‘I don’t know.’ Eden stared at the hundred or so squares that made up the bedspread. ‘What is all the writing?’
‘It’s from school,’ Rory yelped, forgetting to whisper, his face lighting up as he read all the signatures. ‘From my year. There’s Davey and Glen and there’s Shalya…’ His fingers pointed to each individual square, three weeks of lethargy disappearing as he stared at the vast expanse of messages and pictures, each one just for him. ‘And that’s my teacher, Mrs Park. She says it was good I was wearing my helmet…’ A tiny frown puckered his brow as he momentarily looked up at Eden. ‘How did this get here? Did you put it on?’
A loud squawk from the isolation rooms gave Eden the perfect excuse to give him a very queer look. ‘Me? Since when did the night staff have time to make your bed? This is from your school?’
‘Yeah!’ Rory stared from her to the blanket. ‘If you didn’t put it here, then who did?’
‘I have no idea,’ Eden said, but her audience was lost. Rory’s attention turned back to the friends he was sure by now would have forgotten him, his Christmas already made—and it wasn’t even five past six.
‘Happy Christmas, Rory.’ Eden smiled. Yes, he was ten years old, but he wasn’t too big for a cuddle and despite her earlier protests Eden was happy she’d worked Christmas Eve as two bony arms wrapped around her neck.
‘Happy Christmas, Eden, you’re the coolest one here. ‘
‘Flatterer!’ Eden grinned, cuddling him back. ‘But guess what? So are you!’
Six a.m. onwards was always chaotic at the best of times. Every child had their observations taken and recorded, waking babies needed to be fed, drugs and IV antibiotics had to be given—all hopefully before the arrival of the day staff at seven. But Christmas morning was, of course, even more chaotic than usual. A stocking had been placed at the end of each child’s bed and each child demanded and merited more than a quick greeting on this very special day. The ward had fewer patients, due to the fact that elective surgery was cancelled over Christmas, but that also meant that the patients that were unfortunate enough to be in hospital over Christmas really needed to be there and were therefore quite poorly. That was the reason the morning round had been started fifteen minutes earlier. Blowing her fringe skywards as she glanced down at her watch, Eden wondered if she was ever going to be finished in time.
‘Morning, Sister, and Merry Christmas!’
‘Good morning.’ Eden smiled as Donna waltzed in, immaculate as always, but instead of heading straight to her office, as was her usual practice, Donna pulled one of her hand-made tabards out of her bag and proceeded to put it on.
‘Where do you want me?’
‘Sorry?’ Eden gave her a slightly bemused look. ‘It’s only six-thirty.’
‘It’s also Christmas morning.’ Donna gave a rueful smile. ‘Why don’t you give me that thermometer and the medicine charts and you can get on with the feeds? Young Justin is wide awake and singing for his bottle!’
‘She’s a good egg really,’ Dana, the night nurse Eden had been on duty with, said as they met in the milk room, where Dana was making up a jug of formula and Eden was warming a bottle. ‘She does this every year.’
‘I don’t remember her coming in last year.’ Eden frowned, shaking a few drops of milk onto the back of her wrist to check it was the right temperature.
‘Because she was on a late shift,’ Dana explained. ‘She stayed till nearly eleven on Christmas night, doing the obs and meds and letting us get on with settling a ward of thoroughly over-excited, over-fed children. Who are you feeding?’ she asked.
‘Justin,’ Eden answered with a smile, ‘which will take about two minutes flat. He’s such a little guts!’
‘Well, Ben’s starting to wake up. Do you want me to pop his dummy in and hopefully drag it out so that you can feed him his morning milk?’
‘Please,’ Eden answered, and not for the first time she was so pleased the truth was out. Far from her colleagues criticising her, they had bent over backwards to support her—this morning was a prime example. Despite his age, Ben usually drank from a training cup, but in the morning and to settle at night he still loved to have his bottle and no one was in any rush to deny Ben this small pleasure. It wasn’t so much the method of feeding he loved but the contact that came with it, being taken out of his cot and cuddled in for five or ten minutes. Dana, like the rest of the team, had been only too willing to leave that pleasurable duty to Eden.
‘Oh.’ Eden smiled as she pushed open Justin’s door and saw his mum standing there, going through Justin’s stocking, smiling as she pulled out the soft teddy, rattle and little box of chocolates that Eden had placed there when she’d take Justin’s two a.m. obs. ‘I was just bringing him in his bottle.
‘Merry Christmas,’ she added, handing over the bottle. ‘The chocolates are for the mums, by the way!’
‘That’s really kind. Merry Christmas, Eden.’ A tired-looking Jenny took the bottle and picked up her angry bundle. ‘And Merry Christmas to you too, little man.’ Kissing her baby on the top of his head, she sat in the large chair and started to feed her son. ‘The others aren’t awake yet, so I thought I’d come in and give him a cuddle and then dash back to the madhouse. Justin probably won’t even know the difference, but I couldn’t bear to go the whole of Christmas morning without seeing him. We’re all going to come up after dinner—I know it’s only supposed to be two visitors—’
‘That’s fine,’ Eden broke in. ‘And I can guarantee Justin would rather it was you than me giving him his bottle. Do you want me to take a picture?’
‘A picture?’
‘We’ve got a Polaroid camera on the ward—why don’t I take a photo of you both and you can take it back home?’
Finding the camera and taking the photo actually took longer than it took for Justin to drain his bottle, but Jenny was so thrilled with the result it was more than worth it.
‘Here you go!’ As Eden came out of Justin’s room, Dana handed her Ben’s bottle. ‘And don’t rush. Donna’s like greased lightning this morning. All the meds are done and a lot of parents are here too, giving the feeds, so take your time.’
‘Den!’ Even before the door had opened, just a glimpse of his warm milk and his precious Den through the glass and Ben’s tears turned off like a tap.
‘Happy Christmas, Ben.’ Eden smiled, and though she wanted to scoop him up for a cuddle, first she changed his nappy and then, after washing her hands, pulled open the curtains. ‘Look at the sun!’ Eden pointed to the bright sky, just a few tiny wisps of cloud visible that would no doubt be burnt off by the time Ben had finished his bottle. ‘And what’s this?’ Pulling the stocking off his cot, she handed it to him, but Ben didn’t know what to do with it so Eden helped him, pulling out two shiny packages that Donna had bought with wards funds and carefully wrapped.
‘You soon worked that one out.’ Eden laughed as Ben pulled at the shiny paper, clapping his hands in excitement at the mirror Santa had bought him. ‘It ties onto your cot,’ Eden explained, doing just that, marvelling at the thought Donna had put into each present because Ben was over the moon, grinning at his reflection and banging the looking-glass with his chubby hand. If Ben wasn’t quite so thrilled with his next gift, Eden was—the ten dollars allocated to each child had clearly been ignored in Ben’s case, because the smart navy shorts and trendy T-shirt Eden helped him to unwrap were just divine.
‘You,’ Eden said, finally picking him up and giving him a cuddle with his bottle, ‘are going to look so handsome!’
It was actually a reluctant Eden that left the ward!
She hadn’t been lying when she’d tried to cheer up Rory the previous night because, whether or not there was a Santa, there certainly was magic in the air! But it wasn’t just Ben or the other children that had Eden wanting to linger just a little while longer, more the thought of seeing Nick, dressed up as Santa, but she knew that she’d regret it later—a few hours’ sleep very much the order of
the day if she was to have any hope of making it through lunch.
Fat chance.
She was more excited, almost, than any of the children had been last night. By the time Eden had showered and rung her family, opening the presents they had sent her and squealing over the phone in delight as she pulled out clothes, make-up and some hair straighteners, it was impossible to get to sleep. The beautiful sunny blue sky that had greeted her when she’d gone in to Ben was burning through her flimsy curtains now and, though she’d never in a million years admit it to Jim, the house was horribly quiet without the drone of his blessed music. By nine-thirty Eden had given in, choosing instead to inspect her presents rather more carefully.
Ceramic hair straighteners. Pulling them out of the box, Eden read the accompanying leaflet and looked at the before and after photos with tongue firmly in cheek. But for the hell of it she plugged them in anyway and, sure enough, it was only ten seconds or so before the red light started flickering to indicate they were ready and only another ten seconds before Eden was utterly and completely hooked! She gaped in admiration as her chocolate curls literally melted away, staring open-mouthed in wonder a mere fifteen minutes later at the sleek, dark curtain that hung around her shoulders. And now that she’d got the straight hair she’d always dreamed of, it seemed a shame to stop there. Her minimal make-up routine was transformed as she opened jar after jar of the latest mineral make-up, buffing the make-up into her face, sculpting her cheeks and accentuating her eyes until, Eden was positive, she could have walked down any street in NewYork with her very groomed head held high.
‘They’re divine,’ Eden breathed down the phone, a second phone call most definitely merited. ‘I love them.’ Her voice trembled slightly. ‘I love you all, too.’
‘And we love you,’ Lena Hadley replied. ‘You’re going to be OK today?’
Eden could hear the worried note in her mother’s voice. ‘Mum, I’m going to be fine. Look, I know it isn’t the Christmas we planned but, as much as I miss being with you all, I’m going to really enjoy spending it with Ben.’
‘I know,’ Lena answered, and even if she didn’t say it Eden could hear the inevitable ‘but’.
‘I’m OK, Mum. You, better than anyone, should understand that just because I’m close to Ben—’
‘It’s not you being with Ben that worries me,’ Lena broke in, and Eden bit hard on her lip as her mother perceptively continued. ‘I’ve given a few tots a Christmas to remember over the years and I know that the pleasure outweighs the pain, it’s you spending the day with Nick that worries me.’
‘We’re just friends, Mum.’ Eden shook her head into the phone. ‘That’s all we’ve ever been.’
‘Eden?’
‘OK!’ Her mother’s single word had Eden raking a hand through her newly straightened hair. ‘Maybe I did have a crush on him when he was engaged to Teaghan, but that’s been over for ages. Mum, he’s dated more women in the past year than I can count and, no matter what way I look at it, I can’t justify it. And I’m certainly not going to be another of his conquests—whatever game Nick’s playing to get over Teaghan, I’m not about to be a part of it!’
‘Good,’ Lena replied. ‘But I’m just asking you to be careful today, Eden.’
‘I will be,’ Eden said, blushing to her roots as she peeled back the curtain, wondering how, at twenty-eight years of age and with a few hundred kilometres between them, her mother could still make her feel guilty when she hadn’t even done anything! ‘They’re here—I’d better go. Merry Christmas!”
‘Merry Christmas, darling, and be careful!’
She had to be!
One look at Nick as he climbed out of his car and Eden felt her heart stick somewhere in her throat, her mother’s warning merited now because, even if it was only through her window, the Nick she was witnessing away from the ward, out of the smart suit or theatre gear, was a dangerous combination indeed. Effortlessly smart, he was dressed in smart beige shorts and a black T-shirt and somehow he managed to look as smart and as groomed as he had last night in his tuxedo. The T-shirt accentuated his muscular frame and the impossible blondness of his hair. It was the first glimpse of his legs Eden had ever been privileged to see—and what a privilege. Muscular, tanned calves striding up her drive, casual leather thongs on his feet. Eden replayed her mother’s warning in her head as she pulled open her door, utterly determined to feign a casual greeting, to hide the butterflies dancing in her stomach, willing herself not to fall for his undoubted charms.
Nick Watson was danger personified.
‘Where’s Ben?’ Eden asked, peering somewhere over Nick’s shoulder to the smart silver car on the nature strip.
‘Merry Christmas to you, too…’ Nick started, but his voice faded in mid-sentence. He was used, too used, to seeing her in uniform or casually dressed. He’d never glimpsed this side of Eden—and what a side! Those dark chocolate curls replaced with a sleek glossy curtain. Always beautiful, today she was stunning, from head to toe. Suddenly the straightforward was terribly complicated; suddenly Nick was stalling, reaching into his pocket for his sunglasses and putting them on before answering her. ‘He’s asleep in the car, I’ve left the air-conditioning on. Still, I don’t want to—’
‘I’m ready.’ Eden practically snapped the words, utterly perturbed all of a sudden.
Even with his eyes hidden behind dark glasses she could feel the weight of his stare, every sense in her body screaming an alert, the delicious scent of him reaching her nostrils. His hair flopped forward as he bent to pick up the mountain of bags Eden had in the doorway and she had to ball her fists, dig her nails into her palms just to stop from reaching out and running her fingers through it. As Nick headed off to the car, Eden took a moment longer than was necessary to lock the front door, dragging the warm midmorning air into her lungs. Nerves caught up with her all of a sudden as she walked down the garden path, acutely aware that the powder blue linen dress her sister had sent her was maybe just a touch too short, her beaded sandals clipping on the pavers, her hand trembling slightly as she pulled open the passenger-side door.
‘He’s worn out.’ Eden smiled, craning her neck to see Ben.
‘Don’t be fooled,’ Nick answered. ‘He’s just having a power-nap—you should have seen his face when Santa came into his room. He just about pulled off my beard, he was so excited.’
‘He looks great.’ Eden smiled fondly, because Ben did. Out of the hospital pyjamas and dressed in real clothes, he looked just like any other toddler clutching a soft toy and dozing in his car-seat.
‘So do you!’ And there was nothing light or flip about Nick’s voice, his statement delivered in a low, husky voice. Eden jerked her head to face him and even with the barrier of his shades she could feel the admiration in his gaze. ‘You look stunning, Eden.’
‘It won’t last.’ Somehow it was Eden who managed light and flip. ‘My mum bought me some hair straighteners but, despite the promises, I doubt they’re quite up to a warm, humid Sydney Christmas.’ She was babbling—too much—wishing Nick would just tear his eyes away, wishing he would start the engine so that she could remember how to breathe again. ‘Nick…’ Nibbling on her thumbnail, she decided to broach one of the many things about today that had been bothering her.
‘Eden?’ A tiny smile twisted on his lips as he heard the nervousness in her voice.
‘We haven’t spoken about—I mean, we haven’t worked out what we’re going to say.’
‘About?’
‘Us!’ Eden answered with a note of exasperation. ‘Your parents think we’re dating, so if they ask…’
‘They won’t.’ Nick shook his head firmly. ‘Just stick with the truth—we’ve been working together for fifteen months. We can leave the rest up to their imaginations. I’m not expecting you to start pashing me over the mince pies. Of course, if you get a sudden urge, I won’t object.’
‘I won’t,’ Eden said quickly, too quickly perhaps.
‘Won’t object
or won’t get the urge?’ Nick teased. ‘Look, Eden, all you have to do today is enjoy yourself. Do you think you can manage that?’
‘Yes.’
‘And relax, too!’ Nick added, but Eden let out a rather drawn-out sigh.
‘You might be pushing it there.’ But now the conversation was back to the familiar friendly they did so well, now that the horrible thick tension that had suffocated her finally disappeared, Eden managed what only a few seconds ago had seemed near impossible—finally she relaxed. Her face broke into a smile, she pulled her seat belt around her and sank back into the seat.
‘Here,’ Nick offered, as Eden gave the strap a few futile tugs. ‘It can be a bit tricky.’
‘Is there something you haven’t told me, Nick?’ Eden teased as he leant over and slid the belt across.
‘What?’ A tiny frown appeared over his glasses.
‘Since when did you take to wearing blusher?’ Eden laughed as he pulled off his sunglasses and checked himself in the rear-view mirror, the remnants of Santa’s rosy cheeks still in place. ‘Here.’ She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a moisture wipe. As her hand met his cheek Eden rued the stupid mistake she’d made in an unguarded moment, the wipe dragged over his cheek, a tiny turn of his head brought him right into her personal space and even as her hand pulled away, even as she managed some idle comment about the make-up being gone now, she knew he was going to kiss her. She had anticipated the moment so acutely that when his lips met hers there was no element of surprise, no awkward jumping, just the delicious, utterly decadent feel of his mouth on hers, a kiss that had hung between them since the day they had met. Feeling his flesh beneath hers, the weight of his lips moving a delicious fraction, the scent that was so much Nick way more intimate now as she breathed him in, she relished the moment, a heady taste of his flesh, and even if it only lasted a couple of seconds, if it was practically over before it had started, it couldn’t remotely have been described as friendly,
Christmas on the Children's Ward Page 9
