(Complete) When Tim Burke meets Julie at a party, she isn't impressed. When they see each other again, Julie decides to give him a chance. As Julie faces burdens and sorrow in her own life, Tim and his family provide the support and love she needs...
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Although Clare returned to school her junior year feeling stupid and naïve, she recovered from the humiliation of being cheated on by Thomas. She never confronted him and when she walked into her advanced psychology lecture, that fall and saw him she wanted to run out.
She spent the next two years ignoring him. With time the memory faded, but she was glad he changed his mind about pursuing a medical degree and hoped she would never have to see him again.
She wouldn't admit it to herself, but his betrayal affected her emotionally. She had relationships but kept them casual. She couldn't get hurt if she didn't really care. She even slept with a few of them, but she wasn't a slut, not like Nicky. She would worry about finding a husband after she started practicing in Maine. Moving to be with her husband was fine for Julie, but Clare's future was in Maine.
The third week of March was a huge week for graduating medical students. Months before Clare had made her top choices for residencies. She listed the best in Boston for her chosen specialty. Her decision to pursue obstetrics and gynecology instead of family medicine cemented itself and no one could sway her - if they tried.
Nick kept reminding her how hard it would be. "You know you'll have four grueling years as a resident."
She shrugged. Clare was determined to one-up both her brothers. She would be vindicated if she matched to her first choice, Brigham And Women's. She was counting on her first or second choice - Beth Israel. She had also listed Boston Medical Center - Tim's hospital, Maine Medical - which would bring her home, and on a whim, Stanford Medical Center because it was a long shot and she needed to list five.
She hardly slept leading up to match day. She desperately wanted her first choice to show up her brothers. Even her second choice was a great option.
She gathered round with other nervous students at the match party. She had worked hard where she was, which was almost eight years in the making. Finally, when the notifications came through and screams and cries filled the room. Clare, however, was stunned into silence.
She was numb. They had matched her to Stanford which was quite an accomplishment, but Stanford was in California. She would have to go to California for four years. It meant four years away from her family, except for vacations, even then she would lose two days traveling.
She hadn't even told her family she added Stanford to her list. She hadn't thought it through. Her phone rang. Tim. All she could think was he should have patients. She didn't answer instead her friends crowed her. "Where?"
"Stanford."
Her friends were all very excited. It was a match she should feel proud of, if it wasn't so far from home. Her phone rang again. It was Nick, but she let him go to voicemail. She ignored three more calls from her mother, father, and Julie. Oddly Julie's call was the only one she considered answering.
