2 - Traditions

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On Sunday after Thanksgiving, when David arrived at the home he grew up in, his brother and nephew were already there.

Andrew studied him for an uncomfortable moment. "You look different."

"I just saw you Thursday. I had a haircut a week ago."

Andrew shook his head. "That's not it."

Could his older brother tell he had a date the night before? Dinner with Rose had been amazing. They never ran out of things to talk about. When he dropped her off at her house, his plan was to kiss her, but he hadn't expected to fog up the car windows. It was definitely more than the cold night air meeting the warm car. David felt like high school again, because she lived with her parents.

Normally, living at home would be a red flag, but Rose's career path was unusual. Technically, she was still a student, although she made a decent salary, but not close to what he made. He also googled to find out she would make a hell of a lot more when she finished. A successful woman might threaten some men, but he was in awe of her commitment.

Taking the focus off himself, he turned to his nephew, Ian. "How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Good. It was nice to see everyone. Is it weird that Boston feels like home now?"

Andrew frowned. "Don't tell your mother."

Ian nodded. "She kept saying how glad she was to have me home."

His brother was a lot of things: a professional concert pianist, a great brother, and an even better dad. He was also a guy who went away for a weekend and knocked up a girl he had just met. David had been too young to take part in the family drama, but Andrew never shirked his responsibilities. As soon as Ian was old enough, he spent his summers in Boston. As a freshman at MIT, Ian lived with Andrew and returned home to his mother as the visitor. From David's perspective, it was their turn, but he was sure the kid's mother didn't feel that way.

Gillespie tradition dictated a kickoff of the Christmas season with tree decorating on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. A beautiful bare balsam fir stood by the front windows. The smell of roast beef warmed the house.

His mother stepped out of the kitchen wearing one of her Christmas aprons. "Since we waited for Ian and are starting later, we'll eat first and decorate second."

Everyone clamored into the dining room. "Nana, it smells delicious."

"Thank you, Ian." Carol Gillespie smiled at her grandson and then each son before nodding at her husband. The Gillespie's were a family of men.

Alan Gillespie nodded back at his wife and David felt his gut tighten. Andrew, who was busy putting food on his plate, was unaware everything was changing. David had a sixth sense and inside information.

"Boys, your father and I have made a decision."

David said, "You're downsizing."

Andrew looked up, as their parents looked at each other and then David. Alan cleared his throat. "You could say that, but we're planning to move to Florida."

"Florida!" Three men said at once. Technically, Ian was a man. At eighteen, he was old enough to vote and join the army, but not drink.

"I know this comes as a shock, but we're tired of the winters and you are both self-sufficient, even Ian is an adult."

David almost asked about his children, but he was a long way from starting a family, especially after one date with a career woman.

"Florida. Wow! I didn't expect it."

Andrew sighed. "Me either. Why'd you say downsizing?"

David looked down and chuckled. "I heard they met with Mrs. MacInnis."

"How?" Alan asked.

"The reunion."

"You graduated with her daughter."

He nodded. "Lucy. She lives in North Carolina."

"Too bad." Carol frowned.

Andrew laughed at their mother's disappointment. "She told you they were selling the house?"

"Actually, her sister was her guest. She told me."

"Her sister? Isn't she the doctor?"

David pulled back his shoulders. "She's a surgical resident. She wants to be a neurosurgeon."

Andrew chuckled. "That's why you look different. You... Ahem."

"No. I didn't." He wanted to eventually. David tried to hide his red face.

"Dad, you embarrassed Uncle David. Be nice."

Carol said, "You're the co-ed. I'm surprised you aren't..."

"Mom, leave Ian alone. The truth is, I took her out to dinner last night, but brought her straight home. I don't know when I'll see her again."

"When, not if?" Carol smiled.

"As long as I have any say in it."

"You should bring her around so we can meet her."

David sighed. "Shouldn't we decorate the tree?"

"Good idea." Ian stood and patted him on the back. There should be a rule about embarrassing your adult children.

Carol said, "Ian play a song to get us in the spirit."

His nephew could have pursued music like his father. He played beautifully and Andrew listened with pride. Everyone clapped when he finished the lively Christmas melody.

Ian looked at his grandmother with a frown. "Nana, is this our last tree decorating party?"

"No, darling. We'll come home for the holidays. Hopefully, your dad will let us stay, so we can carry on the tradition at your house."

Andrew stepped forward. "You are always welcome. I owe you for all the help you gave me through the years."

Andrew relied on his parents to help with Ian. David remembered when his brother traveled to see his son. Ian was as much his friend as his nephew. David secretly liked how he chose to study computer science instead of music.

Laughter and memories surrounded the tree trimming. Carol kissed each of them as they left. He had work in the morning and Ian had an eight am class.

David put his keys on the counter in his small one-bedroom apartment. It wasn't late, and he took a chance and texted Rose.

My parents are moving to Florida. I let it slip I had dinner with their real estate agent's daughter.

His phone rang. "Hey. Florida? That's huge."

"Yeah. I was preparing myself to hear they were selling, but Florida. I guess I can get out of the snow for a week in February."

"Lucky you. In bad weather, we sleep at the hospital."

"I, um, I enjoyed dinner last night."

"Me too. Thanks. It was a nice perk to my vacation week."

"Just let me know when you're free and I'll buy you another dinner."

"I'd like that, but it will have to be an early night because of rounds."

"What time are they?"

"Six am."

"Yikes. That's early."

"I know. I was just going to bed when you called."

"Don't let me keep you up. Sweet dreams, Rosie."

"Thanks."

He held the phone wondering what he was getting into by dating a busy woman. The alternative was dating no one and seeing her occasionally would be better than never seeing her at all.

On Tuesday, David sat at his desk working on a problem. He didn't need to rush home to an empty apartment. Some nights, he grubbed a meal off his mother, but he had to get used to his parents not being around. Takeout on the way home to Cambridge sounded like a plan.

He picked up his vibrating phone expecting it to be a family member, although Andrew was performing. The holiday season was a busy time for the symphony.

His heart leapt, as he answered. "Doctor MacInnis."

"Mr. Gillespie. I have just come out of surgery and fingers crossed, I'll have a break in about thirty minutes. How would you like to join me for some sub par hospital food?"

He smiled. "That depends."

"On what?"

"Will I get another kiss out of it?"

She laughed. "If you're lucky and I don't get called away."

"I'm leaving work now."

Because rush hour was over, it only took ten minutes to drive from South Boston to Mass General Hospital. By the time he parked and found the cafeteria, it had almost been thirty minutes. David smiled when he saw her. She looked beautiful in hospital scrubs.

"I wish I could wear comfortable clothes to work."

"A perk of the profession, I don't have to buy a wardrobe."

"You looked nice at dinner and the reunion."

She smiled. "Come on. I'm starving The burgers are pretty good." She picked up a sandwich, and he did the same. "We can share some fries."

David took out his wallet before she could protest, and she led them to a quiet table against the windows.

As they sat, he said, "I thought as a doctor you would eat healthy."

She shrugged. "I do, mostly, but I'm human." He watched as she dragged a fry through the ketchup and popped it in her mouth.

David wanted to taste the salty tang, but not from the deep fried potato. "I let my nephew have cake for dinner once. I'm not sure we ever told my brother."

"That's cute how old it he?"

David laughed. "Not so cute anymore. We're ten years apart. Same as me and my brother."

He let her do the math. "Your brother was young, and he's a musician?"

"Yeah. It all turned out in the end. Ian, my nephew is the age my brother was when he became a father, but he's kind of geeky like me."

She stopped with her sandwich at her chin. "You aren't geeky."

"I'm an engineer. I took a lot of math."

"And I took a ton of science. Geeks conjures an image that is nothing like you. You must workout."

"I run occasionally. Sometimes I play tennis with my brother, but he is much better than me."

"I sprint down halls in this building and stand for hours on end in the OR."

"I'm sure operating takes a lot out of you."

When their sandwiches were both eaten, Rose looked at her watch. "Time flies. I need to get back to recovery."

"How late do you work?"

She shrugged. "Hard to say. Could be an hour or if there is an emergency surgery, a lot longer."

"I hope it's quiet." They both stood, and he carried the tray with their trash. After he dumped the wrappings and used napkins in the bin, he put the tray on the pile. "I believe you owe me for coming over."

She blushed. God, he loved her freckles. When she looked around, he held his breath. Like a cat, she lunged and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Both descended on the other's lips at the same time. In his car, the kisses were heated. In public where she worked, it was tender, but equally sensual. She tasted exactly as he imagined. When they separated, David's chest hummed.

"Doctor, I have a rapid pulse."

Her warm fingers held his wrist, and she giggled. "Me too."

"Every time I eat a French fry I will think of you."

She smiled. "You had better." She bit her lip as if she let out a secret. "Um, remember in moderation. They aren't healthy."

"Yes, doc."

In the hallway, she pointed. "I'm this way."

"Okay. Bye. Hey Rosie." She turned back. "I'll take another date like this anytime."

She smiled and nodded before turning away.

David smiled, maybe he found a new tradition assuming Rose wants to put up with him, but he had made her laugh and blush.

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