Christmas on the Children's Ward

by Carol Marinelli

‘Happy Christmas, Eden.’ His eyes pierced hers, black pupils almost masking the vivid jade, his full lips darker than she remembered, hair blonder, more beautiful than she had yet acknowledged. It was like finally seeing some long revered work of art close up for the first time.

  ‘Happy Christmas, Nick.’ It was all she could manage and yet, at that moment, all she wanted for him, for herself and for Ben, too. Pulling away, she swallowed hard. ‘Happy Christmas.’

  The purr of the engine starting was a blessed relief, a chance to press her flaming cheeks against the cool, cool glass, her lips stinging from the brief encounter, trying and failing not to read too much into it, trying to convince herself that he didn’t move her.

  If Eden’s tiny rented home was a mere stone’s throw from the hospital, then Nick’s parents’ was a brief walk to choose the stone before you threw it—only the Watsons’ stone definitely landed on the right side of the hospital! The narrow, hilly Sydney streets were easily negotiated until they came to the beach road, where the car glided through the light traffic. Eden stared out of the window at the gathered parties on the beach, some hunched around gas barbecues, some spreading blankets and emptying picnic baskets, others for the moment ignoring the food and running into the tempting Pacific Ocean. Even though she couldn’t hear them, she smiled as she envisaged their excited screams as the bracing, invigorating surf met their hot bodies.

  ‘The water looks heavenly.’ Eden commented, only it wasn’t idle chit-chat, just something that had to be said as you drove along the Beach Road and stared at the endlessly divine, constantly moving backdrop.

  ‘Did you bring your bathers?’ Nick asked, and Eden shook her head.

  ‘If you want to swim I’m sure—’

  ‘I’m not borrowing your mum’s, OK?’ Eden half snapped. As much as she loved the beach, as tempting as the water looked and as determined as she was to keep Nick at a very friendly arm’s length, there was no way, no way she was heading down to the beach in some matronly bathing apparatus on loan from Nick Watson’s mother.

  A girl had some pride!

  Flicking on the indicator and slowing down as he approached a gap in the tea-trees, a tiny sealed road Eden hadn’t known existed came into view. Nick turned the car left towards the beach, when most mere mortals would have turned right, and if the view had been gorgeous before it was spectacular now. The water was so close as Eden pulled open the passenger door and stepped out, she half expected to feel it around her ankles, Nick’s family home, completely stunning, was set low in the sandy rocks, the white rendered walls accentuating the blues and greens of the ocean behind. A real estate agent Eden certainly wasn’t, but even a novice like her could pick out the luxurious extras—an outside shower to rinse off as you walked back along your own private beach path, the lap pool running along the side of the house. The cosy Christmas lunch Eden had envisaged for Ben seemed to be rapidly fading. The sun beat hot on her neck as she walked round to the back of the car and woke the sleepy Ben.

  ‘Hey, Ben.’ Eden smiled, picking up the docile bundle as Nick gathered not just Eden’s many bags but Ben’s, too.

  ‘You two don’t exactly travel light,’ he grumbled, leading the way along the sandy path as Eden, clutching Ben, completely unsure of their reception, walked shyly behind.

  Her doubts vanished even before they reached the veranda—the door flung open and Christmas greetings rang out, not just to Nick but to Eden, too, and most importantly to Ben!

  ‘Hello, Eden!’ A very slender woman who looked about eighteen introduced herself as Lily, Nick’s sister. ‘We’re all dying to meet you.’ She smiled, ‘Nick’s told us so much about you. And you, too, Ben,’ she added to Ben, whose head was tucked into Eden’s shoulder, weighing up the stranger with his almond eyes. Clearly Lily passed the test because Ben suddenly lifted his head and grinned, his smile widening as they all stepped into the house.

  ‘Eden!’

  If Lily and Nick were stunning, here was the reason.

  Vivian Watson was as tall and elegant as Nick yet as delicate and slender as Lily, her Nordic hair tumbling over her tanned shoulders, her smile revealing perfectly capped teeth. Any visions Eden might have had of matronly bathers were instantly dismissed—designer clothes clearly the go for Mrs Watson. Never had Eden been more grateful for her usual blast of insomnia that morning, the two hours or so she had spent getting ready worth every sleep-deprived moment! Hugh Watson was tall, but rather less groomed, with wild grey hair and rosy cheeks. He welcomed the trio into his home.

  But as ravishing and sophisticated as Vivian Watson first appeared, her smile was genuine, her affectionate greeting welcoming, and as she ushered them through to the family room Eden’s nerves abated—not only because of the glass of Buck’s Fizz that was thrust into her hand but by the whimper of delight Ben gave at the massive Christmas tree. It was a tree that would certainly have passed Donna’s request for good taste—the heavy pine branches dressed only in silver, from the star at the top to the pile of boxes at the bottom.

  Wriggling to be let down, Ben stood on the polished floorboards, dancing on the spot in excitement, enchanting everyone with his eager smile. Clearly Ben was a fast learner, because he was pointing at the mountain of presents and making his way over.

  ‘Ben.’ Gently Eden pulled him back, but Vivian just laughed and took the little boy’s hand, and Ben smiled up as if he’d known her for ever.

  ‘Are you going to help me give out the presents, Ben?’ Vivian asked, dropping to the floor and pulling out a very large silver box which she handed to him.

  ‘Careful, Ben,’ Eden said nervously, knowing that Ben’s only reaction would be to peel away the beautifully wrapped paper. ‘Give it to….’ Eden waited for Vivian to step in but, clearly used to children, she just laughed, watching delightedly as a thoroughly over-excited Ben tore at the paper with gusto, drooling with delight as a shiny red fire engine was revealed. In a matter of moments the floor was littered with paper, hours of careful choosing relegated to a few moments of excited frenzy. Eden blinked at the fabulous sarong that fell out of her package, the sheerest fabric decorated in myriad colours and tiny circular mirrors around the hemline. She hoped the rather less impressive photo frame she had purchased for Nick’s mother would suffice, but she beamed with delight and promptly produced a digital camera, snapping Ben, Nick and Eden gathered around a purple plastic guitar, capturing their smiling faces.

  ‘Here.’ Nick passed a slim parcel to Eden and she turned it over in her hands, trying to guess the contents, before handing Nick the present she had bought for him. She chewed her lip as he peeled off the wrapper and blushed as he gave a crow of delight.

  ‘I’ve been wanting to read this!’

  ‘It’s just a book,’ Eden mumbled, not sure if he was merely being polite or was actually pleased with her choice. Knowing how much Nick loved his sport, she’d bought a tennis-star-tells-all biography, and if the reviews were anything to go by, there were a few hours of reading pleasure ahead of him. Peeling open her own present, she gave a reluctant laugh as a bikini fell into her hand—thankfully not the four-triangles type but some trendy hipster shorts and a halter-neck top, exactly what she’d have chosen for herself if she’d had her credit card handy!

  ‘You’ve all bought way too much.’ Eden shook her head in bewilderment at the pile of presents surrounding Ben, but Vivian shooed away her protests.

  ‘Nonsense. We’re just so thrilled to have a child here for lunch. We’d have been moping around otherwise. Christmas is all about children. We all need someone to spoil on a day like this, and who is more deserving than little Ben?’

  Who indeed?

  Always a happy boy, today he was positively glowing. Gone for ever were the hospital pyjamas and standard-issue soap, thanks to a thoughtful gift from Nick of slippers and a dressing-gown. There was even a little electric toothbrush in a bulging toiletry bag filled with soaps, powders, creams and brushes, just like any other loved child would have ha
d in hospital. But it wasn’t the guitar or the fire engine or the clothes that had him smiling, it was being the centre of attention, being enveloped into a warm, loving family. And Eden realised that, however much Ben might or might not know, he certainly knew that this was special.

  ‘Right.’ Vivian stood up and smoothed her dress. ‘I’m going to throw you all out for an hour or so, so that I can get the place ready for Christmas dinner—unless you’d like another Buck’s Fizz, Eden?’

  ‘Not for me.’ Eden shook her head. ‘Alcohol and night shifts aren’t exactly an ideal mix.’

  ‘Nick?’ Vivian offered, waving the jug in her son’s direction. ‘Surely you can have one.’

  ‘Surely not, if I’m driving,’ Nick said rather tightly, and for a moment a flicker of tension crackled in the air, no doubt memories of last year bubbling to the surface. ‘Once I’ve dropped Ben off,’ he relented, giving his mum an apologetic, brief embrace.

  ‘Here.’ Without prompting, Lily appeared with a tube of sunscreen and a pair of bathers for Ben. ‘We have an inexhaustible supply of kids’ bathers in this house.’

  ‘He isn’t toilet-trained.’ Eden hesitated, but Lily just gave a casual shrug.

  ‘I think I’ve got some training bathers somewhere, I’ll go and have a look. I’ll get him ready for you if you like while Nick takes you over to the cottage and shows you where you’re both sleeping so you can get changed.’

  ‘Sleeping?’ Eden’s startled voice had Nick looking up.

  ‘Eden’s only here for lunch.’ Nick grinned. ‘I can only inflict you lot on her in small doses. There’s a cottage in the grounds.’ Nick explained to Eden. ‘I generally use it when I’m sleeping over, as my mobile phone goes off at all hours. Come on, I’ll show you the bathroom.’

  How casually she’d said it, Eden mused as the door closed behind her. No wonder the Watsons had accepted her so easily. No doubt they were used to Nick drifting in with his latest girlfriend in tow. Peeling off her clothes, Eden thanked her lucky stars that she’d thought to shave her legs in the shower that morning. Wearing bathers didn’t particularly bother her. Most of her spare time was spent at the beach so she was nicely tanned and the stomach that peeped out between her hipsters and halter top was, if not flat, at least toned. Only her breasts caused her a moment of angst as she tied the flimsy threads at the back of her neck, hoping there would be enough support for her rather ample bosom. She stared down at the rather impressive cleavage jiggling beneath her and wished it wasn’t quite so noticeable.

  ‘Ready?’ Lily looked up from rubbing cream into Ben’s shoulders as Eden walked into the lounge. Despite the sarong Vivian had bought her, which was tied loosely around her waist, despite the fact she was probably more covered than the last time she’d been in this room, despite her earlier bravado about wearing bathers, as Nick looked up, she registered the bob of his Adam’s apple as his eyes flicked over the length of her body. Suddenly Eden felt woefully underdressed. She could feel a blush scorching her cheeks and her nipples protruding into the Lycra fabric just at the sight of him.

  Chocolate brown board shorts slung low on his hips, his stomach flat and taut as he stood up, a smattering of blond hair on his chest. There was nothing she’d have changed about Nick. Like a digital image unfolding on a computer screen, her mind processed it slowly, the golden hair darkening slightly as it met his navel, snaking down his lower stomach, a decadent sensual arrow. Eden jerked her eyes away, trying to busy herself organising Ben, but Lily had beaten her to it, finishing off applying the sunscreen and popping on his sun hat.

  ‘An hour,’ Vivian called as the foursome headed off to the beach. ‘Don’t be late.’

  They easily could have been!

  Strolling along the damp sand, feeling the waves licking their feet, Ben squealed with delight as the waves chased his little legs, the one truly endless game that the ocean always won. But Ben gave it his best shot, running away over and over again from the waves that chased him, until Nick hoisted him up on his shoulders and ploughed into the surf, waist deep in water as Lily clicked away.

  ‘It’s great to see him looking so happy.’ Lily smiled, one hand shielding her eyes from the fierce midday sun, squinting as she focussed on the happy duo.

  ‘I wasn’t sure whether or not to bring him,’ Eden admitted. ‘I didn’t know how he’d cope in a strange house, but he’s having an absolute ball.’

  ‘He is,’ Lily agreed, ‘but I was actually talking about Nick. It’s nice to see him looking so relaxed.’

  ‘Last Christmas can’t have been good,’ Eden sighed, picking up the pace as Lily started walking. ‘It must have been awful for you all.’

  ‘It was.’ Lily nodded. ‘But then again the Christmas before that wasn’t particularly great either.’ She gave a tight shrug. ‘This is the first time in a long time I’ve seen Nick actually looking really happy, and I’m not just talking about since Teaghan died.’ Picking up her long legs, she raced out into the surf to join Nick and Ben, leaving Eden standing there, staring at the trio in the water, the jigsaw that was Nick, the jigsaw she’d spent the last year reluctantly piecing together and finally achieving a rather unsavoury fit, suddenly tossed up into the air, the pieces lying in a confused scramble now, just the same four corners that she’d started with.

  Good-looking, funny, clever and—Eden realised as if for the first time, bidding a mental farewell to her newly straightened hair and racing into the surf to join them…

  Terribly, terribly kind.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  HUGH and Vivian hadn’t wasted a single moment of that hour, because when they arrived back, dripping wet and laughing, as they opened the bi-fold doors, for a moment the causal chatter stilled. Everyone took in the magnificent table that had been laid. It groaned under the weight of its fare, the silver cloth barely visible beneath the berries and candles, the red plates and crackers. And pride of place in the middle went to a magnificent turkey, with all the trimmings!

  ‘Eden loves her food.’ Nick laughed as Eden let out a low groan of pleasure.

  ‘It’s not just the food,’ Eden chided, ‘it’s everything. Oh, Vivian, it all looks wonderful.’

  She wasn’t just being polite. The air-conditioning had been set to arctic to battle the hot summer sun and an oven that must have been on since six a.m.—a full roast was no mean feat when the mercury was nudging forty degrees. Everyone sped off to various rooms, changing in record time, and arrived back at the dining table with hair still dripping.

  ‘It’s amazing, isn’t it, Ben?’ Eden smiled and placed him in the high chair, taking in the wide eyes as he surveyed the scene he was for once the centre of. She had to swallow hard for a moment and there was a dangerous sting in her eyes as she pulled a cracker with Ben. Nick helped him and held onto the stick so that Ben won,

  ‘Happy Christmas, buddy.’ Nick kissed his podgy cheek, and if ever there was a moment Eden wanted to capture it was that one.

  Gone for a moment was Maxwell Benjamin Reece, a three-year-old with Down’s syndrome and HIV positive, replaced instead with Ben Reece just as happy and as excited as a three-year-old should be on this special day. He discovered a passion for roasted parsnips, turned his nose up at Brussels sprouts and clapped his hands when Vivian pulled the curtains on the delectable view and Hugh brought in the flaming Christmas pudding.

  ‘Cream or brandy butter?’ Vivian waved a plate at her and Eden struggled to make a decision. ‘Or bed?’ Vivian grinned. ‘I think you’ve earned it.’

  ‘Sounds wonderful,’ Eden sighed, smothering a yawn, ‘but Ben’s due back at the hospital at around three. I’m scared if I lie down now I won’t wake up till tomorrow.’

  ‘You’re not the only one.’ Nick smiled, nodding to Ben who had dozed off in his high chair, his face covered in ice cream, spoon still clutched in his hand. ‘Why don’t you both lie down? I’ll wake you at three.’

  And even though she opened her mouth to argue, not a single word of prote
st came out. Why shouldn’t she lie down? Why should she rush Ben back to the hospital when he still had a precious hour?

  ‘You won’t think I’m horribly rude?’ Eden checked, but the entire Watson clan just rolled their eyes and shooed her away.

  ‘I’ll take you over to the cottage,’ Nick said, but when Eden frowned he softened it with a smile. ‘You won’t get any sleep in the house. Mum’s on her third sherry and she’s just discovered the karaoke machine!’

  They walked through the garden in amicable silence, Nick carrying a sleeping Ben. Eden struggled just to keep her eyes open and barely took in her surroundings as Nick gave her a very brief tour of the essentials, pointing out the phone, kitchen and bathroom before pushing open a bedroom door. Never had a bed looked more tempting!

  ‘You’ll come and wake me?’ Eden said.

  ‘Yes. Have a good sleep.’ Nick closed the door.

  Eden didn’t need to be told twice. Not even bothering to pull back the sheets, she just laid Ben down on the pillow before gratefully stretching her exhausted, utterly full body out on the bed, smiling as Ben cuddled in to her.

  ‘You’re not that hard to get to sleep really, are you?’ Eden whispered. ‘You just want someone with you.’

  A deep voice summoned her. Nick’s face swam briefly into focus as she struggled to open her eyes.

  ‘It’s three o’clock. We ought to be getting Ben back.’

  ‘Mmm.’ Sleepily she agreed and struggled to sit up, but as Nick pushed her back down onto the pillow she didn’t resist.

  ‘I’ll take him back. You have a sleep, you’re exhausted.’

  ‘I’ll be OK.’ Eden shook her head. ‘Just give me five minutes.’

  ‘Go to sleep,’ Nick whispered, and it sounded so easy, so completely straightforward she was tempted to comply.

  ‘Give Eden a kiss, Ben, and she’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘Den!’

  His perpetually wet lips splashed onto her cheek and she held him close for a fierce second.