Unforgettable Christmas Dreams: Gifts of Joy

by Rebecca York

  Ignoring his insistence, she pulled her hands from under his and reached down to her child. “Sweetie, come with Mommy now. Our food will be here soon and you need to wash your hands before you eat.”

  He leaned back, watchful, waiting for a response to his plea. Before she could whisk the child away, he tried again. “Lindy? Answer me. When can we meet?”

  “No. I mean, not yet.”

  “When?” His right eyebrow rose and steel entered his voice.

  “I don’t know. Excuse me. We’ll be right back.”

  By the time she’d returned with the munchkin, the hamburgers had been delivered, along with Hollie’s strawberry milkshake and a huge basket of flavourful fries.

  Being considerate, Reed had fetched a higher chair for the little girl to sit in but when she spotted it, mutiny appeared and she crossed her arms, her mouth forming the stubborn pout that Belinda knew well.

  Reed stepped forward. “Here we go, Sunshine. They have the special chairs for little girls to use. Let me help you.” He reached to lift her and Hollie backed away.

  “Those chairs are for babies.”

  Looking nonplussed, Reed nodded first. Within seconds, he realized his mistake and his head changed direction. “Not really. They’re not just for babies; the owners have them for anyone who wants to... ahh, sit up higher.” Looking for help, he glanced her way. Belinda quickly shook her head and grinned. Let him suffer his own folly. She’d experienced her daughter’s displeasure often enough, she had battle scars no one saw—didn’t mean they didn’t exist.

  “I’m bigger when I sit on my knees. They’re strong and it’s healthy exercise. I do yoga with Mommy and it’s one of our poses. Right, Mommy?”

  Her hands outstretched, Belinda shrugged at Reed and watched him surrender gracefully.

  “Okay, swift, you got me there. A yoga chick; heck you must be older than I thought.”

  Giggling proudly, Hollie answered. “I’m five on Christmas Day. I’m just kinda short.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Right after they’d eaten, before Reed could pin Lindy down to a date and time for their next meeting, she’d rushed Hollie along and vanished.

  Driving back to the hospital for his afternoon appointments, he remembered the little girl’s proud statement: I’m five on Christmas Day.

  Suddenly that fact hit him like a rock on the side of his head. He swerved, his foot ramming the brakes hard. Stunned, his brain opened an inner calculator and he quickly added the months from the night in May when they’d been together. A quick sigh of relief followed.

  Thank God! Hollie couldn’t be his.

  Why sadness washed over him, he didn’t know, but a faint inner glow faded and his heartbeats slowed. The brainy, curly-haired angel with dimples and the attitude of a little warrior wasn’t his. He swallowed the sigh and pulled into his reserved slot. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, he lowered his forehead and for just a few minutes he let himself wallow in unexpected desolation—she wasn’t his.

  Upon reaching his office, he spied his receptionist talking with his next patient, one of his favorites.

  “Ah! Here’s Dr. Carlton now.”

  “Maeve, my dear, how are you today?”

  “Could be better, Dr. Darling. Could be better.” Maeve coughed and the harshness in her voice deepened. “Now if you’d stop being so damn finicky and write me a large prescription for some of those pain-relieving narcotics you’re hoarding, I’d be perfect.”

  Smiling at their nonsense, he answered. “Sweetheart, if you’d quit trafficking the ones I give you, they’d last longer. How many times have I told you to stop sitting on that street corner and selling the product?”

  Giggling at their silliness, Maeve clapped her hands. “Okay, you got me there. I’ll be good.” She coughed again, and he helped her sit upright.

  Wheeling her chair into his office, Reed proceeded to take her blood pressure and then he checked the information on his computer screen. “How’s your breathing, darling? Is it getting difficult? Are you wheezing? Any chest pains? Having trouble sleeping?”

  “Not really. But I’m tired all the time. My housekeeper has taken on all the chores for me because I’m pretty useless. She wants to hire someone to come and sleep in the house with me at night so I’m not alone, and I admit that I’ve given it some thought. I guess it’s the stranger in the house aspect I’m not comfortable with. During the day, she’s organized caregiver visits and an alarm button, but those dark hours can be lonely.”

  ‘I’m glad she’s looking into it. You should have someone with you all the time now.”

  “Now? Okay, spill the beans. How long do I have, Dr. Carlton? I know you couldn’t operate…”

  “You mean you refused to let me.”

  “Yes, well, I didn’t want to be any more of an invalid than I already am. I just wanted to live these last few months in as normal a way as possible, stay in my house and enjoy the life I have left. You said yourself that my ticker is wonky.”

  “Darling Maeve, I never said your ticker was wonky.” Reed grinned. “I would never use medical jargon with a patient who wouldn’t understand such technical terms. I remember distinctly using layman’s words when I explained that you suffered from mild congestive heart failure. A heart attack was just a possibility. One I felt you had to be aware of. There were other procedures we talked about, such as radiation or chemical therapy that I thought might stave off the end, but you refused them all.”

  “Yes. I know. I’m a stubborn old wretch who’s made up her mind. Rather than take any chances, no matter how slim, I wanted my last months to be special. And it’s been wonderful. I’ve put all my finances in order, so I’m ready to go out of the world like I came in, kicking my legs and screeching like a banshee.”

  Reed laughed, couldn’t help himself. The spritely lady sitting in front of him was a jewel and he would miss her terribly. But from the results of her latest scans and blood tests, she would begin fading more quickly now.

  “I’m going to have a technician deliver an oxygen ventilator to you which you must begin to use constantly. You’ll find it helpful for sleeping especially.”

  “Will it stop this infernal cough?”

  “Sure, it’ll soothe you and help your breathing ability a lot. I’m also giving you a different prescription for antibiotics and one for relaxation. You must take them as directed. Maeve, it’s time for you to have someone with you during the day as well as the night, a person to help you with the new equipment. Do you have anyone you can ask?”

  Maeve shook her head. “As you know, I never had any children and my sister died a few years ago, unfortunately preceded by her only daughter. So, no, there’re no relatives. But I could ask my housekeeper to move in with me, I suppose. She’s a lovely girl and has a small child of her own. Since I’ve willed everything to her, she might choose to move into the house anyway.”

  “Good. Ask her. It’ll make all the difference to you in these last few months having someone to be with you. Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to bring you into hospital.”

  “Aha! You just let the cat out of the bag. I only have a matter of months now. Yes, I can see by your long face that the end is close. I’m not at all unhappy, Dr. Darling.” Maeve reached out and took his hand, smiling as his warm fingers wrapped around her thin claw-like ones and squeezed. “You’ve been good to me, my friend. Please know how much I’ve appreciated having someone listen rather than just give orders. Bless you, Doctor, and thank you.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Maeve, tell me again why your doctor won’t operate.” It was a question Belinda had asked before, and each time Maeve had looked away and made little of her response, putting Belinda off with a nonchalant shrug and a silly excuse. Furious that the medical community could be so uncaring with her precious friend’s life, Belinda had been tempted to interfere. If Maeve’s faculties were questionable, she would have. As it was, her friend was sharper than most her age.


  Maeve shrugged. “Oh, you know, they have so many patients. I’m just one of hundreds. Besides, I have no complaints about my treatment. In fact, Dr. Darling has been wonderful. But he’s insistent that I have someone live with me now or it’ll be the hospital for me and I would hate that. So I’m asking if you and Hollie can do it.”

  Belinda leaned over and gave her a gentle squeeze. A scent of roses wafted around her boss. Since the lotion had been one of Belinda’s birthday presents to Maeve, the odor pleased her. “Of course we can move in here with you. Hollie will be ecstatic to be this close to special Auntie Maeve at Christmastime and she’ll love having the yard to play in, especially if we’re lucky enough to have snow this year. Plus, I’ll feel a lot better being with you during the night, rather than constantly worrying when you’re alone.”

  “It’s settled then.” Maeve slapped her knees and settled back in her chair. The white curls haloing her wrinkled face bounced with satisfaction.

  “What about the evenings when I’m at work? There’s a friend of Mom’s, you’ve met her before, that lady called Freda who lives close by. She’s babysat for me periodically when the family was away, and she’s strapped for cash most months. She might like to earn a few extra dollars to come and stay with you and Hollie during those hours. Should I ask her? She wouldn’t charge much so I can probably pay her from my tips.”

  “I’ll pay her, you mean. After all, you’ll be changing your life for me.”

  “We’ll work it out.” Belinda had noticed the ventilator resting on wheels over in the corner and decided to take the plunge. “So, Miss Maeve, suppose you tell me about that contraption over there and how it works.”

  “Oh, we’ll let my doctor explain. He’s promised to come over tomorrow afternoon so he could explain everything. I couldn’t make any sense of what the delivery fellow said. Spanish accents and my ears just don’t go together. Guess I’m too old.”

  Belinda smiled. “Your Dr. Darling does house calls?”

  “For me he does.”

  “That’s wonderful. I’ll be here. I can’t wait to meet him.” She turned away, hiding the determination from Maeve to give the idiot a piece of her mind for not taking better care of her friend.

  Too many patients… bah!

  Chapter Fifteen

  Belinda wiped the counter and settled back to washing glasses. It was quiet tonight in the bar area; most folks were in the dining room having a meal. Other than taking the occasional wine orders, she had the time to scan the room, see that the few regulars were settled and happily occupied with filled glasses. She let her mind wander.

  Modern, yet warm and inviting, the wooden booths and tables scattered around the fair-sized room were tidied and waiting for the customers she knew would eventually appear. The greens, grays and blues used in decorating the walls and light fixtures presented the low-lit room with a convivial and inviting atmosphere.

  Modern music played in the background, kept low for her own enjoyment and it wouldn’t be turned up to fight with the noise of people having a good time until later when no one cared.

  Having left Maeve’s house to pick up Hollie and deliver her to her parent’s home, she’d explained that it would likely be the last time the little girl would be overnighting with her grandparents for a while. Smiling at the memory of Hollie’s glee, she allowed the satisfaction to take hold.

  “Auntie Maeve wants us to live with her? In her house? Even me?”

  “Yes, for the third time, she wants both of us to live with her.”

  “I’ll be a good girl, Mommy. I won’t run around or yell very much. Maybe we could get Mr. Reed to bring Cloud over to see where we live and meet Auntie Maeve. She’d like that, wouldn’t she? Then I could play with my puppy in the yard.”

  Belinda sighed over Hollie’s noticeable use of the pronoun ‘my’. “We’ll see. I can’t make any promises, munchkin. You do know that Auntie Maeve isn’t well, I’ve explained this to you before, remember? She’ll need a lot of sleep and then one day she won’t wake up. Do you understand?”

  The silence trembled. A sigh escaped the little girl, one of acceptance. “Yes, she told me she can’t wait to go to sleep because soon she’ll get to live with the angels. She’s lucky. I wish I could see the angels.”

  Belinda smiled, swallowing the instant shot of dismay those words evoked. “One day you will, baby, but for now, you need to stay and look after Mommy.”

  Lost in her own world, reliving earlier moments, Belinda didn’t see the man who approached the black granite counter and took a seat at the end of the bar until he lifted the menu.

  Shock had her hesitating, but his welcoming grin started her feet moving forward. “Hi, Lindy.”

  “How did you know I worked here?”

  “Hollie told me while you were in the ladies’ room after lunch.”

  She tried to hide her smile and knew she’d failed when he returned it. Cheekily, she added, “How did you know I’d be here tonight?”

  “I didn’t.” His playful wink had her raising an eyebrow and trying to suppress her pleasure. “I’ve checked in every night for a drink and figured I’d catch you sooner or later.”

  “You lucked out tonight. I’m only here for a short shift to cover for a friend. If you’d been a half an hour later, you’d have missed me.”

  His satisfaction was obvious. “Good. Then you’ll be free for dinner.”

  “I wasn’t angling for an invitation—”

  “I know that. I never believed you were. But I want to get to know you and you don’t really give a guy a chance to make that happen. You haven’t returned my calls, and I know I used the right number because I heard your voice message.”

  Sheepishly, she looked down at her hands locked in a tight grip, one thumb peeling the nail polish off the other. “I didn’t know there were messages. It’s a new cell phone and the girl where I bought it set up the voice mail. I’ve forgotten her instructions on how to recover calls.”

  His face lit up and the smile he sent her way had her knees knocking. My goodness, the man had charisma. When he looked into her eyes, she felt herself drowning in twin sensations of lust and - could it be – hope?

  A server called her name and broke into their moment. Quickly, she filled the order, moving briskly and efficiently. Then she called to Reed and got his preference for a beer and the brand. While filling the mug, she glanced quickly in the mirror and felt thankful she’d changed earlier into her favorite soft blue sweater and the slacks that showed off her long legs and flat tummy.

  Because she was only twenty-seven and lived alone, she’d spent way too many lonely nights working out, stifling frustration by doing exercise and yoga.

  Be glad, girl. It’s paid off.

  He’d picked up his beer and brought it closer to where she’d gone back to washing glasses. “Lindy, will you have supper with me tonight?” Mistaking her hesitation, he added. “We can stay here, if you prefer. Most nights I eat alone so you would be doing me a huge favor if you’d have a meal with me. We could share our stories and bring each other up to date. Besides, it’ll stop me from being bored with my own company and passing out with my face in the spaghetti.”

  Laughing at that mind picture, she studied him and saw the exhaustion the poor man suffered. “It might be best if you ordered take-out and got an early night.”

  Chuckling, he shook his head. “Trust me, that’s my customary pattern. Sharing a meal and conversation with a woman not connected to the hospital would be a treat beyond anything you could imagine.”

  “Then, since Hollie is at my parent’s house tonight, I’d like that.” With her heart beating to where she thought she could pass out, where it made breathing difficult, she hoped he hadn’t taken her explanation about Hollie’s whereabouts as being a hint she expected more than dinner. Feeling absurdly tongue-tied, her usual state around men, Belinda held her breath.

  “Great!” Waving his phone and grabbing his beer, he grinned like a man f
eeling happy. “I’ll let you work while I go and answer some e-mails in the booth over there, until you’re ready.”

  While she worked, her mind travelled back in time. Understanding clearly that her theories about being drugged and raped didn’t make sense with a man like Reed Carlton, Belinda knew she needed to rethink her story. What had happened to her on that May weekend when she’d conceived their precious daughter?

  Chapter Sixteen

  They’d decided to move into the dining room where it was less noisy and designed for couples to enjoy an intimate meal. Now waiting for their seafood choices, Reed tried small talk to help Belinda to relax. He’d never known a woman so nervous and yet alluring.

  Her appeal today re-sparked his hunger for her body. This girl had lingered in his memory, an ideal for his other partners to surpass. And it hadn’t happened. She’d come between him and romance too many times.

  Remembering her beguiling smile, the one she’d given him as he’d entered her body, the sweet caresses on his face and chest while they’d been attached, moving together as one to reach their climax, came to him both in dreams and moments like this when he’d relax his guard.

  Lindy had made him feel like a star that night and he’d never forgotten her magic. No other woman had ever given as much, loved as sweetly or lived in his head, as she had.

  Since she’d been on edge from the moment they’d sat down in their booth, Reed decided to clear the air. Acting like a person with a secret, one that didn’t make her happy, she’d looked everywhere but at him. Her flyaway auburn hair was being sifted and tugged at continuously and the trembling in her hands was obvious, no matter how much she moved them. He couldn’t stand the building tension a moment longer. “You wanted to talk.”