Ch. 8
"Burke, do you want to ask Richard and Adele to come over for Thanksgiving?" Cristina asked as they couple strolled down the aisle in the supermarket.
"Why not?" Burke flashed a smile, enjoying every minute. They rarely did their grocery shopping together, but they always made time for that before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
"Who else?"
"Will Mer and Georgie and your friends come?" Asha gave out more names in excitement, remembering the Christmas party they had last year.
"I think they will be out of town, sweetie. We could try Bailey if you want." Cristina patted her daughter's head. "That way Billy could play some tunes on the violin while you sing along."
"I guess we'll need a bigger turkey then. How about this one?" Both mother and daughter nodded.
Everything was picture-perfect again, Cristina thought as they loaded their goods into the trunk. It felt amazingly good to be spending time with her family. She was hardly a holiday person before she met Preston, because there wasn't anyone to spend time with. If only everyone could have a family to spend his Thanksgiving with.
Earlier that day, Cristina promised Samuel not to tell anyone about his past, about how he was drink-driving and took the life of a little girl, how he ran away, how he went penniless, how a few petty crimes accidentally threw him into bigger ones, which nearly qualified him for a permanent position in prison.
Too dramatic, thought Cristina, too unlike the god-like Preston Burke.
"Cristina, what's it?" She would be run over by other cars if she kept standing in the middle of the parking lot.
"Nothing."
"You don't have any surgeries scheduled until Saturday. Why not take a short break?" Burke spoke with some hesitation. He knew Cristina didn't like it when he put on the Chief cap but as her husband he also hated to see her looking so worn-out.
"Don't worry. I promise to be on call. It's Thanksgiving, not everyone lives as close to the hospital as we do." Cristina laced her fingers on her chin, her eyes traveling with rows of street lights they passed.
"Alright." Burke mumbled.