Unforgettable Christmas Dreams: Gifts of Joy

by Rebecca York

  He left the car in the driveway and led her to the front entrance. He unlocked the door, let her go ahead of him, and switched on the lights.

  “Wow, it’s big.”

  “Huh... You mean empty.” He waved at the brown leather sofa, the only substantial piece of furniture in the wide area, and the plastic folding table in front of it. “I haven’t had time to furnish, let alone decorate. The folding table is in lieu of a cocktail table for now.”

  Surveying her surroundings, she strolled to the isle separating the modern kitchen from the big room. “Wow,” she repeated. “So modern...clean...gorgeous.” She spun toward him. “You have a dream kitchen.” Her compliment twisted his heart.

  “I’m sorry,” he blurted, embarrassed, almost ashamed of his spotless house when she lived in an old, falling-apart place that needed a serious facelift.

  “Don’t be.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Share it with me tonight.”

  “Melody.” He crushed her mouth with a hungry kiss. “You sure?”

  “Show me your bedroom.” She laughed. “I bet you only have a bed. Nothing else.”

  “And a folding table next to it.”

  She chuckled. “In lieu of a night table. Do we need more?”

  “No. I... I...” He lifted her into his arms and let her flowery scent numb his mind. “I need you. In my arms.”

  “I need you too.” She set her lips on his mouth as he strode to the bedroom.

  Satiated and happy, Melody gazed into the hazel eyes of the wonderful man who’d used the last two hours to love her and lavish caresses and kisses on every inch of her body. She was afraid to put a name to her feelings, after she’d spent her life searching for, detecting, and tabulating the faults of every man who attracted her, including Aidan in the last six months. Growing up without a mother, watching John and Rachel bickering daily, had made her suspicious of marriage, then her lousy experience with Daniel had left her with a child and erased every last shred of trust in men.

  “Aidan, I haven’t been with a man for many years. Since I got pregnant.”

  He kissed her throat. “How are you feeling?”

  “Ecstatic. You?”

  “In heaven.”

  “Will we be able to come back here?”

  “Anytime you want.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Why wait?” His blazing kisses warmed her all over again and she forgot the world. Then she jerked up at the strident ring of her phone.

  “Who could be calling now?”

  He reached over to the folding table and hand her the cell phone.

  “Oh God, the emergency alert.” She touched the talk icon. “Melody Parker here. What’s going on?”

  “Ms. Parker, we received an emergency signal from Alicia Loren. She got dizzy and fell. We dispatched an ambulance. Are you at home?”

  “I’ll be there in...” She looked at Aidan. He opened both hands. “Ten minutes.” He mouthed St. Joseph. “Please ask the paramedics to take her to St. Joseph Hospital.”

  She bounced out of bed and collected her clothes. Aidan had already slipped on pants and a shirt, and helped her zip her dress.

  “I’m ready. Aidan, let’s go.” They rushed out of the house. “I’m worried about Bernie barking and Stella waking up terrified.”

  “We’ll be there very soon.” He squeezed her hand. And she trusted him.

  The silence of the night enveloped them. He focused on his driving and sped through shortcuts, taking roads unknown to her. As he swerved into her street, her phone rang. “Oh God, Stella.”

  “Mommy,” her daughter screamed, and Bernie barked in the background.

  “I’m almost home, sweetie. Don’t be scared. Talk to me.”

  “Mommy...people...in stairs,” Stella uttered between sobs and hiccups. “I send Bernie?”

  “No, don’t. Nana Licia fell. Nurses are there to help her.” She could see the ambulance backing out of her driveway.

  “Mommy, I go see Nana Licia?” The sobs subsided, but Melody could still hear soft cries in her daughter’s voice.

  “No, wait for me. I’m home. I’m coming.”

  Aidan stopped the car in the driveway vacated a minute ago by the ambulance, and they both climbed out and dashed to the door. Melody scaled the steps two at a time with Aidan at her back.

  “It’s Mommy, Stella.” She opened the door and Stella threw herself at her. “My little darling.” She lifted her into her arms and hugged her.

  Still crying, Stella squeezed her arms around her mommy’s neck. “Stay with me, Mommy.”

  “Yes, pumpkin. I’m not leaving you. Not one second.”

  “Good idea,” Aidan said, caressing Stella’s head. “You and Mommy go to bed. I’ll go to the hospital to check on Nana Licia.”

  “Call me, please.” Melody lifted eyes shining with tears. “Thank you, Aidan. For being with us so often, especially when we need you.”

  He wrapped an arm around her back and pressed her against him. “I need you too, sweetheart,” he whispered against her hair. “Try to remain calm. I’ll call you as soon as I have news.”

  ***

  Aidan found Alicia in the ER She was hooked up to a monitor and the attending physician had already examined her. Aidan talked to him and approved his request for an MRI on her head. Apparently, Alicia had felt dizzy and immediately pressed the button on her alert bracelet, before dragging herself to unlock the door and collapsing against it.

  Was it a stroke? A tumor? Or something else? The MRI and other tests would shed some light on her condition.

  To be on the safe side, Aidan sat at the computer to find out what had happened to Alicia’s applications for welfare and Medicaid. After ten minutes of useless browsing through different sites, he gave up and called the State Medical Assistance Office, and was favorably surprised to learn Alicia had been approved. “Mrs. Loren needs an MRI and more tests. Would they be covered?”

  “As of tomorrow, yes.”

  Aidan exhaled in relief. That was good news to relate to Melody. He strolled to his office and sprawled on the sofa bed, then called her and explained what he’d learned. “They gave her a baby aspirin, did a C-scan, and took blood. The usual to prevent a heart attack. Alicia is comfortable now and will sleep till the morning, hopefully. How is Stella?”

  “Sleeping like an angel, with her hand on Bernie’s head. I lay next to her for an hour. She drifted off right away, but I waited until I felt better and then left to go to my room.”

  “Melody, we’ll do everything we can for Alicia.”

  “I know. Thank you, Aidan.”

  “I’m going to stay in my call room and rest. Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day. ‘Night.”

  “Goodnight, Aidan.”

  In the morning, he showered, ate a quick breakfast at the cafeteria, and brought a second coffee to his desk. He opened Alicia’s file to read the medical report on her previous and recent falls, and the tests results. At seven o’clock, he went to visit her.

  Alicia grabbed his hand. “Doc, tell me the truth. Is it my end?”

  “Who said so? They’re just doing an MRI today to find out what causes your dizziness. I think the first time you fell was due to the same cause.”

  She nodded, studying him for a moment. “Aidan, how was your outing with Melody?”

  “Huh...great.”

  “Sorry I spoiled it.”

  “You didn’t. Relax.”

  “Okay. I’ll have to talk to you after my test.”

  Damn, she was going to meddle again. But if it helped her relax, he wouldn’t protest.

  A nurse entered the room. “We’re going to the MRI now.”

  He squeezed Alicia’s hand. “MRI is easy on the patient. See you later.” He returned to his office to read more reports and then left for the nurses’ station to wait for Melody.

  She was already there. At 7:45. “How is Alicia? I didn’t find her in the ER”

  “She’s doing the MRI now. We’ll hear something soon. Di
d you have breakfast?”

  “Just coffee. I couldn’t eat anything.”

  “I’ll walk you to the cafeteria.”

  “Now? In front of the whole staff?”

  “Does it bother you?”

  “Frankly, yes. They’ll make my life miserable with gossip. I had my share when I was tardy.”

  “Go to my office.”

  “What?”

  “My office, Nurse Parker.” His voice carried to the end of the corridor. She stared at him. “Now. I have a report to discuss with you,” he added, even louder.

  She glanced around at the nurses raising their eyebrows or exhibiting sideway smiles, or coming closer. With a sigh, she strode to the corridor leading to his office, and heard him say, “It’s only a report to clarify. Nothing to worry about.”

  He opened his door, let her in, and locked it behind them.

  “Now what—”

  He didn’t give her a chance to say more and crushed her mouth with a torrid kiss.

  “You were right, sweetheart. We shouldn’t do this in public. My office is a better place.”

  She burst out laughing. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “I thought you could use a good hug. I could.” He trailed his lips on hers, licking them in a sensual caress. “I even have a sofa-bed for on-call rest.” He winked.

  “Are you crazy?”

  “Absolutely sane. But now that I’ve tasted a delicious treat, I want more of it, more often. Does that make sense?”

  She linked her fingers around his neck and fell against his chest, laughing. “As long as it doesn’t affect my review.”

  “Word of honor.” He raised his palm. “Anyhow, now I have rounds.”

  “And I’m checking on your patients. See you later, Dr. Olson.” She adjusted her ponytail and left.

  Later that morning, Aidan studied Alicia’s MRI file with the radiologist. “See that ball,” the specialist said.

  “A tumor. That’s what I suspected. Not big.”

  “But it’s pressing on the optic nerve. Can you take care of it, Dr. Olson?”

  “Definitely. Thank you, Dr. Brown. Send me a copy of the report and actual scan.”

  “Will do.”

  A few minutes later, Melody cornered him in the corridor. “What’s the result of the MRI?”

  “Come to the station. I’ll show you.” He opened the file and enlarged the damaged area. “See this.” He moved the cursor onto the ball.

  “Oh God, a tumor.”

  “Yes. It may be benign. We won’t know until I remove it and send it for a biopsy. I have to explain that to Alicia.”

  “She’s going to be so frightened, so worried. I wish you could operate without telling her exactly what you’re doing.”

  “You know it’s not possible. She has to consent and prepare herself for this surgery and potential risks.”

  “But you’ll save her, right?”

  “I’ll do my best. The rest is in God’s hands. Now the ER doctor has to discharge her, and I’ll admit her to a hospital room where she’ll be more comfortable until surgery.”

  An hour later, they stepped into Alicia’s new room on the third floor.

  “You two together.” Alicia beamed. “Melody, dear, did you have a good time last night?”

  “Yes, huh... Yes, a very good time.” Melody’s cheeks turned tomato-red.

  Alicia chuckled. “Good, good. Now, Aidan, if you don’t do the right thing, I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

  He flipped an amused gaze to Melody. “Why do you have to blush like a teenager? Don’t worry, Alicia, I promise you won’t have to kill me.” He sobered. “Now I have to talk to you about your MRI.” He explained the radiology report while Alicia listened more calmly than he’d have expected. “The tumor is small. I’ll remove it and send it for biopsy. If it’s benign, you’re off the hook and won’t need chemo.”

  “What if you don’t operate at all?”

  “It’s pressing on the optic nerve. If we leave it, soon it’ll grow, and you may lose your sight.”

  “Do you anticipate any complications?”

  “Hopefully not. But I have to do a craniotomy. This procedure involves removing a portion of the skull so that the brain has more room to heal without the threat of being crushed. The procedure may cause partial loss of memory and speech.”

  “Ah.” She closed her eyes. “So, damned if I do and damned if I don’t. Doc, what would you recommend if I were your mother?”

  “I would make sure she had a good surgeon to remove the tumor.”

  She reached for his hand. “I have an excellent neurosurgeon. Go for it. I want to be able to see my granddaughter for as long as I can. Melody, bring me Stella after daycare, please.”

  “You’re doing the right thing, Alicia.” He pressed her hand and left to schedule the surgery.

  A moment later, his phone rang. It was Alicia. “I want to talk to you. Alone. I mean without Melody. It’s important. Can you keep her busy somewhere else?”

  “All right.”

  He asked Melody to assist Dr. Anwar on a disc replacement surgery. She should remain occupied for at least a couple of hours. He hoped Alicia would not waste the time meddling into his relationship with Melody again.

  When he approached her bed, Alicia looked very calm, but the redness around her eyes indicated she’d been crying. “Doc, I’m glad you’re making Melody happy. She’s so independent and claims she doesn’t want any man in her life.”

  “I know.” He watched Alicia, wondering what she was getting at.

  “I added to her distrust by telling her not to trust any men.”

  “Thanks a lot.” He snorted. “Why would you say that?”

  “Personal experience. My father, my brother and nephew, my husband, and my first boyfriend were all jerks. I don’t want to see Melody or Stella hurt. But I think you are a good one.”

  “Thanks, but I’m not rushing into any commitment. Is that all?”

  “No, but I can’t trust you if you’re not seriously involved with her. For Melody and Stella’s sakes.”

  “Trust me with what?”

  “Aidan, I may not have long to live. I want to write a will before I go.”

  “A will? I thought you have no money even to pay your medical fees.”

  “Right. No money, no houses, no assets. Only a few trinkets.”

  “Then why do you need a lawyer?”

  “It’s very important for Melody and Stella. But we don’t have anyone we can rely on. If you don’t know a good lawyer, ask Dr. Turner, the former director.”

  He shrugged. “We can’t disturb Dr. Turner and his lawyer for something insignificant.”

  She grabbed his arm. “Please, Aidan. I have to protect Melody and Stella with a will before I go. I don’t want them hurt.”

  “Hurt? Alicia, can you stop talking in riddles.”

  “I can’t do any surgery if I don’t write a will first. Call Dr. Turner. I met him. He’s a good man.”

  Exasperated to no end, Aidan huffed but dug out his phone and called Dr. Turner. “Hi, Dr. Turner. I have Mrs. Alicia Loren, Melody’s neighbor, who wants to talk to you. She’s at the hospital right now and will have brain surgery soon.”

  “Put her on, Aidan.”

  “Yes, Dr. Turner. Remember me? I used to send you those delicious cookies with Melody...” She chuckled. “I know you loved them... Can I ask you a favor?... I need a lawyer to write a will... In favor of Melody... Thank you, Dr. Turner... Witness? Oh, I didn’t know... Would you be able to come with him... Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Tomorrow at nine a.m. Thank you.” She closed her eyes. “Thank you, Lord. Dr. Turner is bringing his lawyer and coming as a witness.”

  Aidan had trouble believing his ears. “Is it worth disturbing these two men?”

  “Yes,” she said in a tired voice, without opening her eyes. “You see, two years ago I gave Melody something to hide for me. I don’t want to cause her trouble.”

  Chap
ter Seven

  Something for Melody to hide for two years?

  Something that could cause her trouble?

  Outraged, he hissed, “I hope it’s not some kind of drugs.” But the patient had already drifted off, exhausted by her condition and maybe whatever secrets she’d been hiding.

  Aidan settled in a chair beside her, hoping she’d wake up soon. He had so many questions that needed immediate answers, but he couldn’t spend all his energy on one patient. He scheduled her surgery and moved on to other subjects.

  Soon Melody arrived. “Dr. Anwar’s surgery went well. How is Alicia?”

  “Resting. I was waiting for her to wake up so I could examine her.” He focused on their patient’s face. She was still deeply asleep. “Come outside so we can talk.”

  They left the ER and he led her to a conference room at the end of the wing. On their way, they bought coffee and snacks at a vending machine. They sipped their coffee silently for a moment.

  She bit into her granola bar and looked at him. “Did you schedule Alicia’s surgery?”

  “Yes. Tomorrow at two p.m.”

  “Do you still need tests to be run in the morning?”

  “I have all the test results I need. But Alicia is busy in the morning.”

  “Busy with what?”

  “She has letters and other things to write.”

  “Ah.” Melody rolled her eyes.

  “Melody, how well do you know her?”

  “Well enough, I guess. She’s been my neighbor for seven years and then Stella’s surrogate grandmother.”

  “Has she ever shown erratic behavior?”

  “Erratic, as in out of control? No.” Melody smiled. “But she’s a woman who speaks her mind. She’s meddled in my life ever since she rented the first-floor apartment, telling me what to do, who to avoid, who she likes and who she doesn’t.”

  “I noticed the meddling. She’s already done that to me.” He exhaled and they both burst out laughing.

  “It means she likes you.”

  “I guess. At least that’s what she said. Have you ever met her family, relatives, or friends?”