Page 81 of Family Bonds- Gabriela & Luca

“You have a great day.”

She finished up with two other rooms, went down to the ER to see if there was anything they needed there, returned to her ward, checked in with the parents or other family members who showed up and said she’d be back to check in later, but to call with questions or concerns.

Her mother was doing brunch today, so that everyone could relax and enjoy the rest of their time off.

Not her.

She worked last night, had a few hours off before she had to return, and wished she could have spent the night with Luca, but so far had agreed that when they were working, it was best to not put that pressure on each other.

They talked when they had breaks, but otherwise it was part of keeping things on the lighter side.

Until they had those five days off together.

Then it was hot and heavy.

She hoped it was working for him as much as it was for her.

She left the hospital, her gift for him in the backseat. They’d exchange them before she brought him to her parents’ for brunch, then bring him back home when she returned to the hospital.

The minute she pulled into his driveway, the front door opened and Luca was standing behind the screen, a big welcoming smile on his face.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, his eyes dropping to the white socks she had outside her red scrubs. “Are you in costume?” Her jacket was covering most of her outfit.

“I am. My form of Santa. Do you like my hat?”

He opened the screen door wide for her, leaned down and gave her a kiss, then took her jacket, eyeing the rest of her outfit.

“I like your hat and everything else. I might have to copy that with red scrubs sometime.”

“Easy and comfy. The kids enjoy it. And I’m the hero discharging one now that I admitted last night.”

“Couldn’t be too serious then.”

They moved into his living room where he’d put up a tiny fake tree. One she’d bought and brought over so he had some cheer in his house for this holiday.

She was guessing he had done nothing for the past few years.

“Came in last night running a high fever that couldn’t be tamed. High white blood count but no signs of where theinfection was. Until she tried to eat breakfast and her tooth hurt. It didn’t yesterday. I won’t tell you what I dug out between her teeth.” She shivered. “No way I could be a dentist. I tried not to gag over the smell either.”

He laughed. “There are worse smells than that.”

“It didn’t seem it to me this morning when I was popping pus and anything else that might have been living there. This little girl doesn’t like to floss and I’m betting she doesn’t brush as much as she says she does.”

“Okay, enough. You’re going to ruin my appetite for brunch.”

“Here’s your gift,” she said, shoving the big stocking in his hand. It was more fun for her to do that.

“Well, well, well,” he said. “I think we might have been thinking along the same lines again.”

She moved into his living room and saw a big stocking lying on the floor with the name Gabby on it.

“Very funny.”

“That’s the point. Not that I’d call you that, but really, I couldn’t fit your whole name on it and thought I’d pick on you and your last mixer date.”

She shook her head, grinning. “Who goes first?”

“Ladies first,” he said.