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“But it cast you in the role of parent, and meant that you carried the burden by yourself.”
Katie nodded. “I’m not even sure that I would have gone into medicine if it hadn’t been for her.”
“She says you’re a great doctor.”
Katie wasn’t going to argue that fact. Her issues weren’t important here. This was about Rosie. “I kept at it, because that’s what you do when you’ve had a long and expensive training and you’ve made a career choice that society assumes will be forever. You’re not sure you’re enjoying it, but hey, most of your colleagues are burned out and exhausted, too, so in the end it becomes normal. You justify the way you’re feeling. And why not, because no one ditches medicine after a decade of practice, do they?”
He sat down opposite her. The defensive look in his eyes had gone. “They do if they no longer want to do it.”
“You think it’s okay to change your mind about things? You see that as a strength, not a weakness?”
“Yes. I do.”
“Good.” She stood up. “So go and find my sister and tell her you made a mistake. Tell her you still love her and finally have the talk that you probably only need because I interfered. And if after that talk, you still believe it’s not the right thing, then we’ll handle it.” Her eyes filled. “I can’t be the reason you both break up.”
“Because she’d never forgive you?”
“No. Because I can see now that the two of you are perfect together. I think you need to each find a way to improve your communication, but hopefully you’ll have plenty of years ahead to practice. I want her to be happy. I want you to be happy. Despite appearances, I really like you, Dan, and I hope eventually you might grow to like me. Or at least, forgive me.”
“I do like you, Katie, and I respect how much you love your sister.”
But he hadn’t changed his mind. “You have to understand her.” She knew she sounded desperate. She was desperate. “Rosie is so kind. She never wants to hurt anyone.”
“I know that. I know her. Why do you think I’m in love with her?”
“I—you’re still saying that in the present tense.” She felt a burst of hope that was instantly quenched by the expression on his face.
“Turns out you can switch off wedding plans, but you can’t switch off love.”
“But if you’re in love, why wouldn’t you get married?”
“Exactly for the reason you said. Rosie hates hurting anyone, so if she can’t talk honestly with me, how am I ever going to know whether she really loves me? How are we going to solve problems in the years ahead?”
“Are you sure she wasn’t talking? Or could it have been you that wasn’t listening?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Rosie says she tried to tell you. Did you hear her trying to tell you?”
“I—no. But—”
“Maybe your listening skills need work. Maybe she needs to speak louder. Or email you. Use a whiteboard in the kitchen, or sticky notes. I don’t know—” she spread her hands in frustration “—I know nothing about serious relationships, but I do know that this seems like such a fixable thing to me. You love her. She loves you. The two of you need to find a better way to communicate, that’s all. I don’t think you know how truly lucky you are. In this often horrible world, where things go wrong for people every damn day, you have found love and friendship and warmth—all the things that truly matter, all the things that are going to make your life good and sustain you in the times when life isn’t good—and you’re going to turn your back on that? And by the way, if your answer to that is ‘yes,’ then I’ve found out what’s wrong with you. I rest my case.”
“I thought you were a doctor, not a lawyer.”
“It felt like the right thing to say.” She sniffed and walked to the door. “And now I’m leaving. Before my sister figures out I’m here, and our relationship is blown forever.”
She was halfway to the door when his voice stopped her.
“You wanted to know about me, so let me tell you about me. If it’s not related to work, or physical fitness, I tend to put things off. I’m a terrible procrastinator. I’ve been known to pay my taxes late. I miss my dad every damn day, and his death made me appreciate how important it is to hold on to love when you find it.”
She turned and he nodded.
“That’s the reason I wanted to marry Rosie quickly. It wasn’t an impulse. It wasn’t because my mother jumped in and suggested Christmas. It was because I knew. I knew she was the one for me, and I wanted to make the most of every moment.”
“Stop.” She blinked and sniffed. “You’re making me cry, and I am the least sentimental person you are ever going to meet.”
“Yeah? I know you were upset about Jordan keeping you away.”
