“You let her cancel them eighteen hours before my commissioning,” I said.

Over the line, I heard the faint metallic click of his pocket watch case snapping shut.

“Derek is launching his consulting firm this summer, Sarah.

He needed both of us in Chicago for his preliminary board dinner.”

“My commissioning happens once in my life,” I said.

“Your brother has real expenses in business school, while the military pays for everything you need,” Arthur said, his speech speeding up into a familiar corporate rhythm.

“You don’t need the same financial backing.”