Christmas Comes to Dickens

by Nancy Fraser

  He turned around again.

  “Get some air, today, okay? Go for a walk outside. Don’t just sit here intimidating the staff and—”

  “I don’t intimidate anyone.”

  “—waiting for your grandmother to open her eyes.”

  When he sauntered toward her, his gait easy, smooth, and sleek, a determined glare in his eyes, he resembled a panther approaching its next meal.

  Sage blinked a few times at the ridiculous thought.

  “Come back at lunchtime.” He stopped right in front of her, reached out and caressed her cheek. “I’ll get out of here if you come have lunch with me downtown.”

  The fact it never occurred to her to say no was something she needed to give serious consideration to later on.

  “I HAVEN’T BEEN HERE since I’ve been back,” she told him hours later as they sat across from one another in Dorrit’s Diner. “I don’t think Amy has changed a thing since we were kids.”

  “Not even the menu, thank goodness. I’ve been craving a cheeseburger smothered in bacon and mushrooms with a plate of fries, for days. Here, at least, I know I’m getting real heart-attack meat and grease.” He took a huge bite of his burger, closed his eyes and sighed as the first familiar and satisfying flavors hit taste buds.

  Sage’s free and open laugh dragged his eyes back open.

  “I hope you have a good cardiologist where you live. And I just realized I don’t even know where that is.”

  Her grin was as delectable to his senses as the food.

  “Manchester, and my heart is fine, thanks.”

  “Now. Keep eating like that”—she pointed her lettuce-laden fork at his plate—“and it’ll be another story. Has your physician even discussed nutrition with you?”

  “I don’t have one. I’m never sick.”

  “What? Keith, that’s being irresponsible with your health. You need to take care of your body. If not for yourself, then think of your son and how he would feel if anything happened to you. How...destroyed, he’d be.”

  A shadow crossed her eyes and, automatically, he reached a hand across the table and threaded his fingers into hers. When she didn’t pull them back, or even startle at the contact, a swell of contentment surged through him.

  “You’re thinking about your dad.”

  The shadow flew when her beautiful eyes widened. “I guess I was. Sorry.” She shook her head.

  “Don’t be. You care about people, Sage. And it shows. His loss was horrible for your family and a defining moment for you. Remember: I was there. I know how much your lives changed when he died.”

  “Then you know I’m being truthful when I say you have to take better care of yourself so the people who love you can have you around for a long, long time.”

  You used to be one of those people who loved me.

  She unfurled her hand from his and lifted her water glass. To lighten the mood he said, “Maybe I’ll move back here and you can be my doctor.”

  Her brows rose and, oh, how he wished that was hope crossing in her gaze.

  “But your business isn’t here. Don’t you need to be where, well, I guess the work is?”

  “I can work anywhere as long as I have a laptop and a drafting table.” He took another bite of his burger then downed it with some of his soda. “Corrine is going to need on-going care, at least for a while. Maybe permanently. I’d rather be closer to oversee it in person instead of by phone. Besides...”

  “Besides, what?”

  He leaned across their table, grinned, then with his voice lowered just for her ears said, “If I move back here you can take me on as a patient. Make sure I eat the right things and take care of myself.”

  Her mouth curled in the corners and her eyes danced with laughter. “Why do I have the feeling you’d be a terrible patient? Never listen to a word of advice? Fight me on every healthy change I’d want to make?”

  He shrugged. “For what it’s worth, I’d be the perfect patient.”

  “There’s that arrogance again.”

  When he nailed her with a glare he knew was filled with heat and intent, he got a strange sense of satisfaction when she squirmed a bit.

  Lifting her free hand again he brought it to his lips and bussed her knuckles. His reward was the sweet, heightened color invading her cheeks.

  But she didn’t look away from him or scan the crowded diner to see who was watching, what tongues would be wagging about his blatant display. No, her gaze stayed right on his and glowed with emotion.

  “I would. Have no doubt. I’d be the perfect patient, Sage, because”—her eyebrows lifted again—“I’d really like playing doctor with you.”

  “Keith—”

  “You kids need anything else?” Amy Dorrit appeared at their table, her order book in hand, and asked.

  Without missing a beat, he let go of Sage’s hand and smiled at the woman who’d owned and managed the diner since before he was born. “I think we’ll take the check, Amy.”

  With a quick flick she ripped the receipt from the book and handed it to him. “Heard Corrine’s laid up at Dickens Med with a busted hip.”

  He nodded.

  “Getting up in age,” she said. “Bones are starting to wither. Probably needs to up her calcium to make them stronger.” She bobbed her head at Sage. “You’d know, I expect.” Another bob and she lit on Keith again. “You give her my love now and tell her I’ll say a prayer.”

  “Will do.”

  “And it’s nice having you both back in town again. Seems like old times with you two chowing down and making cow eyes at one another in one of my booths,” she added, before moving to another customer.

  The cherry-red on Sage’s cheeks drifted down to her neck.

  Keith paid the bill, slid his coat on and then helped Sage with hers.

  She hadn’t said a word since his playful—yet totally truthful—statement.

  Outside the diner they began walking back toward the hospital. The air was crisp and the pewter colored clouds hinted of more snow by nightfall. When she shivered, he slid his arm around her shoulders and tugged her close.

  The thrill that sailed through him when she didn’t pull away warmed his entire body.

  Of course, he reasoned with an internal eye roll, it could just be she was cold and welcomed his heat, and not because she wanted to be in his arms.

  From a perch in the front display window of Trim-A-Tree, Matilda Cudworth knocked on the glass when they passed by, smiled and waved at them.

  They returned both gestures.

  “Ever wonder why the people in this town never age?” Keith asked.

  “What do mean?”

  “Amy Dorrit’s almost as old as my grandmother yet she looks and dresses the same way she did when we were kids.” He ticked his chin towards Trim-A-Tree. “I’m pretty sure Matilda’s older than Corrine and she’s looked exactly the same for as long as I’ve known her. In fact, there’s a picture of her and my grandmother in the living room from some long-ago community event. You’d swear it was taken yesterday.”

  Sage glanced over her shoulder at the display window again. Matilda was still standing there, watching them.

  A look of concentration and consideration flittered by in Sage’s eyes. He wanted to ask what she was thinking, but didn’t want to take the chance she’d pull out of his hold to tell him. Right now, walking along Main Street with the woman who’d claimed his heart a lifetime ago and who still held it in her hands, was enough for him to be happy.

  While trying to sleep in his childhood bed he’d spent most of the night considering how to proceed with her. She was staying put, evidenced by her large and thriving practice so he wasn’t worried about her skipping out again if he declared what was in his heart.

  But he couldn’t just blurt out his feelings. No. He needed a well drawn out and configured plan just like when he designed a building. Start at the bottom, the foundation, and then work upward, layering and reinforcing.

  That’s what he needed
to do with Sage. Their foundation had a crack, once upon a time, but he was determined to shore it up again and make it solid and strong. Unbreakable. Once he did, then the real building could begin.

  First, he’d work on getting her used to, and accustomed to, his touch again. Then, he’d move on to spending more time with her than simply stolen moments during the workday. He’d invite her to dinner, go for walks; date, just like they had before.

  With a little persistence and care, Sage would realize they were meant to be together. Always had been before life intervened and changed their plans.

  Of course, all that had to take a back seat until his grandmother woke up. But having an idea about how to move forward with Sage lifted his spirits considerably.

  Chapter 6

  WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I doing? Thinking?

  For the umpteenth time Sage read the patient file in front of her without seeing the words.

  Keith Mills had her in such a state it was impeding her ability to work.

  She shouldn’t be sitting here remembering how warm and perfect his hand felt when it slipped into hers. She shouldn’t be daydreaming about the way the chaos of blues in his eyes shifted and darkened whenever he focused his attention on her. And she sure shouldn’t be imagining the taste of his lips on hers.

  At night, after she slipped into bed, she’d had a hard time falling asleep because every time she closed her eyes his face appeared before her. When sleep finally did come, her dreams were filled with erotic images of the two of them as they were, now. These weren’t memories of what it had been like between them when they were teenagers but images of them as the adults they’d grown to be.

  When he’d jokingly told her he wouldn’t mind playing doctor, the first thing that popped into her mind was playing with him was something she desired, and being his doctor had nothing to do with it.

  Stop. Concentrate. You have a full afternoon of patients who need your attention.

  The idea she’d like a little attention paid to her—of a sexual nature—jumped through her.

  Hours later when she walked into the hospital room after first going home for a few minutes, Keith was seated in the room’s only chair, his feet propped up on the windowsill, the laptop balanced on his outstretched thighs.

  “Looks like I’m not the only one who needs glasses these days,” she said as she slipped her coat off.

  He glanced up and peered at her over the top rims. “Too much screen time takes a toll after a while. What’s in the bag?” He thrust his chin at her hand.

  “I’ve got an addition for the tree.”

  When the angel ornament was freed of its wrapping, she searched for the perfect place to hang it. “You’ve filled almost every branch,” she said, her voice tinged with vexation.

  “There were a ton of angels in the box.” He’d come to stand next to her and joined her in locating a spot. “Here.” He guided the hand holding the angel to a free branch just above her eye level.

  “Perfect,” he said when they both stepped back. “Where did you get it?”

  She explained about her recent shopping trip to Trim-A-Tree.

  “I bought it with the idea to maybe give it to someone if I needed a last-minute gift, but then had the selfish notion to keep it because it’s so pretty. But when I saw how all the ornaments you’d brought were angels, I figured it was better served on Corrine’s tree than mine.”

  His brows knitted when he stared down at her.

  “What?”

  “I don’t think you have a selfish bone in your body, Sage Timm.”

  “It’s still, officially, Hamilton.”

  “Not in my book.” He turned to fully face her. “You’ll always be Sage Calliope Timm to me.”

  She rolled her eyes at the ridiculous middle name her mother had cursed her with.

  “The first girl who ever smiled at me,” he took a step closer to her. “The first girl I ever kissed,” and another until his loafers banged up against the toes of her all-weather boots. “The first girl I ever loved.”

  She swallowed, hard, when his hands cupped both her cheeks and his thumbs caressed them. A gentle tug and he hauled her in until her body bumped up against his. Mesmerized by the desire she saw swirling in his eyes and the emotions playing across his face as he leaned down toward her, she felt her feet root to the floor.

  All the admonitions she’d given herself about staying away from him, not letting him invade her thoughts and heart, flew out the proverbial window the moment his fingers drifted over her chin.

  “The only girl I ever, truly loved,” he whispered right before his lips touched hers.

  Her recent dreams and remembrances of his kiss, his touch, the way she felt in his embrace all sprang to the surface once his mouth covered hers. Gentle at first, he didn’t press for more. She knew he was allowing her the choice to move in or pull away. Take what he was offering or reject it—and in so doing, him.

  There really was no choice in her mind.

  There never had been.

  Sage leaned in.

  The burst of air that whooshed up and out from deep within him as his hands dropped their hold and wound around her waist told her all she needed to know about how he felt.

  It never entered her mind they were in a patient room—her patient, who also happened to be his grandmother—with the door wide open for anyone who passed by to see them. The only thing she could think of as his hold on her tightened and his mouth tormented her with desire was that it felt so...right. Everything about the way he held her body and made love to her mouth was deliciously familiar. But at the same time completely brand new.

  Both of them were older and had a world of experience behind them now, and they each brought that experience to the kiss. Where she’d once been a shy and unskilled girl, Sage was now a full-grown woman who knew what to ask for and demanded nothing less, so she kissed him with every want and desire flowing through her.

  His deep groan told her he knew exactly what she wanted as his hands slid down to cup her butt and press her fully against his thrumming body.

  “Finally.”

  Both of them jerked back from the kiss and simultaneously turned to the voice coming from the bed.

  “Corrine?”

  “Gran!”

  As a unit they flew to the bedside.

  The old woman, a tired, cheek-wide smile on her pale face, looked up at them when each took one of her hands.

  “How do you feel?” Sage asked at the same time Keith said, “Are you in any pain?”

  Then, “Do you remember what happened?”

  Corrine turned her attention to Sage and answered, “I had a headache after eating lunch.” She flicked her gaze to her grandson. “After that, nothing until I heard you two talking about me and saying I was going to need rehab.”

  “That was two days ago. Why didn’t you let us know you were awake?” His brows tugged together. “We’ve been so worried.”

  “She can tell us after I do a quick exam,” Sage told him. “Why don’t you go get one of the nurses to help me?”

  It looked as if he were going to argue with her, so she added a “please,” and was thankful when he nodded.

  Twenty minutes later Keith was allowed back in the room.

  “She’s fine. All around,” Sage told him, grinning. The look of his abject relief touched her heart. “Aside from some post-op hip pain, which I can manage with meds, she’s absolutely fine.”

  “Still a lot of fight left in the old girl yet,” Corrine said, squeezing her grandson’s hand.

  “Any idea why you fainted in the first place?” he asked. When her gaze slid to Sage, he added, “What?”

  “Want me to tell him, or do you want to do the honors?” Sage asked the older woman.

  The dramatic sigh slipping from her patient had Sage’s lips lifting.

  “Before I do,” Corrine told her grandson, “I want your word you won’t get pissy.”

  “That’s not exactly the most flatterin
g word, Gran.”

  “Promise?”

  With his brows pinched above his nose, his head bobbed, once.

  “I forgot to take my pills because I was so busy trying to get everything ready for the holidays. Writing cards. Ordering food. I just...forgot.”

  He looked over at Sage and asked, “Can skipping one dose really have caused her blood pressure to go so haywire, so fast?”

  Loyalty to her patients was one thing Sage prided herself on. But she wouldn’t lie to Keith—or any family member—if push came to shove.

  “In all reality, no.” She looked down at the woman she loved like her own flesh and blood. “I tend to think it was more than just one missed dose. Your pressure was ridiculously high when you were transported, Corrine. Numbers like that, without any sudden cause, are rare. I’m gonna take a guess and say you weren’t taking your meds for at least a week.”

  “Gran.”

  “Traitor,” Corrine mumbled at Sage, her lips pursing into a petulant pout. “I figured my own doctor wouldn’t rat me out.”

  “Why didn’t you take them?” Keith asked. “And tell me the truth.”

  She cast her eyes down at the hand he held, mumbled, “Pissy,” and sighed again. “In all honesty the first time I really did forget. I had so much on my mind that before I realized I’d forgotten, I was getting into bed. Since one of them is a water pill, I knew I couldn’t take it before bedtime because I’d be up all night going to the bathroom.”

  “Okay, well one missed dose is understandable and forgivable. But why didn’t you take them first thing the next morning?”

  A sheepish expression crossed her face as color drifted over her pale cheeks.

  “I’m willing to bet,” Sage said, when the old woman hesitated, “when you felt fine the next day, you figured you’d test the waters, per se, and go another day, then another when you felt the same way again. After a while, you just thought you didn’t need them after all. Truth?”

  “Truth. I hate taking pills and five years of it seemed long enough,” Corrine said.

  “Well, now I hope you realize why you need them. A broken hip as a result of fainting because your controlled hypertension suddenly wasn’t, isn’t something to pooh-pooh away. Now you’re laid up for a while and it all could have been avoided if you’d done as you were supposed to.”