Hope's Toy Chest

by Marissa Dobson

  Nancy had lost a child years ago, not because of cancer but a freak accident. It gave her an insight to just what the parents were going through. She might be a comfort to Kelly. As he waited for the elevator, he had a moment to realize how amazing his team was. His staff always rallied together when something needed to be done. It made him feel good to work with such a wonderful team of caring professionals.

  The elevator doors opened and there stood Chelsea, her arms loaded with bags. “I managed everything but the tree.”

  “Let me take some of that.” He grabbed some of the bags from her, lightening her load. “You shouldn’t have brought all this at once. I was coming down to help.” He hit the button for the ninth floor.

  “I figured there wasn’t a reason to make a dozen trips. Taking all this now means we only have one trip left. The tree is stored in two smaller boxes, so we can both go grab one and be done. Were you able to get the list?”

  “It’s in my jacket pocket but I can’t get to it now.” He smirked at them both standing there with their arms loaded. “I don’t think I have this much stuff for my whole house.”

  “I’m not surprised, you’re a man. Women go all out. It’s going to be a Christmas wonderland for her. I assumed we couldn’t have a live tree, but we are going to make up for it with the decorations.”

  “Live trees are out of the question. I should have mentioned that.”

  “Nothing to worry about, I told you I had this part covered.” She adjusted her armful before stepping off the elevator. “Did you get the place cleaned?”

  “My housekeeper left about forty minutes ago. She did a good job, not that I expected anything less. She’s always very thorough. She made up both of the beds in the room with fresh sheets, as well as the room next to it where I’ll be spending the night to supervise Jessica’s health.”

  “You’re staying?”

  “With her not being on the ward, there’s no nurses to watch over her. Nancy—the head nurse of the oncology floor—has offered to stay over as well. We’ll be able to take turns checking in on Jessica.” He nodded up the hall. “Second door on the right.”

  They stepped into a room that was larger than most double occupancy hospital rooms. There were four beds, two on each side, with big windows along the wall that could get a lot of light in the day, or could be closed off with darkening shades for sleep.

  “This is bigger than I expected, I might need more decorations.”

  He set everything he had been carrying on the floor. “No.”

  “That sounds like a man who thinks he’s in charge.” She dropped her stuff as well and then sat down on the edge of one of the unmade beds.

  “Thinks?” He raised an eyebrow at her, trying to keep his mind away from his fantasy—pushing her back on the bed, exploring every curve of her body.

  “Oh yes, thinks.” She leaned back on the bed, propping herself up on her elbows. “After all, you brought this to me, asked for my help, and suggested this would be a great expansion for Hope’s Toy Chest. That makes me in charge, and if I say more decorations then more is what we need. I won’t be outdone on this celebration. Now come on, let’s see if you can make yourself useful and help me decorate.”

  “You better be glad Elizabeth likes you.” He teased. “You start going through this stuff and I’ll get the tree.” Needing to get away before he lost control of himself, he turned on his heels.

  She was the parent of a former patient, one he couldn’t save, and he couldn’t get involved with her. No matter how attractive he might find her, or how his body called to her. He could never put his career on the back burner, and she deserved more than that. She deserved someone who would be home with her for dinner each night, someone who could give her time and commitment, show her how wonderful she was. She couldn’t get involved with a doctor, someone who would never have time outside the hospital.

  But no matter, what he couldn’t stop thinking about her and it was beginning to drive him a little crazy. He’d never been so preoccupied with anything other than his work.

  Focus on Jessica, and keep your mind off Chelsea.

  Easier said than done.

  Chapter Eight

  Kingsley tossed the empty pizza box in the trash before leaning against the counter. It had been a long time since he made his way over to D’s Pizza. Their square pizza by the slice with the thick, crunchy, crust was heavenly. After spending nearly three hours at the hospital decorating the room to perfection, there had been little choice but to grab pizza and come back to his place.

  “I can’t remember ever having such delicious pizza. Wow. I don’t even like crust normally.” Chelsea sat there at the table looking as if she was in Heaven.

  “It’s sure worth the twenty minute drive.” He stepped away from the counter and added more wine to their glasses. The desire to move into the living room, curl up with a beautiful woman and a good movie was new to him. Over the years there had been flings, but no one ever made him feel like he did in that moment. She occupied his thoughts, even when she wasn’t physically there, and the longing to touch her was almost overpowering.

  A little voice inside him reminded him of Hope, screaming for him to make an excuse to go to his office and busy himself with work. He couldn’t get involved with her, no matter how much he wanted her. He tried to force his thoughts back to the duty ahead; they still had to find the toys from Jessica’s wish list and wrap them.

  “We should start…”

  “There’s time.” He sat down next to her, not wanting the moment to end. “You’re a big reason why this is possible for Jessica.”

  “You’re the one doing it. I just provided the decorations.”

  “The presents as well,” he reminded her. “What I’m saying is that I’d like to invite you to be there. You won’t want to stay in those shitty crash rooms, but you can come by in the morning to see her with the gifts.”

  “Oh no, I wouldn’t want to intrude. This is a celebration for Jessica and her mother.”

  “That’s your choice. Will you join us tomorrow evening? Santa will be making a visit, maybe you can ask him for your own Christmas wish.”

  “Okay. That sounds like fun, but does Santa still deliver to old women?”

  “You’re not old.” He slipped his hand over hers. What he really wanted to say was how beautiful she was. “Santa will make a special delivery for you if you tell him what you want.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that. It would be nice to be on the receiving end for once.” She blushed, taking a sip of her wine. “Now come on, we’ve got to find the stuff on the list if either of us is going to get some sleep.”

  They rose from the table but before they could move away from it, his cell phone went off. “Excuse me a moment.” He grabbed the phone from the counter. “Doctor Mathews.”

  “Doctor, this is Tammy, a R.N. at Cedar Grove Children’s Hospital. There’s a note here that you want to be notified of any changes in Jessica Cook’s condition.”

  “Yes, how is she?”

  “She spiked a fever and has become violently ill. As stated in her chart, we administered the medication through her IV.” The nurse rambled on, the lack of feeling in her voice bothering him, making him wonder if she wasn’t in the wrong field.

  “How long has she been showing symptoms? Any change since the medication was given?”

  “She received the first dose just over an hour ago and no changes as of yet.”

  He gulped, a cold sweat passing over him. “Give her a second dose and I’ll be in.” He glanced at the clock. “Twenty minutes.”

  “I don’t believe that’s necessary.”

  “I do.” He emptied his wine glass into the sink. “With her current condition I’d like to examine her.” Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call and glanced to where Chelsea stood waiting for him.

  “The hospital?” She frowned.

  Her expression reminded him why relationships never lasted for him. He had yet to find
a woman who would understand his career, and he doubted he ever would. “I’m afraid so. Jessica’s taken a turn, and I need to go check on her.”

  “Go ahead. If you don’t mind, I’ll stay and find what we need for tomorrow.”

  “Hopefully tomorrow is still doable.”

  “That bad?”

  He prayed not, but there was only one way to find out. He stepped toward her and took her hand in his. “I don’t know how long I’ll be. If you’re gone by the time I get back I’ll give you a call in the morning to let you know if we’re still on for the celebration.”

  “Go, she needs you.”

  He wanted to kiss her, to ask her to stay, instead he grabbed his coat and headed for the door. There would be another night for them. Jessica, on the other hand, might only have a few hours left.

  The minutes ticked by and still Chelsea stood in the middle of Kingsley’s kitchen, her mind on his touch. The brief moments when their hands met sent her heart fluttering. She had never been drawn to someone the way she was drawn to Le. For the first time she was seeing him in a new light. When he was her daughter’s doctor, she didn’t see him, not really. He was just there; her daughter had been at the forefront of things, and everything else was just background. Now she could see he was so much more than just a doctor. He truly cared for his patients, and he grieved for those he’d lost as much as the families did. Le was a man who would never be satisfied until childhood cancer was a thing of the past, until he was put out of a job because of a cure.

  Having been in the position of the parents with sick children she knew just how valuable a dedicated doctor was. Le had done his best to help her daughter. He had done everything that could be done. Even at the very end, when they knew the time was coming, he had been there. Thinking back, she remembered him always being present. She never realized it then, but even late at night when Hope had gotten worse, he had been there.

  Throughout it all, he had a word of encouragement when she needed it, a tissue when there was nothing to say. When Hope lost her fight, he had rushed to the hospital, arriving only minutes after she died, and held her while she cried. He had come to the funeral, offering his help with anything she needed, going above and beyond what was expected of him.

  Knowing how dedicated he was to his career and patients, she still couldn’t stop herself from wanting him. He had a heart of gold, and the body of a god. A flush of heat washed through her. Damn, did she want him.

  Would Santa bring her a second chance at love?

  Chapter Nine

  It was after two in the morning when Kingsley opened the door to his house. The only thing on his mind was sleep. They had finally brought down Jessica’s fever and she was resting comfortably, on oxygen to help her breathe, and additional antibiotics to combat the slight congestion in her lungs. Stepping inside, he slipped out of his coat. The living room light glowed through the darkness, and there on the sofa Chelsea was sound asleep.

  He hung his coat in the hall closet before strolling into the living room. A beautiful woman waiting for him when he got home made his heart skip a beat. If only he could pick her up and carry her to his bed, feel her warm body pressed against his. He needed to put distance between them or he was going to end up breaking her heart.

  Even knowing that, he couldn’t stop his body from moving forward. He leaned over the sofa, rubbing his finger along her jawline. “Chelsea.” Oh, how he loved the way her name rolled off his tongue.

  A soft moan escaped her lips as she turned her face into his hand, her eyes still closed. “Hmm.”

  “Come on, sweetie, wake up.” He dragged his hand through her hair, the soft strands sliding through his fingers like silk.

  Her eyelids shot open. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” She rubbed her hand over her face.

  “It’s fine, and it’s late. The snow has started and the roads are getting bad. Why don’t you stay here tonight?”

  “The same bedroom we have a million toys piled into?” She scooted up on the sofa, pulling her legs under her.

  “I do have another guest room, come on. It’s late and you need some sleep.” He took her hand in his. “It’s too nasty for you to go out in this storm.” He led her down the hall toward the guest room closest to his. Everything within him screamed for him to take her to his bed, even if it was only for one night.

  She leaned against him, half asleep, as he pushed the bedroom door open. “Thank you.” Her words came out in a soft whisper. “You don’t have to be so nice to me.”

  “Yeah, let me just throw you out on a cold and snowy night, that’s what a gentleman would do.” He led her to the bed, and pulled down the comforter. “Get into bed, we’ll talk in the morning.”

  “Okay.” She mumbled, climbing into bed with her clothes on. The minute her head hit the pillow she was asleep.

  With her snuggly under the blankets, he made his way to his room. He needed to get a few hours of sleep and get back to the hospital to check on Jessica and his other patients. There was also a stack of paperwork that needed to be completed by week’s end if he didn’t want the hospital administration staff and Annabell breathing down his neck. He pushed it aside and slipped between the sheets, his mind wandering back to Chelsea.

  Kingsley awoke to screams and shot out of bed. It was the middle of the night, darkness enveloped his house, but he knew something had woken him and he wasn’t sure where it had come from. In an instant, he knew.

  “Hope!” Chelsea’s terrified voice cut through the stillness of the night.

  He rushed to the door, not bothering to grab any clothes. Something was wrong. Dashing down the hall, he pushed open the door. There in the middle of the bed, Chelsea struggled against the tangled sheets.

  “God, no, Hope!”

  “Sweetie.” He closed the distance to the bed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to him. She fought against him, tears pouring down her face. “Chels, it’s okay. I’ve got you.”

  “No, please.” Her fists slammed into him.

  “Come on, wake up.” He leaned against the pillows, holding her to him, and running his hands down her arms. “Chels.”

  “Hope.” Finally waking, her voice was cloaked with tears, and she clung to him.

  They sat there as he gently caressed her until the tears finally ended. “Are you okay?” She nodded, her body shaking like a leaf. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She laced her fingers through his. “Hope…she came to me in the dream.”

  He nodded, resting his cheek against the top of her head. “You were screaming her name.”

  “She came to me, and she’ll come for Jessica.”

  Knowing it was a dream didn’t stop him from feeling sick. He didn’t want to lose another child, not at Christmas, not ever. “It was only a dream.” He was trying to reassure them both.

  “It seemed liked so much more than that.” She curled into him until they were looking at each other. “We’ve got to do something.”

  “I’m doing everything I can.” He held her, needing to feel her against him, grounding him.

  “I know you are.” Tears cascaded over her cheeks. “That poor mother.”

  Somewhere in the midst of all of it, beyond the sadness and helplessness, he realized he was falling for her. It was a whole new territory for him, one he wasn’t sure she was the perfect person to explore it with. He still wasn’t sure what she saw or felt when she looked at him. Did she see someone that had failed her? Would they be able to use that as the foundation to a relationship instead of a divider?

  “I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes, drying the tears.

  “There’s nothing to be sorry about, nightmares happen.”

  “This wasn’t just a nightmare, this was a warning. Is Jessica’s mother ready for what’s coming? Is there anything I can do?”

  “No one is ever ready. She’s holding out hope, but I think she realizes it’s a possibility or she wouldn’t have wanted to celebrate Christma
s early.” He brushed the hair away from her cheek.

  “You’re right, you’re never ready to lose a child.” Her hair tickled his chest when she nodded.

  “Things were different in your case. Hope’s change was quick and unexpected. Jessica hasn’t had any positive reactions to any treatments she has undergone.”

  He was prepared for failing Jessica. He’d done everything he could, even used experimental treatments, and nothing had worked. Losing Hope had been a surprise. She had been on her way to recovery, the treatment had been working for her.

  A sudden change and everything had gone wrong.

  Chapter Ten

  Chelsea put the final touches on the hospital room. In just a few minutes, Le would be bringing Jessica and her mother up, and she wanted everything to be prefect. She plugged in the tree, letting the warm white lights cast a glow over the space. This had to be perfect, because it would be one of the last memories of mother and daughter together, one she knew Mrs. Cook would always cherish.

  Hearing the faint ding of the elevator, she quickly grabbed the two gift boxes she’d brought with her that afternoon and placed them by the tree. They were gifts that could be opened before Santa’s visit. It was a tradition she had as a child, and one she continued with Hope. Now she was sharing it with the Cooks.

  Le pushed a wheelchair through the door, the IV bag reminding her just how sick Jessica was. “Jessica, this is a friend of mine, Chelsea.”

  “I’ve heard so much about you.” Kelly stepped around Le and held out her hand. “Thank you for everything.”

  Chelsea took the offered hand with a smile. “There’s no need for that, I’m glad to help.”

  “Mommy, look, a Christmas tree!” Jessica appeared so frail curled up in the wheelchair, thick blankets tucked around her. Her bald head served as a reminder of just how sick she was, but despite her illness the sight of the decorations made her blue eyes glisten with excitement.