Cry to Me

"Yeah?"

"Hey man. Where were you this morning? You never miss optimal skates."

It was Marc, and while he'd be irate any other time one of his close teammates continuously called, interrupting his day, the sound of genuine concern resonating from Marc's voice made it easier to forgive.

"I decided to lay low today, take a break," he paced in Dulci's guest bedroom.

"Take a break? You?"There was laughter in Marc’s voice, like he couldn’t believe Sid would want a break from the one thing he loved.

"Dulci made a huge breakfast this morning. I was going to go, but then I found out we won't be seeing each other for a while. I thought I'd spend the day with her." He felt ridiculous having to explain himself. He knew that everyone praised him for his commitment and drive for hockey, but couldn't he have one day to himself as Sidney Crosby, the normal guy who wants to spend a day with his girlfriend and not Sidney Crosby, hockey player extraordinaire who doesn’t have a personal life or time for a relationship? All of the other guys had normal relationships. Why couldn't he?

"That's cool. She seems really nice. Vero loved her." As he listened to Marc, he wondered how anyone couldn't like Dulci?

"So I take it she's not working today if you're spending the day together?" Marc probed.

"I think she has a lunch meeting with her boss this afternoon. Why?"

"Vero has been bugging me to invite you two over for dinner. How about tonight?"

"I can definitely ask," Sidney said, wondering how Dulci would feel about having dinner with his teammate. As he was answering, he heard her run past the gues bedroom door, slamming what he assumed was the bathroom door behind her. When he opened the guest bedroom door to check, he heard what he thought was retching. Walking closer to the door, his initial thought was confirmed when he heard it again.

"Let me call you back," Sidney hung up the phone before knocking on the door. He didn't get a response.

"Dulci? Are you ok?"

"Yeah." Her response was shaky and weak.

When he opened the door, he found her kneeling on the floor, resting her arms and head on the toilet seat. It was obvious she had been sick. He knelt down next to her, soothingly rubbing her back.

"Can I get you anything?" he asked.

"A bottle of water." Dulci lifted her head and flushed the toilet. As she went to reach for the box of tissues ok her toilet tank, Sidney beat her to it, handing her a wad of tissue, looking at her sympathetically. Returning with her bottled water, he found that she'd left the bathroom. When he checked her bedroom, he found her brushing her teeth in the en suite.

"Thank you," she smiled weakly at him with a mouth full of toothpaste.

"Are you feeling better?" He didn't know what had happened. It couldn't have been the breakfast because he felt fine.He hoped she wasn’t getting the stomach flu.

"I'm fine. I'm just a little stressed about my meeting today," she lied, avoiding eye contact. She really wanted to say, "I'm fine except for the fact that I just found out your ex-girlfriend never went to her abortion appointment and is probably still pregnant with your child and the idea of you breaking up with me to be with her made me physically ill."

"I'm sure your contract renewal will be fine, and when you re-sign, we'll celebrate" he reassured her, tucking hair behind her ear.

"I hope you're right," she hugged him, embracing him tightly, not because she was worried about her meeting, but because she didn’t know what the future held for them, especially not knowing for sure what was going on with Carly.

"Speaking of celebrating, Marc and Vero invited us over for dinner. I know you probably don't feel great, but if you feel up to it later, would you want to go?"

"Sure. That sounds like fun."

"Come on, let's go relax," he grabbed her hand and walked her over toward her bed. She climbed in and sat against the pillows, watching him take his slacks off to join her.

"I need to bring some gym shorts over," he mentioned as he pulled the comforter over them.

"I like you better in your underwear," Dulci smiled.

"Is that so?" Sidney replied, pulling her close to him, switching through the channels on her television. She watched as he would go back and forth between sports channels, snuggling into him more.

She didn't know how long she'd been asleep, but shot up, feeling for her phone on the nightstand, except it wasn’t there. She remembered leaving it on the couch. She scurried to get up and find the time.

"I set my alarm. It's not even noon yet," Sidney said groggily, wiping his eyes and stretching.

"Thank God," she relaxed, climbing back into bed.

Her doorbell rang, and she groaned, not wanting to get up.

"I'll get it. Don't move," Sidney jumped up, giving her a quick kiss after he slipped his pants on. A moment later, he returned with a large box. Dulci sat up, not sure what was being delivered.

"A package from England," he told her, lying the box on her bed.

"Oh. It's probably from my mom," she told him, struggling to open the box. They hadn't discussed it yet, but her birthday was three weeks away. She'd be in New York City and he'd be on a road trip. Once she worked the box open, she pulled out a beautiful Cabernet colored cashmere wool trench coat and a pair of expensive looking snow boots. She pulled the card out last, which donned a giant "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" on the cover.

"Is today your birthday?" he asked surprised and unprepared.

"No. It's in three weeks. My mom has always sent out gifts around the first of the month." She opened the card, reading her mother's message.

“Darling, your father tells me you wear nothing but vests and sandals during the winter. Stay warm in style! I'll see you soon! Love you, Mum.”

As she was reading, Sidney racked his brain trying to figure out what to get her for her birthday. His go to with his ex-girlfriends was jewelry, but Dulci didn't seem to wear anything except ear rings. Then again, was it too early to buy her jewelry? He made a mental note to ask Vero and Marc later that evening.

"Why didn't you tell me your birthday was coming up?"

"I was going to tell you, but the urgency wasn't there because we’ll both be out of the area," she explained, stuffing the card back in the envelope.

"You'll be in New York?" He remembered.

"Mmhmm. And I think you'll be on a road trip," she laid her head on his shoulder.

"Well then we'll have to something before New York or after," he said, kissing the top of her head.

"I should probably start getting ready for my lunch meeting," she said as she stood and walked around to Sid's place on the bed, giving him a kiss before heading toward the bathroom. Sidney pulled out his phone, searching for gifts he thought she might like.

----

"I speak for Dr. Harrison and myself when I say we'd be happy to extend your contact for an additional year."

Dulci sat across from Dr. Kimmel, the owner of the hospital. She owned three hospitals in the Pittsburgh area and seldom worked with Dulci. When Dr. Kimmel did work a day, Dulci enjoyed every minute of it. She was passionate about veterinary medicine and did not seem interested in the business aspect of it compared to Dr. Harrison.

"Is there anything you want to alter with your previous contract?" Dr. Kimmel asked, taking a sip from her martini.

"I'm happy with my contract as it stands, but I'd like to receive some sort of credit for heartworm tests, preventatives, and fecal analyses. I work very hard talking clients into testing and treating for heartworms. I've also had more patients with intestinal parasite than I've had in the past."

Dulci swallowed, nervous to hear Dr. Kimmel's response. Dr. Harrison made it clear that none of the associate doctors would receive credit for those protocols and medications. She intentionally looked down at her salad, pushing the lettuce around in nervous anticipation.

"Consider it done. You're one of my most hard working associate veterinarians. I'll discuss the changes with Dr. Harrison," she smiled.

"I was honestly surprised when Harrison picked Megan to go to the Manhattan veterinary conference in two weeks. I thought for sure you'd be the top pick. You're my top pick, anyway."

Dulci’s head perked up.She gripped her fork tightly, afraid that she’d drop it at the sound of Megan King going to New York instead of her.

"I'm sorry, but did you say Megan was going to the conference?" Dulci panicked internally. Why was Megan going? There was only one slot available and it was offered to her, not Megan.

"Dr. Harrison told me yesterday that he offered the spot to Megan. Is that wrong?" Dr. Kimmel looked slightly puzzled, unaware that both Dulci and Megan King were offered the spot.

"He told me months ago that I was picked to represent the hospital in Manhattan," Dulci explained, trying not to sound as enraged as she felt.

"Maybe he forgot. Either way, I'll see what's going on and I'll get back to you." She reached across the table and took one of Dulci's hands, squeezing it gently for support. Dulci smiled, hoping Dr. Kimmel could talk some sense into Harrison. She almost asked if she could be moved to Dr. Kimmel's clinic. The commute would be longer, limiting her personal time, but it was a sacrifice she was going to think about making. In the mean time, she planned on calling the hospital to speak to Dr. Harrison.

Once she got into her car, she dialed the hospital and Savannah answered.

"Savannah, it's Dulci. I need to speak to Dr. Harrison, please." She tried to sound cheerful, but she knew her voice oozed with rage.

"Hey! What's going on? Is everything ok?"

"Long story short, I just found out I'm not going to Manhattan in two weeks. Dr. King is instead."

"Ohhhh. That's fucked up," she whispered. "Let me see if he's available."

"Interrupt him. I don't care," Dulci interjected before being put on hold.She waited, seething the longer she waited for him to answer.

"Dr. Hammett. What can I do for you?" He answered arrogantly.

"I just had lunch with Dr. Kimmel and she notified me that Megan is going to New York for the conference?" Her goal was to remain as calm as possible. She wasn't a confrontational person, but when it came to messing with something she deserved or cared deeply about, she would fight for it.

“Yes.Is there a problem?”

“Not at all except for the fact that you told me I was going.”

"I've seen Megan work some difficult cases lately. Dr. Kimmel and I decided she would be the better choice."

"Since when? I see more appointments and emergencies every single day..."

"Dulci, this isn't up for discussion. The decision has been made and finalized. This doesn't have anything to do with you," he interrupted. "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, sir." Dulci could feel the lump in her throat growing, chin quivering as she tried to swallow the tears.

"Oh, and I need to speak to you about switching shifts with Megan. She needs to work mornings for a while."

That was the last straw of the day. She's never been unprofessional a day in her career, but her patience was wearing thinner by the minute. He'd screwed her over by giving Megan the spot at the conference, and now he tried to switch her schedule without her permission. She was done.

"I'm not switching my schedule, Dr. Harrison. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go." Dulci hung up without getting a response. She didn't care if she didn't have a job tomorrow. She pulled Dr. Kimmel's number up on her phone, her thumb hovering over the call button. The only thing stopping her was Sidney. By working for Dr. Kimmel, she'd lose almost all of her free time with the hour-plus commute. They had a hard time matching up their schedules as it was. She couldn't imagine it being any harder.

It wasn't long before she pulled into his driveway. She looked into the rear view mirror, trying to wipe away the black tear streaks from her mascara running. She told herself she wouldn't cry, but as she sat through rush hour traffic, she couldn't help herself. She walked to his front door, desperate to take the blouse, pencil skirt, and heels off for more comfortable clothes. Before she knocked, the door flew open and Sam ran out to greet her, wagging her whole body and wining out of excitement.

"Hi Sam!" Dulci said in her baby voice, kneeling down to get kisses.

"Sam, don't steal all my kisses," Sidney said as he pulled Dulci up for a toe-curling kiss that made her temporarily forget her problems. When he pulled away, he noticed the redness in her face.

"Is everything ok?" His brows were furrowed, obviously concerned.

"I'm not going to New York," she huffed, looking away, feeling the lump grow again.

"What do you mean? I thought you were hand picked to go out of everyone you work with?"

"I was, but my stupid boss changed his mind and chose the worst person to go," she wiped a tear away.He pulled her into a tight embrace, letting her cry silently into his chest.

"I know I’m clueless about this, but can you go on your own?"

"The conference is four-hundred dollars a day, not including the conference material or rooming. I don't think I could afford it," she told him as she pulled a Gatorade out of his refrigerator.

"I'll be ok. I'm just really disappointment because I was looking forward to this for months," she rolled her eyes, aggravated at how excited she had been, knowing deep down that it seemed to good to be true. Sidney, not knowing how to help her, pulled her back into a hug.

"We'll figure it out," he said softly, rubbing her back. Dulci sighed, so grateful and fortunate that he was in her life. He had no real indicator of what she dealt with at the hospital from Dr. King or Dr. Harrison, and yet he was eager to try and make everything better for her.

"Ugh. I need to call Savannah and apologize. I was harsh to her earlier when I called the hospital," Dulci rubbed her forehead.

When she turned and walked into the powder room, Sidney knew exactly how he could help. Stepping outside, he pulled out his phone and called the hospital. Thankfully, Savannah answered and she was more than helpful to him. He would pay for her to attend all five days of the conference, including her stay at the nicest hotel he could find.

Notes