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"We'll need toIsland It will be easier on you to be closer to the hospital I can commute into Brooklyn"

"You want to ether?" she whispers, her eyes wide

"Yeah, don't you?"

"Well yeah, but--"

"Saood idea, and so do I," I tell her quickly

"Sarin

"Yup, and I'et a house with a fenced-in yard so he can have a dog"

Holly laughs, wraps her arms around me, and pulls me back down for a kiss When she releasesfor sure"

I kiss her again swiftly, because I hear the swinging door bang open and the voices of a few of the guys coh

Sobering a bit, I ask her hesitantly, "Are you going to talk to your dad?"

"Yeah," she says with no hesitation "It needs to be done I need to thank him at least, and I don't know maybe talk to him"

"Want to go over there toet off duty?"

She shakes her head "No, I only have one more day here and I don't want to spend it with anyone other than you But I do have an idea of hoant this to go down"

I look at her in question, but she doesn't give s h of contentment

My life just got very fucking good

Epilogue

The Grande Ballroo with people, flowers, and chane It's an auspicious occasion, where New York'swork

My father, of course, was thethe recipient of the Franklin R Murray award, which is voted on by his peers I had to look it up, not being overly fas are done in New York anyoes to a physician who best uses his or her talents and skills to ih actual practice, teaching, and charitable works

The award is really quite ie to accept it, I foundwith actual respect for hieous tuxedo I've ever seen, was clapping right alongside me

Weof people Now that dinner has been concluded, the band is playing and people are taking to the dance floor My father knows I'h my mother that I would attend What he doesn't know is that Tim will be with me

I' this for the shock factor, or if once again I just want to rip the Band-Aid off

I moved to New York this past weekend Tiether, but for now, I' in his small apartment I start work next week, and I' work on the pediatric trauma services

I haven't seen my mother or father yet, and it's been difficult to put off their invitations to get together But I didn't want to succu etting if they wanted me back in their lives

I needed to show them that Tim is a part of my life

The biggest part of my life, actually

Spotting my father and mother ahead, Tiers withsqueeze, we roup of doctors they're talking to

As we approach, ently on the coat of my dad's tux He looks down at her, and she nods our way His head swivels and he looks athis face His eyes flick to Ti me to step in just a little closer to him in solidarity, and oddly the shtest

His head inclines toward the otherhi toward us

"Easy, baby," Tirip of my hand

My father reaches us, beaives ht beam "You made it"

"I ree, and then immediately rip the Band-Aid off "Moht?"