8 years in the life

Chapter 12 - October 27th, 2008

"Rory are you home?" Robert asked just opening the door "You would never guess who I met today." Rory exited her room putting her hair up and smiled at him.

"David Axelrod!" Robert looked like a little kid who'd just met Santa. "We had an incredible discussion. The guy is brilliant! We had an incredible discussion about the elections and what would be the smartest first move if Obama was elected."

"My god, Robert, you can't be a Democrat," Rory joked. "It would kill your father."

"Seriously, the guy is brilliant. If Obama were elected, I think a good part of the credit goes to Axelrod."

"What do you think he did that would convince people to vote for a black democrat president?"

"Well I think they didn't emphasize Democrat vs Republican, but succeeded showing that Obama is the "non-Bush" candidate which means new in politics and not like Hillary Clinton. Axelrod always said that America is looking for a remedy, not a replica. We'll see next week, but I'm quite confident Obama will win the elections. Talking to Axelrod was a total blast. I wish he could be on my thesis committee but he won't have time."

"Are you sure?"

"Actually, he's friend with my thesis advisor, that's how I met him. When Franck saw that we were getting along so well, he asked him but the timing isn't good. He will likely be at the White House by that time."

"By the way, you have a FedEx package, I left it on the kitchen counter". Robert looked at the box.

"Oh, it's a birthday present from Odette."

"It's your birthday?"

"Day after tomorrow" He pulled out a bottle of "Habit Rouge" from the box and smiled. "She always remembers," he smiled.

"Your birthday?"

"That and what cologne I'm wearing. We don't see each other much anymore but she never forgets my birthday or what I like." Rory felt a little pinch in her heart but ignored it.

"Who's Odette?" Rory asked.

"One of the musketeers, remember the girl I shared with Nicolas when we were kids?"

"Oh, I just connected the dots. It just dawned on me that the third musketeer is a girl. So, what are we going to do for your birthday, big boy?"

"Nothing, I'm not much into birthday celebrations," he answered absent-mindedly while reading the card.

"What's with you guys and birthdays? Logan didn't use to do anything for his birthday either."

"I don't know when I was a kid my mother used to bake a cake but since I left for boarding school I don't think I have ever celebrated my birthday besides having drinks." Robert shrugged and walked to his room to drop his present and the card.

"Isn't Finn back in Boston tomorrow? We could do something together." Rory tried to keep the subject on.

"If you want. What's your plan?"

"Don't know yet, but keep your evening free of work that day OK?"

Rory shook her head

"What's wrong, why are you shaking your head?"

"I don't know much about you, do I?" Rory asked. She seemed bothered but Robert was oblivious to her mood.

"Yes, you do know a lot about me, actually more than most of the people. You know what music I listen to, that I need to run in the morning to have a good day, my favorite authors, that I like nouvelle vague movies, my favorite comfort food, my favorite wine. Anyway, why does it matter?"