Upon a Midnight Clear (Legend, Colorado 2)

"Look, Tony is not my type. I'm not sure what my type is, but he's not it. End of subject. Besides," she said, looking at him suspiciously, "I thought you didn't like him."

"I never said that. I just… well, I had made some assumptions about him. But I've decided that if you want to marry him—"

"Marry him?" Kim interrupted loudly. "Where the heck did you get that idea?"

He shrugged. "It seemed obvious that you cared about him____"

"Whoa," she said, raising her hands. "Look, Dad, he's a nice guy and all, but we… well, we're not right for each other. If I married Tony—which, by the way, is ludicrous even to mention," she rambled on, "considering we only went out a couple of times—but, if I did, which I won't, my whole life would revolve around his schedule. I have a career, a career that means everything to me."

Her father wrinkled his brow, confused. "You're an artist," he stated. "You can't marry a doctor? How come?"

"It's not just the doctor thing. It's the marriage part. I mean, I spend all my time working, unencumbered with thoughts like: What time is he coming home? Do I have to fix dinner? Do I have to pick up dry cleaning? Do I have to… take a shower?" She sighed, as if exhausted by the very thought.

"Your career is everything to you, huh?" he said, thinking. "Sounds like you're more like me than you care to admit."

Kim paused, thinking about what her father had said. For so long he had represented everything she resented. Was she so busy resenting the choices he had made that she hadn't noticed herself doing the same thing?

"You're a beautiful, warm girl," her father said paternally. "And you're not married. You've never even come close. How come?"

She shrugged. "I haven't met anyone interesting. I work by myself all day, and at night I'm too tired to go out."

"I don't know Tony very well, but he certainly seems interesting to me… and I know a lot of women at this hospital would agree."

"Then they should marry him."

"He doesn't want them. He wants you."

Kim shook her head. "You're wrong."

Her father watched her carefully. The pain was evident in her eyes. She cared about Tony, and regardless of what she said, her eyes could not deny the intensity of her feelings. "Are you afraid that Tony will treat you like I treated your mother?"

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"Tony isn't like me. He's a different man… from a different generation—"

"Dad," she interrupted.

He rais

ed his hand, silencing her. "Your mother and I had our issues. They were ours, and our alone. My job didn't drive a wedge between us, Kim. I did. It wouldn't have mattered what kind of job I had."

"What are you trying to say?"

He paused. "I don't think Tony should pay for my mistake."

"What is this? I thought you didn't like him!"

He shook his head. "I like him. I just don't like what he represents."

"Which is?"

"Change. I think there are some people around here that would like to see Tony replace me as head of thoracic surgery."

Kim shifted her eyes downward.

He continued, "I'm beginning to think that might not be a bad idea. You see, I'm not afraid of change anymore—or the future. In fact, I look forward to it. I have a chance to change, a chance to correct some mistakes I've made."

Kim smiled sadly. "I look forward to the future, too.