Christmas-Day Fiancée (St Gregory's Hospital)

by Lucy Clark

  ‘Of course.’

  Marty reached across the table and took her hand in his. ‘Anyway, as I remembered your fondness for Italian food, this seemed the perfect place to bring you.’

  ‘It’s fantastic.’

  ‘Wait until you try the food.’ He slowly raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her smooth skin. ‘I love your bracelet.’

  Natalie blushed and lowered her gaze. ‘It was a Christmas gift from a very special friend.’

  ‘No, it wasn’t.’ At the contradiction, she looked at him. He shook his head. ‘It wasn’t a Christmas present, Nat, it was a birthday present.’

  ‘Oh.’ She frowned, realising what that meant. The fact that Marty had given her a present at all had astounded her. She’d thought it had been a parting Christmas present and as she’d seen him give a few of their other friends gifts, she’d just accepted it with thanks. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes. It wasn’t wrapped in Christmas paper.’

  ‘But that implies…’ She stopped, her mind whirring, trying to come to terms with this new information.

  ‘That I liked you more than just a friend? Nat, I’ve already told you I wanted to kiss you that day.’

  ‘So you did but I thought that was just curiosity.’

  He shrugged. ‘Curiosity and a lot more, Nat.’

  ‘Oh,’ she said again as his thumb brushed over the beautiful piece of jewellery.

  ‘Do you wear it often?’

  She held his gaze and said softly, ‘Only on very special occasions, and I would always think of you.’

  ‘Really?’ He puffed out his chest at this information and she laughed.

  ‘Really,’ she confirmed. Marty kissed her hand again and reluctantly let it go when the waiter brought over some menus. As the evening continued, Natalie felt herself completely unwind and knew without a doubt that Marty was definitely the man for her, but was she the woman for him? Again she pushed the thought aside. That was something for her to ponder later because right now she was going to enjoy every moment she had with him.

  ‘How did you mastermind all this?’ she asked as she finished off her last mouthful of lasagne.

  ‘What’s “all this”?’

  ‘Tonight. The carriage, the flowers, the restaurant…’

  ‘The present,’ he said, pulling a large box from beside him.

  ‘What? Where were you hiding that?’

  ‘Not hiding. It’s been just beside me since we arrived.’ He held it out. ‘Don’t you want it?’

  Natalie gratefully accepted the present, frowning at the size of the box. Slowly she unwrapped it, carefully pulling the sticky tape from the paper and smiling when Marty became impatient. ‘My present. My birthday. I open it the way I like.’

  ‘Just rip it.’

  ‘No.’ She shifted it out of his grasp. ‘You’re not doing it this time. You ripped open the paper when you gave me my bracelet. Not this time.’ Finally, she opened the paper and laughed. ‘Twister?’

  ‘Thought you needed the practice.’

  ‘Ha. You said I was the champion.’

  His blue gaze pinned her and she felt the mood instantly change. His voice was deep and sensual as he said, ‘I’m demanding a rematch.’

  Natalie felt the blood pump faster around her body as her breathing increased. She held his gaze, her tongue coming out to wet her lips. Her mind was having trouble with coherent thought as the picture of the two of them playing the game in a secluded environment buzzed through her brain.

  ‘You’re on.’ The words came out as a husky whisper and she swallowed, reaching for her water glass with a not-so-steady hand. She sipped at the cooling liquid, although it did nothing to help extinguish the fire deep within her…the fire Marty had started with one smouldering look.

  ‘Scuzi, signor, signorina.’

  The moment was broken as the maître d’ looked worriedly at them both.

  ‘You are a doctor of medicine, no?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘There is trouble down the street. Many people are hurt. Little children.’

  Marty and Natalie instantly stood. ‘Whereabouts?’ Natalie asked, and the man looked at her. ‘I’m a doctor, too,’ she added, as though to reassure him. They started moving towards the door.

  ‘At the neighbourhood centre. They were having Christmas celebrations.’

  ‘Have the emergency services been called?’

  ‘Yes. We ourselves have called. I will take care of your belongings.’ Before they left, Natalie bent and took off her shoes.

  ‘They’re going to be a hindrance,’ she said, holding them in one hand.

  ‘That’s my Nat,’ Marty said, before taking her free hand and heading down the street, the smell of smoke filling their lungs.

  ‘What’s the plan?’ she asked.

  ‘If the emergency services have been called, we’ll just assist where we can.’

  ‘We have no bandages, no oxygen, no supplies at all. I’m not trying to be picky,’ she added. ‘I’m just stating facts.’

  ‘I have a kit in my car, but it’s too far away.’ He shook his head. ‘We’ll manage.’

  ‘Improvise,’ she said, different scenarios going through her head. She grabbed her hair and twisted it into a knot that didn’t need any pins to hold it in place. The smell of the smoke was becoming stronger. In the distance, sirens began to wail and the area was darker than the block they’d just left.

  ‘At least the cavalry isn’t going to be long,’ Marty mumbled as the neighbourhood centre came into view.

  ‘If they can get through this Christmas traffic.’

  ‘That’s what the sirens and flashing lights are for.’ He grinned at her, then coughed a little. ‘No unnecessary risks.’

  ‘Same goes for you.’

  He gave her hand one last squeeze before letting go and crossing the road. People were everywhere, kids were screaming, everyone was talking and it seemed no one was making sense. They split up, trying to determine who needed help and in what order.

  Natalie put her shoes back on and started sorting people into groups. Some had suffered smoke inhalation, others were just scared—and rightly so. There were cuts and bruises, and thankfully a few people who lived in the area brought out medical supplies.

  Natalie saw a little boy of about two toddling off down the side of the centre, crying for his mother. She quickly raced down and gathered him up, but as she picked him up she saw a little girl at the window of the centre, crying and banging on the window.

  Her heart stuck in her throat for a moment and when the little boy’s mother came and took the boy out of her arms Natalie quickly looked around for a way in. This side of the centre was in flames. Through the thick smoke she saw a door to the side and without another thought went inside.

  The smoke stung her eyes and she coughed as she dropped to the floor. It wasn’t as bad down here and she crawled along the corridor and around into the room where she’d seen the little girl.

  The door was jammed and Natalie knew the handle would be hot. She swivelled onto her back and braced herself as best she could, her feet in the middle of the door. She bent her legs and kicked. The little girl screamed. Natalie coughed but didn’t give up. She kicked again and again and finally the door opened.

  The flames were getting closer but she also heard the sirens of the fire truck and realised the crews had arrived. She coughed and tried to call to the girl but couldn’t. She turned again and headed into the room, the little girl coming up and clinging to her.

  Natalie tried the base of the window but it was stuck fast. They’d have to go out the way she’d come in. She pulled the girl onto the floor and spoke into her ear.

  ‘Stay right beside me. We’re going to crawl…’ She stopped and coughed. ‘Crawl like snakes through the grass. Ready?’

  The little girl looked at her with scared eyes but nodded.

  ‘Let’s go.’ They crawled out of the room and into the corridor, but the fire had now take
n hold of the ceiling above and was blazing furiously.

  They made it almost to the door when an ear-splitting crack ripped through the air and Natalie had one second to look up before realising what was about to happen. She covered the girl with her body just as she heard deep male voices shouting around her.

  In the next instant everything went black.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ‘NAT! Nat? Honey, it’s me,’ Marty called as she was wheeled into A and E. She only vaguely heard him as she felt very drowsy.

  ‘Marty, I need you out of the way,’ the triage sister said.

  ‘No. I’m staying with her.’

  ‘Then you wait to the side and let us do our jobs.’ She pointed sternly to the corner but Marty didn’t know if he could let go of his darling Nat’s hand. ‘Please, Marty,’ Sister said, and he realised he needed to do as he was told…but he didn’t like it.

  He watched as the staff worked on Natalie. He hadn’t been at this hospital long but he knew that in all hospitals, when it came to one of their own, the treatment they were given was the best of the best. The head of the burns unit as well as the plastic surgery unit would both be called to come and assess Natalie.

  ‘Keep that airway clear. Natalie? Can you hear me?’ the A and E registrar called. The ambulance officers had established an IV line and administered high-flow humidified oxygen through a non-rebreather mask.

  Natalie mumbled something incoherent, which at least showed the staff she was mildly aware of what was going on around her. They hooked her up to an electrocardiograph and monitored her vital signs, cutting away her clothing and removing her jewellery. One of the nurses came and handed Marty the earrings and bracelet she’d been wearing. Tenderly he turned the bracelet over in his fingers, remembering how long it had taken him to choose from all the bracelets in the shop. It had cost him quite a bit, but back then fifteen dollars had seemed a lot. In some ways he wanted to throw it out and buy her something more expensive, more delicate, but as soon as the thought passed through his mind, he knew he’d never do it.

  This bracelet was their link from their past to their future. It was precious—to both of them—and although they may have grown up, the sentiment around the gift was still the same. He glanced up, watching the staff giving her the care she needed.

  They would get through this and triumph—they had to. He was desperate to show her how much he loved her, how much he’d listened to the words she’d said all those years ago in Fiji. How ironic that when she’d said he would one day find someone who was absolutely perfect for him, he hadn’t realised it would be her. Sure, the attraction had been there but in every way Nat was his soul mate and regardless of what lay ahead of them, both immediately or in the future, they would conquer it together.

  Natalie tried to open her eyes but it hurt too much. She shifted her head against the pillow and relaxed. The beeping sound wasn’t her alarm, which meant she could sleep for longer.

  ‘Natalie?’

  She frowned at the sound of Richard’s voice. What was he doing in her bedroom? She tried again to open her eyes but for some reason it hurt too much. The beeping sound became louder and she felt her head begin to pound in synchronicity. She screwed her eyelids even tighter, deciding it wasn’t worth it. She didn’t need to open her eyes to speak.

  ‘Richard?’ Her voice sounded so strange. ‘What are you doing here?’ She choked on the last word and within a second felt soothing ice-chips being spooned into her mouth.

  ‘You were hurt. Remember?’

  Natalie tried hard to remember, but the sound of someone else coming into her room and talking to Richard was too much for her to handle and she gratefully drifted back to sleep.

  The next time she stirred was when someone pressed a kiss to her mouth. She frowned. ‘No. No. Go away, Richard.’

  Marty was struck with such intense jealousy at the other man’s name on her lips that it took him a few seconds to realise she’d told Richard to go away. ‘It’s Marty,’ he murmured near her ear, and amazingly she sighed with relief.

  ‘Good. You’re allowed to kiss me.’

  Her words warmed his heart. ‘You’d better believe it. Me and no one else.’ He chuckled.

  A moment later she said, ‘It’s bright,’ as she tried to open her eyes.

  Marty instantly stood and closed the blinds. ‘Better?’

  ‘Yes. What are you doing here?’

  He paused for a moment before asking, ‘Where do you think I am?’

  ‘In my bedroom. Richard was here, too, or was I dreaming?’

  Marty knew many staff members had been up to visit her so it wasn’t out of the ordinary for Everley to be one of them. ‘You’re in hospital, Nat.’

  ‘What?’ She struggled to sit up but he eased her back.

  ‘Stay still, honey. You’re doing just fine. I’ve been making sure they look after you.’ He grimaced. He’d bugged her admitting doctor so much he’d been told to cool it or he’d be banished from the ward.

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘Do you remember the fire?’

  ‘At the neighbourhood centre.’

  ‘That’s the one.’

  Her eyes came open and she slowly focused. ‘The little girl?’

  ‘She’s safe and recovering in our ward. You saved her life, Nat.’

  ‘I don’t remember getting her out.’

  ‘You protected her. The firefighters said you were both really lucky.’ He shifted so he was sitting on the edge of her bed, both of his hands clasped around her left hand. ‘I aged a thousand years when they brought you out. I thought I told you not to take any unnecessary risks.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘No more Dr Heroine—ever.’

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  Marty paused and she realised he was trying to get himself under control. Finally, he spoke. ‘A ceiling beam came down, hit you on the head and knocked you out. Thankfully, the section of beam that hit you wasn’t on fire at that stage. You did manage to breathe in quite a bit of smoke, but your lungs are now fine and clear.’

  ‘Which unit am I in? Burns?’

  ‘Yes. Your right arm and hand are burnt and you have a few burns on your face.’

  Natalie’s eyes widened at this news. ‘My face?’

  Again he paused before saying, ‘And…and they had to cut your hair.’

  Tears welled in her eyes and drifted down her cheeks and he let go of her hand so she could touch her hair. As she felt the jagged cut, the tears increased. Marty took a tissue and carefully dabbed them away. ‘Don’t, Nat. Don’t cry. You’re here. You’re alive. It’s all good.’ As though he needed to prove it to her, he pressed his lips to hers. ‘I was so worried but now…now it’s all going to be all right.’

  She nodded at his words, sniffing and pulling herself together. ‘What’s the time?’

  ‘Sun is just setting. Why?’

  ‘I want to see my doctor. Who am I under?’

  ‘Janelle.’

  At this news, Natalie relaxed. ‘Janelle is the best.’

  ‘That’s St Gregory’s for you. Always reserves the best doctors for their staff.’ He kissed her again. ‘I’ll see if she can come and see you.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Natalie sighed and closed her eyes, desperate for some shred of control.

  ‘You know, I owe you a lot more birthday kisses,’ he said softly in an attempt to cheer her up.

  Natalie’s eyes snapped open. ‘My things. My shoes, my present…’ She looked down at her bandaged arm. ‘My bracelet.’

  ‘All safe. I have your jewellery and Beth has the other things, although your dress was sort of ruined.’

  Natalie nodded, trying to put on a brave face. ‘Again. I don’t seem to have much luck when I dress up. From now on I’m going out in my oldest clothes.’

  Marty chuckled. ‘You’re amazing, Nat. You give out so much, to your patients, to your friends. The child you saved will be forever grateful. I know her parents are and they’
re eager to meet you properly, but Janelle has said not until you’re stronger.’

  Neither of them spoke as the reality of her situation started settling over Natalie. She may have saved that little girl but at what cost to her own life? She needed to talk to Janelle, to find out how bad her burns were. Even so, it wasn’t as though she’d be rushing back to work any time soon. With the way she looked now, would Marty want to continue pursuing a relationship with her…if that was the way they’d been headed?

  She closed her eyes, trying to block out the many questions running through her mind.

  ‘Tired?’ he asked softly.

  ‘Mmm.’

  ‘Pain?’

  ‘A little.’

  ‘I’ll get the nurse.’ He kissed her then reluctantly let her hand go and headed off. Natalie was both distraught and thankful when he left. His explanation of events had shocked her. She couldn’t believe she’d been brought to St Gregory’s as a patient, but Marty wouldn’t lie to her.

  Everything had been going so well between them and now they were faced with this!

  Tears rolled down her cheeks again as she drifted into a fitful sleep.

  For the next few days, Natalie lived from one event to the next. There was the ward round, breakfast, visitors, treatment, lunch, hair-dresser visits, more treatment, more visitors, more food, more…more…more and all she wanted was to curl up in a little ball and weep.

  The head of clinical psychology came to see her and explained that depression, especially at this early stage, was quite normal. Natalie had no idea that depression could be so lonely, even when you were surrounded by people.

  Marty was definitely the brightest spark of her life and he was always so loving and attentive with every visit, bringing in cards and pictures the children in the paediatric ward had made. He told her what was happening in the ward and the plans that were coming together for Christmas Day.

  He sat on her bed, then patted his stomach. ‘What do you think? Do I still need that extra padding?’

  Natalie pretended to ponder the question for a moment before nodding. ‘Might be best.’ She ran her hand over his chest, loving the fact that she had the right to touch him in such an intimate way. ‘You’re all firm, hard muscle.’ She said the words slowly, watching as his gaze darkened. As she’d known he would, he leaned in and kissed her, his mouth letting her know just how much he desired her.