Mystery Of You (Pub 5)

2 - Traditions

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."