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“Sounds expensive,” Patricia comments.

I nod. “But it’ll pay for itself.”

“It’s a good idea,” Alycia says. “A lot of teams have that, it’s the norm.”

“I agree,” Carmen says. “If we want to be competitive, we need to invest in our players’ health and performance. We can’t afford to have them injured for long periods of time, or have them retire early because of chronic issues.”

“I’m still not convinced,” Patricia says, and it’s a problem because we’ve agreed to only make expensive moves if the vote is unanimous.

“We’re a club that runs on working bodies. Our girls need to be healthy. They need to be in their top condition if we’re to win games,” I tell her. “We need to insure their bodies.”

“They’re not machines, Isabella,” she says.

“I know, but they are professionals who deserve the best treatment possible. We can’t just patch them up and send them back to the field. We need to prevent injuries, to rehabilitate properly, to monitor their well-being. And if they get seriously injured, we need to have the best doctors to help them recover. It’s not just about winning, it’s about caring for our people.”

“It’s also about money,” Patricia says, her voice cold. “If they get injured, they still get paid. They still cost us. And if they can’t play, we lose revenue. We need to think about the bottom line, Isabella.”

“That’s exactly it. It’s in our best interest that they don’t get injured,” I say. “I’m thinking about the long-term benefits, not just the short-term costs. A good surgeon can extend a player’s career, can improve their quality of life, can save us millions in the long run. It’s a win-win situation.”

“Let me think about it,” Patricia says, but I can tell she’s not convinced. “We’ll talk about this next week again.”

“Fine,” I agree, knowing it’s the best I’ll get from her for now. “Is there anything that could help nudge you toward a yes?”

“You know how much I love numbers,” Patricia says with a smile. “Show me how this could work in our favor in several possible scenarios.”

“Got it,” I reply, hiding my smile. “Anything else?”

“No, I think that’s it for today,” Carmen says. “Great job, everyone.”

We wrap up the meeting, and I walk out with Alycia.

“How do you feel?” I ask her, glancing at the hand on her belly. She’s due in two months, and she’s huge.

“Good,” she says. “Just tired. And hungry.”

“You can have lunch with me, if you want,” I offer.

“I’m actually meeting Raul at Amanecer,” she says.

I smile back. “Should I ask?”

“Just friends, Mom,” she assures me. “Well, and co-parents. And coworkers. But nothing more.”

“And soon-to-be roommates,” I point out.

“Yeah, we’re still talking about that,” she says, looking a bit uneasy. “He wants us to move in together, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m afraid it would complicate everything too much.”

I stop and take her hands. “Having a child is hard, Lyss. It’d be good to have some full-time help. Even if it’s only at the beginning. You can always move out after you get the hang of things.”

She sighs. “I know. It’s just…”

“It’s awkward,” I finish for her.

“Yeah,” she agrees.

I squeeze her hands. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”

She smiles. “Thanks, Mom.”