Ch. 5

Samuel's question was glued on Cristina's mind. It was unintentional, the same way how her best friend Meredith used to ask her if she loved Preston, to which the answer was an automatic yes. This time, Cristina was caught off balance.

Of course they were happy. She had Asha, Preston and a brilliant career. What more was there to ask for?

"There's no reason why they're not." Cristina's defensive tone puzzled the old fellow, who resumed his pensive mode. Cristina glanced at her wristwatch and knew she was late again. "Samuel, I wish I could stay and talk but I have to go. I will come back tomorrow to go over your options in more details."

"Sure, Doctor." Samuel put the news excerpt back into the personal drawer beside his bed.

Cristina gave a little squeeze on his shoulder and blurted out a question she could withhold no more. "Do you want me to tell Dr. Burke?"

"You're very kind, Doctor. Promise me this. Don't let him know."

Kind was not the word Cristina was associated with, even though she had toned down her arrogance in the past few years and was gaining more respect from her colleagues.

"But you came here to—" Cristina wanted to intervene but a pang of selfishness held her back. "OK, I promise."

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"Mummy! You're here. Daddy says you get to choose the restaurant tonight because you worked the hardest today!" Asha went up to give Cristina a strong hug with her short little arms.

"Where've you been, Cristina? Your daughter's been waiting for you for hours."

Burke didn't intend to sound accusatory. In fact, Cristina was touched at first. But if Asha's words painted a sweet and considerate image of Preston, his own words wiped that out in a snap. What did he mean by your daughter, wasn't he the father of her child? Why did he have to sound so distant at times? It was something insignificant, but many a time, relationships were strained because of these minor slip of tongue.

"Sorry. George had a consult for me after the surgery." Without getting closer to her husband, Cristina grabbed her coat and was ready for the door. "Why don't we go to the pizza place and get a quick bite? Thanksgiving is approaching. I want to catch up with work before we get too busy."

Cristina didn't like that pizza place. Why did she have to choose convenience over pleasure? Preston was hoping they could go to a nicer restaurant to spend the evening. On other days, he would have understood Cristina's work ethics. He was just like her. Very driven. But tonight, he was beginning to wonder about a lot of things. Even the fact that Cristina was taking Thanksgiving seriously did not lighten his mind. Was he asking for too much from the woman he loved? To attend to her job, her family, and all hallmark holidays equally well?

"Daddy, here's your onion." With an expression of mischief on her face, Asha transferred every piece of onion she picked out from her slice of pizza to her father's plate. Cristina faked a disapproving look before Burke received them gladly.

The couple exchanged affectionate looks as they watched their child finish her food. When he tried to talk to her, however, she flinched.

Burke knew Cristina was hiding something, but what was it?