The end of the year was a time to reunite with the family, also for the Isaacs whose four sons and their families always came together to celebrate Chanukah at their parents' house in London. Jason was quite fond of this event: Because of his job, he didn't see his brothers and parents a lot during the year and it was nice to catch up with everybody – and, at the same time, to know that he would be rid of them the next day again.
Jason smirked, but for him it was just like that: His family was wonderful, but he enjoyed being with them in small doses when everybody tried their best to be polite and not to upset anybody. Well, most of them did at least. His brother Geoffrey and especially his wife Deborah didn't always succeed, but maybe it was just their opposed personalities why they happened to clash.
Jason's theory was this: When the Isaacs parents were handing out charms and humour to their sons, they almost spent everything on the first already, which you could tell when you looked at his oldest brother Brent who was lightyears older than Jason, but still and always had looked far better, was still working as a doctor because he said he would be bored if he didn't (Jason thought the only reason was that he'd lose a great source for his jokes), and surely had always, to this day, been the biggest heartthrob of the family.
Then, they had their second son Geoffrey and, Jason on his part was really glad, decided to save the bit of charms and humour they had left for the other two boys that were yet to come, but so Geoff turned out to be as dry as two-days-old bread. Which, of course, made him the only decent Isaacs offspring that got his shit together in life and qualified him best for the job of a lawyer, a profession Jason himself had aimed for too once.
The two of them were the closest in age with only one year separating them, and Jason really liked Geoff – he had been his role model through his school years, but now, he cherished their differences and wouldn't want it any other way. Also with regard to Deborah, Geoff's wife of thirty years and the epitome of a square.
Their twins were wives with their own children by now, so it depended on strategic social necessity if they would show up to a family reunion.
His younger brother finally, with whom Jason had shared the last portion of charms and humour, was Damian, a shy, very decent boy who had made it to an accountant and becoming the husband of his very charming wife called Molly, who worked as a police officer. They had two very lively children: Lily, 8, and Toby, 6.
"A-and they'll all gonna be there?" Tom asked.
"Of course. It's Chanukah."
"Oh god... Turn around."
Jason chuckled and reached out to gently pat Tom's thigh. "You wouldn't be scared anymore if you'd already seen them. Really. They are related to me. They are just as pathetic as I am. You're gonna be the star."
"I don't want to be the star. Jason. I'm gonna make a fool of myself..."
Jason brought the car to a halt in front of the red light, then reached out to gently cup Tom's cheek.
"You're perfect," he whispered and pressed a soft kiss to his forehead.
Tom sighed and slopped down in his seat, but he didn't complain anymore. He fumbled with the presents in his lap and stared out of the window for the rest of the drive.
"Helloo!"
"Jason!"
"Come in!"
"Oh, and you must be Tom!"
Brent was the first to open the door and his mother was just coming up the stairs from the cellar with a pile of the delicious crackers she always made for Chanukah. She beamed at them and as Jason could feel that Tom was getting a bit nervous again, he gently put a hand on his back and soothingly rubbed him there.
