by Iris Abbott
“Once again, it’s my pleasure. We get to spend quality time together, and he’s great company. We even did some of our Christmas shopping today.”
She paused. “He's a little secretive about your present this year. I tried to get him to look at charms for your bracelet, and he informed me that he already had your present taken care of. When I tried to get more information from him, he got real quiet, pursed his lips, and wouldn’t say a word. I couldn’t figure out what he wants either.”
Hannah frowned. That wasn’t like Jacob at all. He spent a lot of time with his Aunt Amber since his father died. Hannah didn’t know how she would have gotten by without her sibling’s help. The thought of leaving her son at a new daycare when he started school and could no longer attend the hospital daycare filled her with dread. Thank goodness Amber stepped up and kept Jacob with her after school until Hannah could get home.
She didn’t exactly work predictable hours. Technically, her shift ended at 3:30, but if they were at the scene of an accident, then the shift didn’t end until they stabilized the patient, returned to the hospital, and finished all the paperwork. Hannah arrived at Amber’s house several times after seven o’clock. Amber never complained. She helped Jacob with his homework, fed him dinner, and then entertained him until whenever Hannah could arrive.
Hannah tried to rationalize Jacob’s behavior. “Well, he is getting older and more independent. Maybe he made something for me at school.” She shrugged her shoulders. “It really doesn’t matter what he gets me. He’s present enough.” And she meant it. She didn’t need a lot of fancy gifts. She only needed her son.
Amber smiled. “That he is. He’s also starting to fidget, so I shouldn’t hold you up any longer. I’ll see you tomorrow, and I haven’t forgotten about our original conversation. Something flustered you today, and I’m going to bug you until I have an answer.” She gave an evil grin. “After all what else would a little sister do?”
Hannah threw her sister a distracted wave and rushed out to her car. She checked to make sure Jacob was securely fastened in his booster seat before getting behind the wheel and starting the vehicle. “I hear you and your Aunt Amber did some Christmas shopping today. How’d that go?”
“It was fine. We bought a few presents for her friends, and I think I know what Aunt Amber wants this year. I can show you next time we go shopping. Maybe we can go this weekend?”
“I’m off this weekend. I think that sounds like an excellent idea.” She glanced at him in the rearview mirror. “What about you? Christmas is your favorite time of year, and you usually have a long list waiting for me. I haven’t seen anything resembling a list this year.” She decided to try to tease an answer out of him. “Don’t tell me you’ve decided you’re too old for Christmas already.”
“Nope!” He enthusiastically shook his head from side to side. “I only want one thing for Christmas this year.”
Hannah creased her brows. “Well, honey, you have to tell me what it is you want, so I can tell Santa Claus. Otherwise, how will he know what to bring you on Christmas Eve?”
“He’ll know. I sent him a letter before Halloween. You don’t have to worry about a thing this year, Mom.”
Hannah stopped at a red light and turned in her seat to look back at her son. She frowned. Despite her son’s generous pronouncement, she was getting more and more worried by the second. “You didn’t mention writing Santa. When did you do that?”
Jacob let out a long-suffering sigh. “Right before Halloween. I did it all by myself. Some of my friends from school said they didn’t believe in Santa anymore.” He stuck out his lower lip and gave her a defiant look. “Well, I still believe, and I wrote him a letter. I asked for the one thing that would make this Christmas the best ever, and I believe Santa will make it happen.”
Oh dear, Hannah thought. She had to find out what was in that letter or her son might be in for a major disappointment on Christmas morning. “Don’t you want to give me a hint?”
“Nope.” He sucked in his lower lip, used his fingers to pinch his lips closed, and vigorously shook his head.
The light changed, and the driver in the car behind Hannah impatiently tooted his car horn. She glanced both ways and drove through the intersection. She’d have to have a serious talk with Amber tomorrow after Jacob got in the car. Maybe between the two of them, they could figure out exactly what her son wanted for Christmas because it would break her heart if she couldn’t get it for him.
THREE
Hannah was late! She always liked to be at work at least thirty minutes early so she could relax with an invigorating cup of hot tea before the day turned hectic. Jacob rushed to the bathroom as soon as they arrived at Amber’s apartment. She took the opportunity to talk to her sister about Jacob’s letter to Santa. Amber swore she didn’t know anything about the letter or its content. She promised to do her best to keep her eyes and ears open for any hint as to what it was that Jacob so desperately wanted.
Hannah rushed to her locker and hung up her coat, hat, and gloves. She still had ten minutes. That was enough time to use the bathroom and grab a quick cup of coffee from the pot in the nurse’s lounge. Tea would have to wait until tomorrow.
She was so lost in thought Hannah didn’t realize someone else was in the locker room until she heard a metal door clang shut. She started and closed her own locker before looking over her shoulder. She came face to face with the warm brown eyes she remembered from the parking lot the night before.
“Oh, hello!” She quickly ran a hand over her neat plait, making sure every strand of hair was in place. She felt uncertain and shy around the stranger. It surprised Hannah that she should care one way or the other what the man thought about her. It stunned her to realize that she did care. She wanted to make a good impression.
“The woman from the parking lot!” he exclaimed. “Steve Rivers,” he introduced himself. “I’m new to town. Wanna have dinner with me tonight?”
Wow! Hannah sucked in a quick breath of air. She couldn’t believe the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen actually asked her out. That thought was followed by the smallest twinge of guilt.
She hadn’t even looked at another man since her husband died. And here she was practically drooling over a complete stranger and a coworker from the look of things. “Sorry.” She looked at the top button of his shirt instead of in his mesmerizing, chocolate-colored eyes. “I need to pick up my son as soon as I leave the hospital.”
She finally dared to look at his face. “Welcome to Enigma. I’m sure you’ll love it here. I moved here not long after my husband died in Afghanistan…”
She stopped talking and took a step backward. What was it about this man that made her want to tell her deepest secrets? He could probably care less about what brought her and her son to Enigma. “Welcome once again,” she muttered before turning and running out of the locker room and into the bathroom.
She could forget the cup of coffee now. She would report to the charge nurse and see where she was assigned for the day. She worked on the floor usually as a floater in the emergency room. If the air ambulance was called out her beeper went off, and she immediately reported to the helipad.
As if on cue, her beeper sounded. Hannah abruptly changed directions and headed to the stairs that led to the roof and helipad. She caught up with Dr. John Campbell.
“Hello, John,” she greeted as they walked toward the exit. The air ambulance crew worked close together, sometimes in dangerous circumstances. They were very comfortable with each other. They didn’t stand on formality. “What have we got?”
John gave her an absentminded smile. She knew he was already making a plan of treatment in his mind. “A snowmobiler lost control and wiped out two other snowmobiles. There are multiple victims. The rangers and onsite medical personnel already started moving them to our landing site.” There’s one serious head injury that I know of and at least one spinal injury.”
“Not to mention the usual multiple lacerations and pos
sible fractures,” Hannah chimed in. “It looks like we’re in for another hectic day.” Her heart pounded, and her body tingled.
They reached the top of the stairs, and John pushed open the door. “Our new pilot started today too. Everybody was going to be introduced at lunch, but I guess we’ll be meeting him sooner. I hope he’s as good as they say because it’s going to take a very experienced pilot to get us in and out of Arcadia National Park this time of year.”
The helicopter was ready to go. They raced toward it, and Hannah ducked under the rotating blades. She climbed inside and took her usual seat in the middle of the chopper near the nursing supplies.
Rob Turner, another RN flight nurse, joined her.
John took his usual spot in the passenger seat next to the pilot.
Hannah took a deep breath to center and prepare herself for the upcoming accident scene. She hoped there were no young children involved. It always made her think of Jacob, and that’s the last thing she wanted to do when she was on the scene of an accident.
She sneaked a glance at the new pilot and sucked in a quick breath of air. Her coworker was none other than the sexy stranger from the parking lot and locker room. Turnover at the hospital was moderate, and Hannah was used to seeing new faces. She hadn’t known when the new pilot was starting, so she had no reason to suspect she’d be working with the stranger in close quarters and on a regular basis.
She couldn’t help the slight smile that curved her lips upwards. Working with Steve would be challenging. The last thing she needed was a distraction on the job. She closed her eyes, breathed deeply, and slowly exhaled. She knew all the yoga and meditation would come in handy one day!
****
Hannah closed her locker and glanced his way. “Hi,” she greeted him with a breathy whisper that made him tingle. “I’m so tired I didn’t even realize you were standing there.”
Steve flashed a big smile, one he’d been told countless times was hard for any female to resist. He was counting on it now. “Great work today,” he complimented. “I was impressed by how efficient the air ambulance team is as a group. The citizens of Maine are definitely in good hands while all of you are on the job.”
“Thanks,” Hannah accepted the compliment with a warm smile. “It was touch and go for a while, but thanks to your expert flying you got us in and out in a hurry. You’re no slouch yourself, not when it comes to flying. I was white knuckling it there right before the landing. I could feel the wind buffeting the body of the helicopter.” She shuddered, and he figured she was thinking of the jerking machine right before he sat it down.
“At the risk of sounding cocky,” he winked at her, “I earned a reputation in the Army for being the man you wanted on a difficult mission.” He realized they were flirting, and he enjoyed the banter.
“Well, after what I saw today, I think we’re lucky to have you at Enigma General, at least I know I am.”
He looked at the sturdy watch he was wearing on his wrist. “It’s late, almost five-thirty.” He gave her his best pleading look. “You’ve got to be exhausted. I saw firsthand how much moving around you did today. I never thought a nursing job could be so physically demanding, but I guess the air ambulance would require a special kind of person.”
She blushed a becoming shade of pink. “It comes with the territory of being a flight nurse. I’ve been a nurse for seven years and a flight nurse for four. I’m used to grueling days.”
“Still, you mentioned having a little boy to go home to. Cooking dinner after such a tiring day has got to be a grind. If you want to change your mind about my dinner invitation, it’s still open.”
“I’m sorry, but my sister keeps Jacob after school. I can’t impose on her any more than I already have. Gotta pass, but thanks. Goodnight, Steve.” She rushed out of the locker room before he could utter another word.
She was gone before he could call her back and let her know the invitation was for both her and her little boy. He shrugged his shoulders and found a clean pair of jeans and a thick cotton crewneck sweater. He didn’t relish going home to an empty house and an even emptier kitchen. A couple of people from the hospital recommended a café on the edge of town. It was on the way to his rental home. He decided to stop by and give it a try.
****
Hannah was dead on her feet. The last two days were unusually exhausting. Steve was right about one thing. She didn’t want to go home and cook.
She looked at Jacob through the rearview mirror. “Sweetie, mom’s really tired. Do you want to eat at that café we pass on the way home?”
Jacob’s face lit up. They didn’t eat out that much Hannah realized. He probably thought of the midweek splurge as a real treat.
“’K, Mommy, that sounds good! I want fries! Can I have ‘em? Please, please, pretty please!” the little boy insisted.
“We’ll see what’s on the menu. I’ve never eaten there before, but I bet they have fries or something similar.”
“Yeah!”
Well at least someone was happy about eating at the café. Hannah pulled into the parking lot. The place looked packed, and Hannah gave the building a doubtful look and chewed on her bottom lip. Jacob’s bedtime was fast approaching, and she hated it when they had to eat this late. She didn’t want to have to wait, but he seemed so excited about eating out that she didn’t want to disappoint him.
She parked the car in the last remaining spots and helped Jacob out of his booster seat. “Stay close to me,” she reminded him as they wound their way through rows of parked cars.
There were a handful of people standing around chatting in the waiting area. A waitress sailed by “We’ll be with you as soon as we can,” the busy and harried looking woman promised.
Hannah cast a dubious look around the packed café. She was just about to break the bad news that they were going to leave when she heard her name being called. She searched the surrounding area. About halfway back and to the far right, she spotted Steve Rivers. His hand was raised in greeting, and he motioned her over. She hadn’t planned it, but it looked like she was going to be having dinner with Steve after all.
She took hold of Jacob’s hand and led him to the table Steve occupied. He stood and gestured for them to have a seat. “I just sat down myself about five minutes ago. I haven’t ordered yet.” He looked from her to the crowded room around them. “You and your son should join me. There’s plenty of room, and there’s no sense in waiting for another table to open up. Besides, it must be about time for this fellow to go to bed.”
Before Hannah had a chance to reply, Jacob stepped up to Steve with his hand held out. “Hi, I’m Jacob Forrester. “Do you know my mommy?”
Hannah was mildly surprised. Jacob was usually shy, especially around men. “Jacob, this is Steve Rivers. He’s the new helicopter pilot with my air ambulance crew.”
Jacob’s eyes got really big. “Wow, I love helicopters.” Then he got a serious look on his face. “Are you a good pilot? I already lost my daddy, and I don’t want to lose my mommy too.”
Hannah’s mouth formed a tiny O, and a startled gasp slipped through. She knew her job had risks, but she didn’t know Jacob worried about her. She leaned down until she was eye to eye with her son.
“I didn’t realize you worried about me. Steve is the best pilot. He’s a military hero, and I promise you I’m in good hands when I’m in the air.” She hugged Jacob. “What do you say? You wanna have dinner with Mr. Steve?”
Jacob’s face lit up again, his earlier worries forgotten. “Is he really a military hero like my dad?”
Hannah hadn’t meant to open that can of worms. She was hanging on to her composure by a thread. The last thing she wanted to do was burst into tears in front of a brand new coworker, especially one as rugged and sexy as Steve Rivers.
“I sure am. I don’t usually brag about the various medals and commendations I’ve received, but trust me. Your mom’s in good hands." He pulled out the seat next to him and gently guided the still silent Hann
ah into it. Hannah watched him walk around the table and pull out the other chair for Jacob.
“Maybe you and your mom can come over to my house sometime. I’d be more than happy to show you my medals.”
“Awesome!” Jacob’s response was as quick as it was enthusiastic.
Hannah was saved from having to make a reply of her own when the waitress rushed over with two more menus. “Sorry, for the wait. We’re swamped with Christmas shoppers tonight not to mention they’re lighting Enigma’s Christmas tree in the town square in about forty-five minutes.”
Jacob yanked on his mom’s sleeve to get her attention. “Mom, we’ve never been to the tree lighting.” His bright eyes and glowing cheeks showed his excitement at the idea.
“I don’t know, sweetie. It’s getting late, and I’ve had a really long couple of days.”
Jacob looked disappointed at her decision, but as usual, he didn’t badger her or whine.
His stoic behavior made Hannah feel even worse. Jacob missed out on a lot because she was a single parent with a hectic schedule. So what if he was a couple of hours late getting to bed tonight. He was young and would bounce back. He’d be as good as new in the morning.
It was the first week of December and time for her to find some Christmas spirit. “You know what, Jacob? I think watching the tree lighting ceremony is a great idea. Let’s grab a quick bite to eat then we’ll walk over to the square. It’s only a couple of blocks away.”
She looked at Steve. It would be rude not to invite him since he offered them a seat in the filled to capacity café. “Would you like to join us?” She waited with bated breath to see how he would respond to her invitation. It was offered out of politeness, but she’d be disappointed if he didn’t accept.
****
Steve rubbed his stubble covered chin and contemplated the invite. He couldn’t tell if Hannah wanted his company or if she was just nice. Christmas tree lightings should be fun and festive not awkward. He was just getting ready to decline when Jacob spoke up.
