Page 59 of A Cowboy's Claim
Now Tansy looked confused. “It’s possible to be a doctorandmarriedanda mother. I mean it would be busy as hell, but life gets busy, no matter what.”
Petra slid an arm around Sydney’s waist and squeezed her for a second. “No, this is something bigger. Syd, I know you respect our friends who are homemakers. Why do you have that look in your eyes when you say it while talking about your grandpa?”
“Yeah. Why is your grandpa so irrational about this?” Tansy was nodding now. “And you know, if you lived with him for a bunch of years starting when you were sixteen, whatever his hang-ups are might’ve become your own.”
Sydney all but growled in frustration. “I’ll have you know it took me a couple of years of deep thinking to figure this out,” she complained.
“Just don’t take a couple of years to tell us about it,” Petra said.
Sydney stepped away and paced for a moment before turning to face her friends. “My grandpa has a problem with women giving up their careers to become homemakers because that’s what my mom did. She fell in love and gave it all up, and instead of the brilliant law career she could’ve had, she chose to stay home.”
Petra shook her head. “Your mom and dad raised five amazing, extraordinary children. She might not have been working in a hospital or a courtroom, but she definitely did something of great value.”
“And I know that,” Sydney insisted before making a face. “I know that in my head, and that’s why I have no issues with our friends who choose family as a career. But somewhere deep down, the idea of doing that myself makes my stomach churn. Like it’d be betraying everything I’ve worked for—even when I know better.”
Silence fell for a moment as Sydney stared at the ground and tried to get her pulse to slow.
“Syd, This is something you need to talk to someone about,” Tansy began quietly.
“I know,” Sydney snapped before adjusting her tone apologetically. “I know, sweetie. It just didn’t seem worthwhile because right now I have the clinic and I need to?—”
A quick knock on the door was followed immediately by Lexie’s arrival. “Sorry for interrupting, but Sydney? I just got a call forwarded from the emergency line at the clinic. Mr. Nagy phoned and he sounds delirious. Should I send an ambulance to find out what’s wrong?”
Dammit. “A patient I saw this week who cut himself while chopping firewood,” Sydney explained to Tansy and Petra. “He might’ve got an infection. Or he might’ve decided to medicate himself with that bottle of whiskey like he was doing before I saw him.” She considered for a moment. “He lives hell and gone in the foothills. I’d hate to send the EMTs out if what he needs is to be told to go to bed and sleep it off.”
“If you plan on going out there, I’m coming with you,” Petra informed her.
Tansy bumped Petra’s side. “There’s someone else willing and able to accompany our lovely doctor friend on her house visit.”
“Oh, of course. He’s perfect.” Petra pulled out her phone and her fingers flew over the keypad. She paused and met Sydney’s gaze head-on. “I assume you have no issue if Declan accompanies you? In case you need some grunt labour lifting a body into bed?”
Just what she needed. Declan Skye in her space when her brain was already tangled and confused.
Still, there was no fighting her friends when they got in this kind of mood. Sydney put on a happy face. “Tell him to meet me at the clinic. I’ll grab supplies and we’ll head out.”
“I’ll leave another message with Mr. Nagy, asking him to call back.” Lexie offered. “In case he becomes lucid enough to check his phone.”
She vanished from sight, but as Sydney headed toward the door, Tansy caught her arm and held her in place.
“This conversation isn’t over,” her friend warned. “You’ve been keeping secrets, which is absolutely your right. But this secret is making you completely miserable, and that’s not allowed. You’re our friend, and we won’t letanybodybe mean to you.”
“Not even yourself,” Petra chimed in from the opposite side.
“You’re such jerks. Why do you have to be my friends?” Sydney mock complained. She gave them each a quick hug before extracting herself and tilting her head toward the door. “I need to go do my doctor thing, but yes. We will talk about this more. And I’ll think about?—”
“You’ll think about whatyouwant. You, Sydney Jeremiah, person of extraordinary intellect with a big old ginormous heart.” Tansy dipped her chin firmly and pushed Sydney toward the door. “We’ll make sure that happens—don’t think for a second we won’t.”
The best and the worst part of it was Sydney knew she could trust them to follow through. Which was both heaven and hell.
Friendship. Bossy and loving and painful all at the same time.
Sydney hurried to grab her things and head to the clinic.
Petra: Sydney has an out of town emergency visit and needs you as back up. It’s not a high speed situation, but meet her at the clinic ASAP. Confirm you got this.
The message wasthe last thing Declan had expected. Thankfully, he got it before he finished the message he’d been about to send, warning Sydney to expect him at her house.
Declan: I’ll be there.
