her eyes observant like Mom’s, but her hair dark like Dad’s.
“We had words… Things went south. He said he’s never been so disappointed in one of his kids, that I’m weak and pathetic…shit like that.”
Her eyes widened as she took a deep breath.
“I told him to fuck off.”
She couldn’t hide her increased surprise.
“Mom came after me, but I told her to let me go.”
Daisy was good with words like Mom was, but now it seemed like she had nothing to say.
I looked at her and waited for her to take my side, to agree that Dad behaved like a dick.
But she just looked at me, her expression contemplative. “What?”
“You don’t have anything to say to that?”
“It’s not that.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I just… I’m having a hard time imagining all that. I’ve never seen Dad behave like that. That’s…not him. He probably shouldn’t have set up that meeting, especially without warning you, but that woman went to him and wore him down. You know how Dad is. If someone needs help, he can’t say no. He always has a full list of patients for his rotations, but when someone asks him to make an exception, he always says yes. He works longer hours and stays at the hospital until late in the night to make it work.”
I looked away, irritated by that answer.
“I think Dad deserves the benefit of the doubt. We both know he’s the best guy in the world. Cut him some slack.”
“I’m nearly thirty—”
“I’m a grown woman too, but he’s always watching my back, Dex. That’s just how he is. He cares. He loves us. I’m not going to complain that our father loves us when I know lots of people who have fathers who couldn’t care less about them.”
I felt like I was talking to a different version of Mom. “Forget it.” I rubbed my hands together and sighed in irritation, wanting support rather than opposition.
She was quiet for a long time. “I’m sorry I’m not saying what you want to hear, but that’s not what family does. I think the real reason you’re upset is because Dad isn’t letting you get your way. He’s not letting you hide in your hole any longer. He’s forcing you to confront your past and defeat it. He’s being a dad.”
“No, he’s being a control freak.”
“Dex.” She softened her voice.
I refused to look at her. “He’s just annoyed that I’m the black sheep, that his other two kids are successful professionals, and I’m the loser of the bunch.”
“Dex, come on.”
I grabbed my beer again.
“I get you’re mad, but don’t make shit up. That’s not how he is, and you know it. Not once did they encourage us to do anything. They let us choose how we wanted to spend our lives. You and I just happened to follow in his footsteps. He treats everyone from all walks of life with respect and without judgment.”
“I came over here, hoping to talk this out—”
“And that’s what we’re doing. I’m talking some sense into you because that’s what you need.”
I turned back to look at my sister.
“You would do it for me.”
I released a quiet breath.
“And I agree with him, Dex. It hurts me that you’ve abandoned your entire identity because of what happened. I sympathize with your pain and the trauma that you endured, but it’s time to get back up and carry on. You’re such a brilliant physician who cares about his patients—not the fame, not the fortune, not the ego…the patients. I admire you, and you’re the kind of doctor I’ve always wanted to be.”
“Stop.”
“Do I ever blow smoke up your ass?”
I shook my head.
“I tell you when you’re an idiot. I tell you when you’re wrong. So, when I tell you that I admire your work and your brilliance, I mean that shit. Dad gave you tough love. Now toughen up.”
I almost didn’t show up for work.
But that would be unprofessional, and it would be really shitty to put my mom in that position when she had been hesitant to give me the job in the first place. It would make her look bad in front of everyone, and she didn’t deserve that embarrassment.
When I walked into the office, she was at the desk, and her eyes were on me as she watched me approach. Clearly, she hadn’t expected me to show up.
I dropped the letter of resignation on her desk and kept going. I’d officially put in my two weeks and would just have to get through it before I could leave and move on with my life. It was a bit sad because I actually liked this job.
I sat at my desk and pulled up my schedule.
Mom read the letter before she turned in her chair to look at me. “Does this mean you’re going to help Mrs. Torres?”