by Lyssa Layne
“Hey beautiful, you doing okay?”
“Yes, and I have a surprise for you when you get home.”
“Mmm…I hope it’s you wrapped in a bow.”
Katy made a mental note of his request. “Not this time, but stop by the hospital tomorrow for lunch if you have time.”
Katy could hear the smile in his voice as he answered, “ Of course, I’ll have time.”
Excitement tingled throughout her body, because by lunch, she meant a quickie in the on-call room. They hadn’t seen each other for more than fifteen minutes at a time in the past four days because of their work schedules. Her body ached for him, but he needed the time off he was accruing so she didn’t object to the extra shifts he was putting in.
Katy heard the shrill alarm go off at the firehouse.
“Love you!” he said in a hurry.
“Be careful!” Katy called after him as he hung up. This was the part she hated the most, waiting to hear from him again.
***
Katy stomped her feet trying to stay warm as she waited outside Bloomingdale’s. She was meeting Abby and her daughters to do some shopping. Across the street, Nora was waving excitedly. Katy smiled as they crossed over and Nora wrapped her arms around Katy’s waist and squeezed. As her big sister embraced Katy, Alayna gave her a small one-armed hug. Abby laughed at Nora. “I guess she’s excited because you have better style than I do.”
Nora rolled her eyes like a typical teenager, “Mo-om! Come on, Katy, let me show you the dress I want for the Christmas dance.” With that, Nora grabbed her hand and pulled her along, Katy practically running to follow her into the store.
Nora led the charge trying on dress after dress. Katy was having a hard time keeping up with Nora as she enthusiastically prattled on about who was going with whom to the dance and how this dress was exactly like Dana’s, or was it Diana’s? Katy didn’t know so she nodded, smiled, and handed her a different dress to try on.
“This is perfect! Oh, Katy, you’re the best!” Nora squeezed her arm and ran into the dressing room.
She heard Abby sigh. She followed Abby’s gaze and saw Alayna silently browsing the racks, never even picking one up to look at. Katy bit her lip and immediately set out on a mission. It took her a few minutes, but she finally found it. She walked over to Alayna holding up an emerald gown and held it against her pale Irish skin.
“This will look gorgeous with your hair.”
Alayna looked up. “You think? I hate my hair.”
Alayna had fiery red curls down her back that stood out against her pale Irish skin. When Katy looked into Alayna’s eyes, she saw that they were full of sadness. She fingered one of the curls that fell in rebellion against her fair complexion.
“I love your hair. It’s much more alluring than my mousey brown mop.” Katy tossed the loose curls over Alayna’s shoulder.
It wasn’t big or very noticeable, but Katy could see a smile turning up on the teenager’s lips. She handed her the dress and she made her way to the dressing room.
Abby touched Katy’s shoulder from behind as Alayna made her way to the fitting room. “Thank you.”
Katy turned to look at her. “No problem. I love shopping, but never have an occasion to wear dresses like this.”
“You’ll need a dress for the FDNY St. Patty’s Ball in March.”
As Abby said it, Katy got the feeling that she was testing her, wondering if she and Nick would still be together in four months. Katy didn’t back down.
“What would you suggest?” she asked sweeping her hand at the racks of dresses.
Suddenly, Abby seemed tired as she answered, “Something sexy so that Nick can show you off and make the other guys’ imaginations run wild.”
Katy smiled. “Is that what you’d wear?”
“It was when I attended, but I haven’t been since Ryan died. Nick’s always offered to take me, but after his death, I just couldn’t face those guys again.”
Katy rubbed her shoulder and lowered her voice as she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
She put her hand over Katy’s and shook her head. “It’s hard having him gone, but I find it’s easier to talk about him rather than keep it all bottled up.”
Katy nodded, even though she always took the opposite approach since her father passed away.
“It’s been even harder for the girls not to have a father. Nick’s been great helping me out, but Nora is interested in boys now and Alayna,” she sighed, “Alayna could care less about them. It’s almost like she’s just now realizing what she’s missing out on, not having her father around. She was just a baby when it happened.”
She chuckled as she continued. “I can’t even imagine Ryan talking to either of them about boys or sex. Don’t worry, I won’t ask Nick to do it either.”
Katy smiled. “If I know Nick, he’d do anything for them if you asked.”
Abby nodded, wiping at a tear trying to escape. “He would. The entire family would.” She shook her head again. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without them. All my family lives in the Midwest. Ryan and I met while I was visiting a girlfriend one summer. It was love at first sight, a lot like you and Nick. I guess when the Garrity boys know, they know.”
“I never went home after we got engaged. My parents have come to visit a few times, but I knew it was meant for me to stay in New York with the girls. If it weren’t for Andy, Lisa, and Nick, I would’ve never survived on my own here.” She smiled as she went on. “They think of me as their daughter and I see in Lisa’s eyes she thinks the same of you. I know it’s a relief to her knowing that Nick has someone he can start a family with.”
Katy started to bite her lip nervously. She wasn’t planning on starting a family with anyone anytime remotely soon. She was about to ask more about the Garrity family when the girls came out of the dressing room holding hands. Nora was quiet as she stepped back smiling, letting her sister take the spotlight. Alayna twirled in a full circle to show off the dress, it had a wrap that came over her shoulders, tied around her waist then criss-crossed across her glowing skin along her spine. She completed her twirl and grinned, her bright red ringlets cascaded down her back.
Nora jumped up and down. “Alayna, you look stunning!”
Katy nodded in agreement, speechless at the beautiful teen in front of her. She looked over at Abby who had begun crying, now unable to speak. As tears fell down Abby’s cheeks and Katy got misty-eyed as she put her arm around her. More than anything, Katy wanted to be a part of this. She wanted to have a family again, maybe even start a family of her own.
She squeezed Abby’s shoulder and whispered, “We’ll have ‘the talk’ with them at lunch.”
***
Per Nick’s request, Katy tagged along with him when he went to visit his mom. She’d gone with him every week since Thanksgiving. She’d gotten to know Andy very well, as she always let Nick visit with his mother alone. Andy told her stories about her father and stories about Nick and Ryan from when they were little boys. She loved sitting and listening to him as they sipped coffee in front of the fireplace. She was beginning to really feel like a part of their family. This visit was no different until Andy brought up Lisa’s health.
“As a doctor, what is your opinion on her condition?”
Katy bit her lip apprehensively and Andy smiled. “From what Nick’s told me, that must mean nothing good.”
Katy realized what she was doing and stopped. “Sorry, it’s a nervous habit.”
She didn’t want to say what she was thinking, but so far the truth had worked with this family. “Honestly, her condition has taken a turn quickly and now that she’s bedridden, I don’t think she has much longer.”
“Her doctors think I should bring in hospice or take her to the hospital.”
“No!” Katy blurted out. “Sorry, you can’t take her to the hospital.”
Andy looked at her confused.
She shook her head. “It’s just…that’s where my father…and I don’t
want Lisa to…there. It’s hard enough to go to work every day knowing it’s where your father took his last breath,” she sighed and looked at Andy, “I know my opinion doesn’t count, but I don’t want Nick to constantly be reminded of his mother’s death every time he comes to the hospital.”
Andy nodded. “I understand.” He patted her hand and gave her a gentle smile.
“And your opinion does matter, Katy Bug, you’re part of the family.”
Katy laughed. “Katy Bug?”
Andy nodded with a smile. “It’s what I call my girls…Nora Bug, Laynie Bug, Abby Bug and now you’re my Katy Bug.”
Katy’s vision blurred from the tears and she leaned across the couch and hugged Andy tightly. As he patted her back, he said, “I’ll call hospice in the morning.”
“Or…” Katy leaned back and started explaining her great idea.
***
Andy and Katy walked into Lisa’s room where Nick was lying beside her. He was reading from her favorite book, Anne of Green Gables. Andy walked over to the bed and kissed Lisa’s forehead as Katy stood beside Nick. He shut the book and he hugged, letting his arm rest at her waist.
“Good news, honey,” Andy told Lisa.
Lisa weakly smiled and croaked, “What is it?”
“I’m going to get you a private doctor so you can stay in the comfort of our house.”
“We can’t afford that!” Lisa squeaked.
“I’ll help out, Dad, that’s a great idea to keep her here,” Nick chimed in.
Lisa slowly moved her frail hand on top of Nick’s. “No you won’t, you have a wedding to save up for.”
Katy leaned over and put her hand on top of Nick’s and Lisa’s. “This doctor is very affordable and she’s the best there is.”
Nick looked at Katy in surprise. “You?”
She nodded. “I have some vacation and no major surgeries coming up. I can take the next couple weeks off and stay here with her. After that, we’ll decide what’s best.”
A tear slid down Lisa’s cheek. Nick kissed Katy and whispered, “Thank you.”
***
Katy was at her house packing a bag for the time she was going to spend at the Garrity’s. As she stood in her closet picking out clothes, she glanced back into the room and saw Nick pacing back and forth.
“You’re going to wear a hole in the floor.”
He stopped and looked at her, a concerned look on his face. “I really appreciate this. I know you’re busy and you’re a surgeon, not an in-home nurse and, Kat—”
She walked over to him and put her fingers to his lips. She sshhed him and then leaned up to kiss him. He kissed her quickly then sat on the edge of the bed. Letting out a sigh, he leaned forward and put his head in his hands. He looked back up at Katy with pleading eyes and said, “Before I met you, she was the most important woman in my life. I just want one more Christmas with her.”
He slumped his shoulders as he spoke, “She’s going to miss so much…our wedding, the birth of the next grandchild, the flowers this spring.” He took Katy’s hand and smiled as he told her about one of their family traditions. “Spring was her favorite time of year. When we were younger, Ryan and I would spend every Mother’s Day planting flowers in the yard with her. She would take us to pick out the flowers, letting us choose our own, and then plant them where we wanted.”
His smile disappeared. “The May before the terrorist attacks. Ryan had brought the girls to our parents’ house and I met them there. Alayna was just a baby then so Andy ‘watched’ her inside while we worked in the yard. By watched, I mean she nap slept on his chest the entire time. Lisa let Nora help us that year and of course, she picked out pink pansies to plant.” Nick laughed out loud as he finished the story. “Nor insisted that her Daddy wear a pink feather boa to plant the pink pansies. Ryan looked ridiculous with it on, but Mom and Nor both loved it so now we wear them every year.”
Katy stood in front of him and cradled his head against her stomach. The stress of working doubles and the worry of his mom had really taken a toll on him. She was doing what she could to help even if that meant moving in with her boyfriend, no—fiancé’s parents after only two months of dating. She ran her fingers through his soft blonde hair that was in need of a haircut. Nick’s shoulders moved up and down slightly as he sobbed into her shirt. Katy held him against her, one hand rubbing his back as she let him weep.
Nick sniffed and looked up at her, tears in his eyes. “Don’t let her die alone.”
Katy nodded and kissed his forehead. “I won’t.”
“You don’t—”
Katy put her finger to his lips. “Come on, you need to get back to the city before it’s too late.”
He nodded and kissed her softly then cried in her arms once more.
***
Katy barely slept the first night at the Garrity’s. She was too worried something was going to happen during the night and Nick would blame her. She was starting to second guess her offer as she lay in bed with the sun shining through the window.
She heard Lisa coughing and went in to check on her. Lisa smiled up at her as Katy helped her with her morning meds.
“I’m glad you’re here now. I know Andy isn’t into decorating for Christmas as much as I am.”
Katy laughed. “Well, your tree out there is a bit Charlie Brown looking, but we’ll take care of that.”
Lisa patted her hand. “I heard you decorated at Nick’s. He loves it.”
Katy smiled proudly. “I wasn’t sure how he’d like it. I’m trying not to do too much at his place without permission.”
Lisa struggled to sit up. “It’s your place now too. I say do what you want! Get pink towels.”
Katy laughed as she helped Lisa up. They both knew Nick wouldn’t object to pink towels as long as Katy was there to wrap him up in them.
***
Andy hand been sent on a mission to get a real Christmas tree by both the Garrity women. While he was gone and Lisa napped, Katy rummaged through their basement to pull out all the decorations she could find. She hung garland on the mantel and set up the nativity scene on the coffee table.
When Andy got home, there was Christmas music playing on the radio. He looked around and saw how much she’d accomplished in the short time he was gone. The stockings hung above the fireplace, big red bows were tied around the banister, and mistletoe dangled in the doorway. He let out a whistle and exclaimed, “Wow! It looks like Santa’s Village in here.”
Katy grinned. “Think she’ll like it?”
He nodded. “This is exactly how she would have done it.”
Andy carried in an Evergreen almost seven feet tall. The room was instantly filled with the fresh, piney scent of the real tree. Katy was giddy at the sight of the new decor and felt like a kid on Christmas morning. As Andy fiddled with the tree stand, Katy heard Lisa stirring in the bedroom. She kissed her future father-in-law’s cheek and went to check on Lisa.
Only a few minutes later, Katy pushed Lisa’s wheelchair into the living room. Lisa’s face brightened up and tears sprang to her eyes. Andy walked over and put his hand on her shoulder.
Lisa looked up at him. “The boys would love this,” she said, speaking as though they were still in elementary school. Katy’s heart melted as she visualized a much younger and healthier Lisa with her rambunctious boys running around the living room
Andy looked away from her, tears in his eyes as well. Katy sat quietly, letting them have their moment then jumped in before the happy moment turned into sobs. Katy gently touched his hand and said, “Okay, Lisa, I’m going to set you up here. You can hand me ornaments and tell me where they look best. Is the tree in the right spot?”
The matriarch and patriarch of the Garrity family both wiped their eyes and shared a sweet kiss. Lisa started barking out orders to the two of them. Katy and Andy exchanged smiles, both only too happy to let her bark them around.
They were down to just a few ornaments left to hang. Katy was exhausted so she k
new Lisa had to be too. She looked over from the tree. “Okay, what’s the next one?”
An old Santa ornament lay in Lisa’s hand. She wiped tears from her eyes as Katy walked over. Lisa held it up for Katy to see. It was Santa holding a fishing pole. It was cute, but nothing extraordinary.
Lisa smiled as she held it in her hand. “Nick and Ryan used to fight over who got to hang this one. Right until Ryan’s last Christmas…I made the boys take turns each year. Nick hung it the Christmas before Ryan died, so it was Ryan’s turn next.” She shook her head and said, “Nick hasn’t hung it up since. He always lets one of the girls do it.”
Katy blinked back tears as she looked at the ornament. What little paint remained, had faded away. If she hadn’t known better, she probably would have left it in the box. It wasn’t anything special, but to the Garrity family it was. She rubbed her thumb over Santa’s face and a flake of paint stuck to her finger. She wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek then set it aside to be hung later.
9 CHAPTER NINE
An hour before the midnight Christmas Eve service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Nick still hadn’t arrived at his parent’s house yet. Worry was beginning to take over Katy. She knew people were out drinking and it had started to snow. Jeremiah was probably one of the people hitting the bottle. Tiffany called her a few days earlier to say that Jeremiah called in a whole week straight when he found out about the engagement. When Tiffany went to check on him, she realized he’d been drunk for the whole five days he’d claimed to be “ill with a stomach bug.” Katy sighed, she’d deal with him once she got back to the city. For now, she had to focus on the Garrity family.
She paced back and forth in her ivory Christmas dress. It came just above her knees so it was church appropriate, but it accentuated her full breasts above the empire waistband. That, coupled with the sheer shoulders and sleeves, added just a touch of sexiness without being too seductive. She strode around the room again and looked at her phone yet again. She was about to text Nick, but was afraid he might get distracted while driving. She bit her lip trying to decide what to do when she heard the door creak.
