by Amy Ruttan
“How do you know that?” Thomas asked.
“You should know that. You’re a surgeon. A heart surgeon even. She’s in good hands.”
“Who’s doing the catheterization?”
“Dr. Sandler is doing it.”
Thomas groaned. “Ugh.”
“Is there something wrong with Dr. Sandler performing the procedure?” Geraldine asked.
“No. Nothing wrong. He’s a good doctor.”
“Then you shouldn’t be worried.”
“Well, I am worried,” Thomas snapped. “Zoe’s all I have left. My father is gone, my mother is gone... Zoe is all I have.”
“I’m here,” Geri said. “I promised you I wouldn’t leave her side.”
“Why are you doing this?” Thomas asked. “We’re just colleagues. You’ve said so yourself several times.”
“Yes, we’re colleagues and this is what good colleagues do for one another. We’re partners in a practice. I would hope when it came to my father you would do something to help.”
Thomas’s expression softened. “I wish I could do something, but cancer isn’t my forte, unless it was cancer of the heart, but even then he wouldn’t let me operate on him.”
Geri cocked an eyebrow. “Why is that?”
Thomas chuckled. “Because we’re too close. He’s been my mentor. He was also my father’s worst enemy.”
She laughed. “Yes. Rivals who fought over my mother apparently.”
“Right. I’m sorry for telling you that.”
Geri shrugged. “If it’s the truth, don’t be sorry. It’s too bad that my mother caused such a rift between your father and mine. My mother had a way of ruining so much.”
“You don’t think very highly of your mother.”
“She didn’t think very highly of me either. My childhood was very lonely, only I didn’t have boarding school to escape to or a half sister to show affection to.”
“We’re pretty similar,” he said quietly.
“How? We grew up in different worlds.”
“We both had pretty crappy childhoods.”
Geri chuckled. “That we did.”
Thomas sighed. “Well, if you must know it wasn’t just your mother that caused the rift between our fathers. My father was an Oxford man and your father was a Cambridge man. I believe they both were on the rowing teams and your father’s team would often best my father’s team. It enraged my father that your father seemed to beat him.”
“Your father held a lot of grudges.”
“There’s a very old rivalry between the two schools.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I think it’s more than that.”
“I agree, my father was a jerk.” Then they both laughed at that. “I’m surprised your father gave me the time of day, but he did. He’s a good man, you know.”
“I know,” said Geri, her voice wobbling ever so slightly.
“He’ll beat this. He’ll come through,” Thomas said.
Geri took his hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “And Zoe will be fine.”
She stared into his eyes and was completely lost at that moment. Her hand felt so tiny in his strong ones and she wanted to hold him closer. To comfort him.
He’s not yours.
Thomas snatched his hand back and cleared his throat. He looked uncomfortable. “Thank you for being there with her.”
“It’s my pleasure. She’s my patient.”
“Sorry your night was ruined. It was your first social function and I know how much your father was looking forward to you going. He wanted to show you off.”
“It’s all right. This is why I became a doctor. This is what I’m passionate about, not dressing up in ball gowns and dancing. Though I wish I could’ve tried some of those desserts.”
Thomas laughed. “They weren’t that great.”
“Oh, come on, they were traditional Victorian Christmas desserts. I mean the whole theme was Victorian Christmas.”
He rolled his eyes, but smiled at her. “You and Christmas.”
“You know you’re a bit of a Grinch,” she teased.
“A what?”
“Don’t you remember watching that cartoon as a child?”
Thomas shook his head. “I didn’t watch cartoons as a child. Remember, I’m not a big Christmas fanatic like you are.”
“You mean you’ve never seen How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Zoe?”
“No,” he said. “In her younger days, before Zoe’s mother joined Doctors Without Borders, Zoe spent Christmases with her. I’ve only had her at Christmas for the last three years and she was never really interested in watching cartoons by the time she came to me.”
“Well, you’re maybe going to have to rectify that. She’s going to need a few days of bed rest,” Geri said.
“I wouldn’t even know where to begin with Christmas specials.”
“Well, maybe I’ll help with that. I have an extensive collection.”
“How extensive?” he asked carefully.
“Quite extensive. I have cartoons, funny movies and those Christmas specials that bring a tear to your eye.”
“Ugh,” he said dramatically. “That doesn’t sound painful at all.”
“How can you not like a big fat orange cat bringing Christmas to a grandmother? Or a family whose Christmas goes absolutely and completely wrong in a house full of annoying relatives? Or those old classic movies where the Christmas carols were written? Bing crooning away those familiar tunes.”
He smiled and she melted slightly. What was she doing? Why was she still trying to get closer to him? Why couldn’t she keep away from him? They were colleagues, partners, and that was it. They could be nothing more. She didn’t want to be his friend outside work. She didn’t want to be anything other than a medical associate. That’s all she was here for. She wasn’t here for anything else. And he was definitely not the right man for her.
He was a duke. She was struggling with the idea of being a lady, an heiress. She didn’t want any part of that life.
Thomas is more than just his title. Just like you are.
“Well,” she said, clearing her throat. “I’d better get back in there and see how it’s going. You should get some rest in the doctors’ lounge. It might be some time yet.”
“No, I can wait it out in the hallway here. I’m not leaving her side. As I said, she’s all that I have.”
Geri nodded and headed back into the heart catheterization lab. All she had was her father. Her mother was off goodness knew where and doing who knew what, they had never really been close. Though she wasn’t close to her father yet. She enjoyed being in his company, he was a brilliant physician and she hated seeing him sick. Yet, if he had been on this table, would she be as worried? Would she feel as hurt?
She wasn’t sure. It had been so long since she’d cared about anybody. She wasn’t even sure that she could anymore. She wasn’t sure that she could open up her heart to anyone ever again.
CHAPTER EIGHT
I’M JUST CHECKING up on my patient, that’s all.
Geri took a deep calming breath as she stared up at the impressive frontage of Thomas’s Notting Hill home. Thomas had taken a week off three days ago when Zoe had been released from the hospital and she was worried about them both. Worried about Zoe’s pacemaker failing again, even though the heart catheterization had been successful, and worried about Thomas too. He’d been so torn up over his sister.
She wanted to make sure they were both all right and, truth be told, she missed seeing Thomas every day. Missed his quips, his cheeky smiles. He’d only been in her life a handful of days and she was already missing his company. The thought scared her and Geri almost turned back.
You’re checking on your friends. Not
hing more.
She’d made up her mind to check on them on Saturday as the practice was closed, and had decided to bring over some of her favorite Christmas movies to lend to Zoe and Thomas. And as she stared up at his home she saw it looked sadly bereft of any Christmas fanfare. Thomas hadn’t been kidding when he’d said he didn’t make a big deal out of Christmas.
All around his home, other homes and shops were getting ready to welcome Christmas. All except Thomas’s, which looked cold, dark and dreary. Not a single wreath, which was a pretty sad state for a duke.
She pushed the buzzer on the gate.
“Hello?” Thomas’s voice sounded tired and a bit annoyed.
“It’s me, Geraldine Collins. From the practice.”
You idiot. He knows who you are.
“Yes. Geraldine Collins from the practice. How are you?” He was teasing her; she could hear the humor in his voice.
“Can I come in or are we going to conduct our entire conversation at your gate while your neighbors stare at me?”
“That is true. I’m most certain they’ll stare at you.”
“Thomas, are you going to leave me out here?”
“I might. This is fun.”
Infuriating man.
“Fine. I’ll leave, you cruel man.”
She could hear his deep chuckle. “I love that adorable little accent you take on when you get annoyed.”
“Aye, well, you’ll be hearing it often, then, you fiend.”
“All right, I’ll let you in.”
Then there was a buzz as the gate was unlocked. She pushed it open and then shut it again to lock it once more. She walked up the cleared flagstone path and Thomas met her at the front door.
He was a wearing jeans and a casual deep blue shirt that was open at the neck. His hands were thrust deep in his pockets. Even though he was casually dressed, it was business casual attire and Geri felt instantly underdressed in her leggings, long oversize sweater, ski vest and clunky boots. Her knit cap was a bit battered and her scarf didn’t match it.
She felt positively dowdy in his presence suddenly.
It’s not like you’re staying. You’re here to do a quick check, drop the movies and leave.
“What a pleasure to see you here,” he said cordially. He looked her up and down and when his gaze landed on her big clunky boots a small smile twitched on his face. “Going hiking through some snowbanks today?”
“Ha-ha. They’re warm.” She held out the movies. “I brought Zoe some movies, since you’re such a Christmas miser. I thought she’d enjoy these.”
He took them. “Well, why don’t you come in and say hello to her? She’d love to have a visitor. I have been a bit of a friend miser as well. I don’t want her catching a cold or something that would be detrimental, given she’s just had a heart catheterization.”
“Sure. I would actually like to check on her. Father’s been bugging me to swing by. He was worried about her, but he’s not up for visiting either.” She walked into his house and began to unwind her scarf and pull off her hat, trying to smooth down the static in her hair as Thomas shut the door.
“How is he feeling a week postchemo?” he asked.
“Tired,” Geri said. “He goes for another treatment on Monday.”
Thomas winced. “Not fun.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Well, come upstairs. The family room is on the upper level, and that’s where Lady Zoe is holding court at the moment on the couch.”
Geri laughed and kicked off her boots, forgetting that she was wearing particularly ugly warm socks, the kind that separated the toes and were striped in rainbow colors. She’d meant to change them but had completely forgotten as she’d been running out the door.
Thomas cocked an eyebrow. “Interesting choice in socks, Lady Collins.”
“Don’t talk about eccentricities to me, Your Grace. You’re the duke who lives in Notting Hill instead of on an estate, tending to your serfs and vassals.”
“I have a Buckinghamshire estate, I just don’t like it as much as here.”
She followed him up the stairs to the next floor, where a cozy, plush sitting room area was. On the wall on the far side was a huge wide-screen television and facing that was an overstuffed, large couch, where Zoe was propped up surrounded by pillows and snuggled down in a blanket, watching a movie.
“Look who’s come to see you, Zoe,” Thomas said as they entered the room.
Zoe turned and smiled. “Dr. Collins!”
“I’m glad you’re happy to see me. I’m sorry your brother now knows. I swear I didn’t violate doctor-patient confidentiality.”
She shrugged. “It was my own fault, I guess.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Thomas said. He handed her the stack of movies. “Geraldine has brought you some Christmas movies because she felt you were a bit deprived, given that I’m such a... What did you call me the other day?”
“Grinch,” Geri said.
Zoe laughed. “This is wonderful. Can we watch one now?”
“I guess so,” Thomas groaned halfheartedly.
She flicked through the movies. “White Christmas! I haven’t seen this in so long.”
“Good choice,” Geri said. She stood up. “Well, I’d better head for home. I’m glad you’re doing well, Zoe.”
“Stay, Geraldine. If you don’t have any plans, maybe we can order in some Chinese takeaways and watch White Christmas together.” Zoe batted her puppy dog eyes in her direction, trying to play on her sympathies.
Geri glanced at Thomas. “If your brother doesn’t mind?”
“No, I don’t. And that sounds like a great plan.” He smiled at her warmly. “I’ll put in the order and you two get comfortable. Can I get you something to drink, Geraldine?”
“Tea would be lovely.”
He nodded and then disappeared from the living room.
“I’m so glad you came, Geraldine. Thomas has been hovering over me like an overprotective hen. He carries me to bed at night. It’s getting a bit much.”
“Well, they did run the catheter up through your femoral artery. That’s a main artery and prone to quick blood loss.”
Zoe rolled her eye. “I know. My brother is a surgeon and he likes to tell me all that kind of stuff all the time. I think he and my mom both think I should enter the medical profession.”
“It’s not a bad profession to be in, but, then, I’m biased.”
Zoe smiled. “Just like Thomas and my mother. I’m surrounded by physicians. If my father was still alive, he might not be pushing me so much.”
“What was your father like?” Geri asked, curious about the previous Duke of Weatherstone. From what Thomas had said, he didn’t sound like a nice man, yet had managed to sire two children who were warm and friendly.
Zoe shrugged. “He was okay. A bit distant, but pleasant enough to me. He was always angry that my mother didn’t want to marry him.”
“Why didn’t she?”
“My mother knew his heart belonged to Thomas’s mother and she didn’t want to live in another woman’s shadow. She also wanted to continue her work with Doctors Without Borders. Being the next Duchess of Weatherstone wouldn’t have afforded her that luxury. My parents were pleasant to each other and Mom encouraged me to spend time with my father and Thomas.”
“At least that’s something. My mother didn’t encourage any kind of relationship.”
“Your father has always been very kind to me and my mother. I’m sorry you didn’t have him when you were younger.”
Zoe’s words cut like a knife and tears stung Geri’s eyes. No, she wasn’t going to cry here now. She cleared her throat. “Do you mind if I check it? See if it’s healed enough and give a second opinion?”
“No, I don’t m
ind.” Zoe flicked off the blanket. She was wearing a long flannel nightgown and ugly socks similar to hers.
Geri examined the wound. It was still raw and wasn’t healing as fast as she would like, but it would hold.
“I think your brother should still carry you up flights of stairs. It’s still healing.”
Zoe groaned.
“Glad you see it my way. She didn’t believe me,” Thomas said, entering the room with a tea set on a tray.
Zoe stuck her tongue out at him.
“Not a good way for a proper lady to act, scamp,” Thomas teased.
He poured everyone a cup of tea and then they all settled on the couch to watch White Christmas. It was one of Geri’s all-time favorite Christmas movies. She loved the songs, the costumes and the dancing. The age difference between Bing and Rosemary was a bit too much May-December for her, but it was so minor it didn’t detract from her love of the movie.
It was nice sharing it with Thomas and Zoe.
It was nice sharing this movie with someone, and having Chinese food and watching a movie on a comfortable couch was absolute heaven. This was even better than watching it alone. She was sharing it with friends. Which was what Christmas was all about.
She snuck a quick glance at Thomas. He seemed to be enjoying the movie and as if he knew she was watching him he glanced over and smiled back at her.
What’re you doing here?
She didn’t know. She shouldn’t have stayed, but she also didn’t want to leave. It was nice being with someone. She’d been alone for so long and though she’d been fine with that as it was what she was used to, she much preferred this.
When the final number came on Zoe sighed.
“I wish we had a Christmas tree like that,” Zoe said.
“That’s gigantic and a fire hazard,” Thomas argued.
“It’s no bigger than the one at the party the other night,” Geri said.
Thomas glared at her. “You’re not helping.”
“All right, then, maybe not that big, but I would love to have a Christmas tree nonetheless. Let’s go out and get a Christmas tree,” Zoe begged. “Please?”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Thomas said. “So you’re definitely not going out to buy a tree.”