Midwives On-Call At Christmas. Tina Beckett
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like this about a season that should be the happiest of times.
The look on Freya and Bonnie’s faces this morning when they realised he’d put the decorations back up had been enough for him. He was sure he’d done the right thing. He’d also done something else. He was still to find out if it was right or not.
He pushed some tickets along the table to Freya. ‘I found out about a little surprise. I was wondering if you and your mum would like to come.’
Freya stared down at the tickets. The words were obviously too complicated for a five-year-old, but the pictures told a good story. She pointed. ‘Is that Rudolph? Can we go and see Rudolph?’
Jacob looked up at Bonnie. He was feeling hopeful, even though he should probably have run this by her first. She leaned over and spun the tickets around. ‘Today? The Christmas lights, a visit to Santa and a chance to meet the reindeers?’ Surprise and amusement, with a tiny bit of disbelief, mixed through her voice as her eyebrows rose.
He nodded carefully. ‘What do you think? Would you like to go?’
Her face relaxed and she lifted her mug of tea to take a sip. Her voice was quiet. ‘I think that would be lovely. Thank you for thinking of us, Jacob.’
Her gaze met his. She was still thinking about last night.
He’d pulled back. She must be wondering why. Because the air between them still sizzled. It crackled. He still wanted to reach out and touch her cheek, kiss her lips. He just didn’t want to be unfair.
He took a deep breath. ‘I’ll always think about you, Bonnie.’
Silence hung between them. It was probably the wrong thing to say. It almost seemed as if he were finishing something that had never started. Truth was, he didn’t have a clue what he was doing right now. But the implication was clear. Bonnie was affecting him. He did feel something for her—even if he didn’t know what it was.
But those words seemed enough for Bonnie; she gave a little smile and stood up. ‘Come on, Freya, the Christmas lights and Santa visit aren’t until three o’clock this afternoon. Let’s have a lazy morning on the sofa.’
Freya jumped up in agreement and ran out of the kitchen towards the front room, leaving Jacob at the kitchen table, eyes fixed on Bonnie’s backside in her pyjama trousers, trying to keep his thoughts in check.
* * *
‘Is everyone ready?’
They were all practically standing in a line. Winter jackets, scarfs, gloves and wellington boots in place. Freya couldn’t stand still. She had ants in her pants. She didn’t care that the temperature had plummeted again and a mixture of sleet and snow was starting to fall. She just wanted to meet Rudolph.
‘Will I get to sit on his back? Will Donner be there? And Blitzen? Is his nose really red?’
The questions had been never-ending since this morning.
Jacob smiled. ‘I have no idea. This is all new to me.’
Freya frowned. ‘Is it far? Are we going in the car?’
Bonnie shook her head. ‘No. We’re going to walk. That way, we’ll get to have plenty of time to see all the Christmas lights.’
‘Will Fraser from school be going to see Santa too?’
Jacob knelt in front of her. ‘And who might Fraser be?’
Freya tossed her red hair over her shoulder. ‘My friend,’ she said matter-of-factly.
Bonnie suppressed a laugh. ‘Welcome to my world, Jacob. Or rather the world of little girls—a new best friend every day. I just try and keep up.’
Jacob folded his arms across his chest and did his best to look severe. ‘Fraser, eh? Well, if he’s there you’ll need to point him out. I’d like to meet this Fraser.’
Freya giggled. ‘Can I get my picture with Santa?’
Bonnie nodded and bent to straighten Freya’s hat. ‘Yes, it’s all arranged. Now, are you ready?’
She jumped up and down. ‘I’ve been ready for hours, Mum. Let’s go!’
* * *
It was the perfect afternoon. Cold without being too cold. A light dusting of snow everywhere. By three o’clock it was already getting dark.
Freya’s little hand was in Jacob’s. It was surprising how comfortable it felt. How comfortable he felt doing this. Bonnie had a cream woollen hat pulled over her auburn hair and a thick green wool coat. She looked perfect. Like something from a Christmas card.
He swung Freya up into his arms. ‘Come on. Let’s go and visit Santa and the reindeers. It won’t be long until the lights get switched on.’
The prepaid tickets were the godsend. Thank goodness for one of the midwives in the special care unit. She’d mentioned buying the tickets last year and not having to wait in the freezing cold for hours with her young kids.
Freya only had to wait five minutes before she was able to jump on Santa’s knee and tell him what she wanted for Christmas. She counted off things on her finger. ‘I’d like a new baby doll, one that can eat and poop. I like to change nappies,’ she said proudly.
Santa nodded in amusement. ‘I think that can be arranged,’ he said, nodding towards Bonnie.
She was leaning against Jacob. ‘Thank goodness it isn’t Christmas Eve,’ she said. ‘Last year Freya announced she wanted some board game when we visited Santa on Christmas Eve. It was the first time she’d mentioned it at all. And, of course, it was after five o’clock on Christmas Eve.’
He wrapped his arm around her waist. It was so easy to do that. ‘What did you do?’
She shook her head. ‘What do you think I did? I panicked!’
He watched Freya. She was saying to Santa Claus, ‘We really need a house too. We’ve just moved down from Scotland and we still haven’t found somewhere else to stay.’ She looked up into the air. ‘I mean, the house we’re staying in right now is perfect. So, if we could have one just like it, that would be great.’
‘You like where you stay?’ Santa asked.
Freya sighed. ‘It’s the most beautiful house in the world.’
Something twisted inside Jacob. He’d always loved his house—even if he hadn’t really made his mark on it. But to hear someone else say those words out loud? Say that they loved his house—that was special. It almost made him feel warm inside.
And for the strangest reason, it didn’t send him into a mad panic. He wanted Bonnie and Freya to feel welcome in his home. He liked having them around.
Bonnie shifted a little as if she were uncomfortable.
‘But it could be more perfect.’
Jacob turned at the sound of Freya’s voice. She had his full attention.
‘What would make it perfect, then?’ asked Santa.
‘A dog,’ Freya said quickly.
Jacob burst out laughing. ‘She doesn’t seem to be letting this one go, does she?’
Bonnie laughed too. ‘I’ll have to buy her a stuffed one for Christmas. Or maybe one of those ones that bark? There’s no way we could deal with a real dog. Not with me working full-time. It just wouldn’t be fair.’
Jacob nodded. ‘You’re right. I’ve always considered getting a dog, but even with all the dog-walking companies, it just didn’t seem fair to leave a dog by itself all day.’
She looked surprised. ‘You’ve thought about getting a dog?’
‘Of course.’ He winked. ‘I’ve heard they’re not as complicated as women, or...’ he looked over