Dr. Neil Melendez paced the hallway waiting for his wife to finish up with Dr. Andrews. All Andrews had told Lim was that he wanted to meet with her after her shift was over, but he wouldn't give the reason why. Melendez was almost certain Lim wasn't losing her job; they had both been there for too long and were considered some of the best surgeons at St. Bonaventure. After what seemed like forever, Lim and Andrews finally exited his office, the two surgeons shaking hands. As Lim walked over toward Melendez, he noticed she had an extra spring in her step. She swung her black bag over her shoulder and asked, "Ready to go?"

"Of course," Melendez said and nodded.

As they drove home, Lim glanced over at Melendez and said, "Neil?"

"Hmm?" he quickly glanced over toward her, and then back to the road.

"When we get home, we need to talk about something," she said.

"Is it about what Andrews discussed with you?" asked Melendez for confirmation.

"Yes," affirmed Lim, "It's a big deal."

"Okay," said Melendez.

When the couple arrived home, Mei-Li and Carlos were at the dining room table, doing their homework, "Hi Mom, hi Dad," said Carlos.

"Hi honey," Lim kissed his cheek, "How was school?"

"I got an A on my science test," said Carlos.

"And I got a callback audition for the lead in the spring musical," said Mei-Li.

"That's wonderful, mija," said Melendez, "We'll start getting dinner ready shortly. Mom has to tell me something first."

"Don't eavesdrop," Lim said and pointed at her children as she led her husband up the stairs.

When they entered their bedroom, Lim closed and locked the door before Melendez asked, "So what did Andrews talk about to you?"

Lim took a deep breath and said, "Andrews is retiring at the end of this year."

"Oh," said Melendez. Then, the point of Lim's discussion with him hit him, "OH!"

"Andrews offered me the presidency," Lim stated matter of factly, though she was doing her hardest to suppress her excitement.

"Audrey, that's wonderful," Melendez walked over to her and embraced her.

"Neil, I haven't accepted it yet. I told Andrews I'd think about it," said Lim.

"Why haven't you?" asked Melendez in surprise. He pulled back to look at her.

"I told him I wanted to discuss it with you first. And then, there are the kids. I know they're older, but this would be a huge change. I would have more responsibility at work, and as a result, you would gain more responsibility by becoming full Chief," said Lim.

"Audrey," said Melendez, "That may all be true, but you've worked so hard for this. This is your dream job. And you'd be St. Bonaventure's first female president. That's a big deal."

"I'm also a wife and mother with a husband and kids whom I love very much," said Lim.

"And that husband and those kids are going to support you no matter what," Melendez wiped at Lim's cheek, and she was only now realizing she had tears streaming down them.

Lim blew out a breath as the realization hit her. She was going to be Dr. Audrey Lim-Melendez, president of San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital, "Are you sure about this, Neil?"

"Positive," he assured her.

"Well, then I guess we better tell Carlos and Mei-Li," said Lim.

"Okay," Melendez squeezed her hand and the couple descended the stairs.

Lim walked back into the dining room and said, "Mei-Li, Carlos, would you come to the living room please? Dad and I have something we need to discuss with you."

The siblings glanced at each other nervously, but complied, seating themselves on the living room sofa, "What's going on?" asked Mei-Li.

"Well, Dr. Andrews spoke with me before we left work today, and he's retiring at the end of the year, right after Christmas," said Lim. She took a deep breath and said, "He offered me the position of president."

Mei-Li and Carlos let the news sink in, a smile appearing on Mei-Li's face, "Are you serious? You're going to be the president of St. Bonaventure?"

"Yeah," Lim said and smiled, the reality finally sinking in for her as well.

"Mom, that's great!" Mei-Li stood and threw her arms around her mother, "You've worked so hard for this. I'm so proud of you. You deserve it."

"Thank you, sweetheart," said Lim.

Carlos shook his head and asked, "You haven't taken the job yet, have you?"

"No, but I will be accepting it," said Lim, "And I'd start at the beginning of next year. The next few months will be spent transitioning me as well as your father to new positions, because he will become full Chief of Surgery."

"Which means you both will be working more," said Carlos.

"Mijo, it will be an adjustment, but we'll make it work," said Melendez.

"No, you won't," said Carlos, "You'll just miss more stuff, and if you are at our activities, you'll just prioritize Mei-Li like you always do."

"Carlos Samuel, that is not true," Lim raised her voice.

"It is true," said Carlos, "When was the last time you missed one of her dance recitals or theater performances? Meanwhile, our Little League team won the state championship, and Dad's even one of the coaches, but you both had to leave, so when I went to celebrate with the team, everyone's parents were with them but mine. And only Coach Morrison was there to give me my medal. And only Mei-Li was there to have pizza and ice cream with me."

"Mijo, there was a bus crash, and Dr. Andrews called for all surgeons to report to the ER since it was a mass casualty event," said Melendez.

"Well, what about the football game where I scored the winning touchdown? Were you there? No, because you had to go to a charity event. You only saw it because Aunt Laura recorded it on her cell phone."

"Carlos…" Lim said.

"But of course, Mei-Li is the favorite, so she gets priority. She's the one who wants to keep the family legacy of attending Stanford and becoming a doctor going. She's the one who can speak more fluent Mandarin and Spanish compared to me, and then, decided to take French for her language requirement."

"Maybe if you actually attempted to learn them better instead of choosing to learn Klingon through Duolingo after Dad introduced you to Star Trek, you'd speak them better," said Mei-Li as she stood, "And you don't think Mom and Dad working a lot hasn't affected me too? You're conveniently forgetting the time when Mom wasn't here to see me go to my first Homecoming Dance. The times we've had to miss Lunar New Year parades and Christmas parties and whatever else because of their jobs."

"But still, you're the favorite child because you're the good girl," said Carlos, "And ever since you came out, you've gotten even more special treatment."

"Carlos Samuel Lim-Melendez, that was an inappropriate thing to say to your sister. Go to your room! Now!" Melendez ordered. Carlos shook his head, but complied. As soon as he was upstairs, Melendez and Lim turned to their daughter, visibly hurt by her brother's words, "I'm so sorry mija," said Melendez.

"It's fine. I know he's upset and didn't mean it," Mei-Li said.

"Still, it's not an excuse for Carlos to hurl biphobic remarks toward you," said Lim.

Mei-Li wiped away a few tears and said, "I have homework. Congratulations again, Mom." Mei-Li disappeared upstairs.

Later that evening, Lim knocked on Carlos's bedroom door, "Come in," he called. Lim entered his room and he looked up from the comic book he was reading, "I'm sorry what I said to Mei-Li," he said.

"Good," said Lim, "But you need to apologize to Mei-Li. She was very upset with your comments."

"I didn't mean it," said Carlos.

"I know," said Lim, "But that still doesn't excuse your saying it."

"I know," said Carlos, "It just always feels like I'm second fiddle compared to Mei-Li. Like you and Dad don't care about me."

Lim took a deep breath and said, "Let me tell you a little story, sweetheart. Sixteen years ago, a couple who had only been dating for about five months found out they were going to have a baby. Boy, were they terrified. Excited, but terrified. And the tomboy mother was even more terrified to find out that their baby was a girl. Was this baby girl going to be born knowing the names of every Disney princess and be automatically attracted to stuff that was pink and glittery, or could Mommy shape that little girl into a miniature version of herself? Along came that little girl, in March, 2020, and she immediately captured the hearts of this couple. And they enjoyed the first four years of her life with her. She had bright eyes, a beautiful smile, and a spunky and headstrong personality. Then, along came baby number two: a handsome baby boy. He was the opposite of his sister. He was daring, he had a rebellious streak, he loved climbing trees and skateboarding and jumping off of furniture. He was a handful, but he also provided this couple something they didn't know they needed: a complete family," she looked over at Carlos and smiled at him, "Sweetheart, I know life hasn't been easy for either of you. But that doesn't mean Dad and I love you less than Mei-Li or love our jobs more than you both. You and Mei-Li are the best things that ever happened to us. You both complete our family."

Carlos sighed and said, "I know what you and Dad do is important. It's just sometimes I feel left out when other kids have their parents at events and I don't."

"Well, I'm not going to lie. This promotion will change things," admitted Lim, "But Dad and I will attempt to make more of an effort to think about both of you when scheduling things. But we also can't make any promises."

"I know," said Carlos, "But I'd like to be able to spend some time with you."

Lim hugged him and kissed his temple, "I love you sweetheart."

"Mom," Carlos whined, "I don't need you to hug me," he said jokingly, though Lim could tell he was enjoying it.

"Now you need to go apologize to your sister," said Lim.

Carlos nodded and went down the hall to Mei-Li's room. He knocked gently, "What?" she asked.

He opened the door and said, "Hi Mei-Li," Mei-Li turned to face him and crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm sorry I said you get special treatment because of your sexuality."

"Thank you," said Mei-Li. She motioned for Carlos to come into her room and he sat down on the bed next to her, "But I know how you feel. Mom and Dad have had to miss some of my stuff too. You might be too young to remember, because I was only seven and you were only three, but the first time I performed in The Nutcracker, Mom and Dad had to miss it because of a roof collapsing at a warehouse downtown. I was so disappointed. You, Abuelita, Abuelito, and Tía Gabi were the only four there. All of the other boys and girls had their moms and dads with them and I didn't. I felt really left out. Especially after one of the other girls in my ballet class asked me where my mommy and daddy were. Normally, I was proud to share that Mommy and Daddy are doctors who help save people, but at that moment, I wished they weren't. I wished they were there with me."

"It sucks," said Carlos.

"I know," said Mei-Li, "But we're not the only people who need Mom and Dad. All of the other people they've saved have needed them as well."

"Well, Mom will make a great president," said Carlos.

The siblings rejoined their parents downstairs and stood next to their father as Lim called Andrews, "Hello, Dr. Andrews. I've talked it over with my family, and I accept your offer of the presidency." The other three could only gaze at Dr. Audrey Lim-Melendez with pride.