Ch. 11
Outside the hospital entrance, someone was watching quietly as the Chief of Surgery passed by.
Burke thought the man's raincoat was too thin to withstand the weather, so he stepped back and handed the stranger one of his umbrellas. "Take this, Mister."
"Thank you." The man gave a half bow. "I thought it's for someone else."
"It was. But she probably doesn't need it."
"Someone important to you?"
"My wife."
"Will she come back?"
Burke shut his own umbrella and sat beside the man. "Oh yes. She's only gone to pick up our kid"
"That's very sweet of you to bring her the umbrella."
Burke shrugged. He never cared if he was sweet or not, mostly he did these little things without thinking, automatically.
"You must be a very good husband and father."
Am I? Burke wasn't completely sure.
"You don't think so?" The man seemed mildly astounded.
"Well, I try my best." They said it was easier to open up to complete strangers. That was exactly how Burke was feeling. "Everything seems perfect, too perfect."
"…but to you it's a problem."
"Yes."
"Maybe we're all a little scared. We don't want things to change."
"I do want some aspects to change, but I also want most of things to stay the same."
"Such as?"
"I like the fact that we seldom fight, but that doesn't mean I don't want us to talk." Burke stroked his forehead with his thumb. "I mean, we do talk, but she's always so cool and calm. I guess she wants to set a good example for our child."
"And you don't get a chance to sit down and talk to her?"
"We're either too busy or too tired. At first, I thought it was because we had a family, a child. I could understand her spending time cooing our baby. But now she's back to work and we're both getting our hands full again. I don't know, she doesn't seem like the woman I used to know anymore. Maybe I am asking for too much."
"Love is never too much." The man blinked. "I'm sure she knows. Give her some time. Maybe she's also feeling a bit insecure."
Burke nodded as the man stood up, ready to leave.
"Cherish every moment with your family before it's too late."
"I will."
"Don't be too hard on yourself, young man. You still have a whole life ahead of you to perfect your skills, as a doctor and a man in love."
"Happy Thanksgiving."
"Same to you. Bye."
Although Burke found the final remarks a bit odd, heenjoyed talking to the man, who was strangely familiar. He wished to have a one good look at the man again, but the raincoat was covering his face. He thought he saw tears at the corner of his eyes, but it was probably the rain.