Christmas with Her Daredevil Doc

by Kate Hardy

  ‘Don’t make me cry,’ Danielle warned. ‘I haven’t got time to redo my make-up—or yours.’

  And it was hard to make Danielle cry. Something was definitely up, Hayley thought. But she’d get to the bottom of it in a couple of days.

  Hayley’s mother called up to say the cars were there: a vintage black Thunderbird for Danielle, herself and Hayley’s sister Joanna, and a vintage cream Rolls-Royce for Hayley and her father.

  ‘You both look amazing,’ Hayley’s father said, blinking back the tears when Danielle and Hayley walked downstairs. ‘Ready?’

  ‘Ready,’ Hayley confirmed.

  All she needed was the deep red velvet cape that Danielle had borrowed from a friend to wrap round her shoulders, to keep her warm until they were back indoors again—and then she was sitting in the back of the Rolls-Royce with her father, being driven to the register office where Sam was waiting for her.

  * * *

  Sam waited at the register office, feeling sick.

  ‘She’ll be here. Dead on time, too,’ Martin, his brother, reassured him. ‘We’re early.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ Sam blew out a breath. ‘Why do I never get nervous like this at work or on the mountain rescue team?’

  ‘Because you know what you’re doing in the emergency department or doing rescue, and you’re prepared for anything,’ Martin said, clapping him on the shoulder, ‘whereas this... You just have to be patient. She’ll be here.’

  ‘I guess I’m not very good at waiting,’ Sam said ruefully.

  At that moment, Hayley’s mother and sister walked in, and took their places on the left-hand side of the room. Hayley’s mother gave him a reassuring smile.

  ‘See?’ Martin whispered.

  Anton Powell, the obstetrician who played lead guitar in the Maybe Baby band, had brought an acoustic guitar to the register office. At a nod from Hayley’s mother, he began playing Bach’s ‘Air on a G String’. Sam heard the door open, then looked behind him to see Hayley walking towards him on her father’s arm, with Danielle walking behind them. His heart skipped a beat: she looked so beautiful. And today she was joining her life to his. For ever.

  When Hayley got to the front and sat down between her father and her bridesmaid, the registrar introduced herself as Camilla Fletcher, explained that the register office had been sanctioned by law, and added, ‘If any person present knows of any legal reason why these two people should not be joined in matrimony they should declare it now.’

  As Sam expected, there was complete silence.

  ‘I now ask the bride and groom to come and stand before me,’ Camilla said. ‘Before you are joined in matrimony it is my duty to remind you of the solemn and binding character of the vows you are about to make. Marriage in this country is the union of two people voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others. I am now going to ask you each in turn to declare that you know of no legal reason why you may not be joined together in marriage.’

  Sam repeated the words after her. ‘I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Samuel Price, should not be joined in lawful matrimony to Hayley Clark.’

  Hayley smiled at him and repeated the declaration.

  ‘I ask you now, Samuel Price—do you take Hayley Clark to be your lawful wedded wife, to be loving, faithful and loyal to her for the rest of your life together?’ Camilla asked.

  ‘I do,’ Sam said, and smiled at Hayley—who made exactly the same answer to her own question.

  Then came the contracting words. Sam took a deep breath and echoed Camilla’s prompting. ‘I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Samuel Price, do take thee, Hayley Clark, to be my lawful wedded wife, to love and to cherish from this day forward.’

  Once Hayley had made the same declaration, Camilla said, ‘The exchanging of rings is the traditional way of sealing the contract that you have just made. It is an unbroken circle, symbolising unending and everlasting love and is the outward sign of the lifelong promise that you have just made to each other.’

  Martin stepped forward with the rings.

  ‘I give you this ring as a symbol of our love,’ Sam said. ‘All that I am I give to you. All that I have I share with you. I promise to love you, to be faithful and loyal, in good times and bad. May this ring remind you always of the words we have spoken today.’

  Hayley mouthed, ‘I love you,’ as he slid the ring onto her finger. And then she made the same declaration, and slid the wedding ring onto his finger.’

  ‘Today is a new beginning. May you have many happy years together and in those years may all your hopes and dreams be fulfilled,’ Camilla said. ‘Above all, may you always believe in each other and may the warmth of your love enrich not only your lives but the lives of all those around you.’

  And Sam knew without a doubt that Hayley believed in him—just as he believed in her. The glance they shared told him that she knew exactly what he was thinking.

  ‘It now gives me great pleasure to tell you both that you are now legally husband and wife. You may now seal the contract with a kiss.’

  Sam didn’t need a second invitation. He bent Hayley back over his arm and kissed her thoroughly, to the cheers of their family and closest friends.

  ‘Now, ladies and gentlemen, please be seated while the register is completed,’ Camilla said. ‘As you have witnessed, a civil marriage is a brief, simple ceremony—but, Hayley and Sam, you are legally and solemnly joined together in matrimony and I would like to be the first to congratulate you both—and to wish you a very happy Christmas.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Hayley said, almost shyly.

  Both their fathers signed the register while Anton played a love song on the guitar. Dani joined in with the singing, then Hayley’s sister Joanna, then Sam’s sister-in-law Robyn, and by the end they were all joining in with the chorus of the well-known classic hit.

  ‘And it’s right,’ Hayley whispered to Sam. ‘Love is all we really need.’

  Once Darryl’s brother had taken photographs of the wedding party outside on the steps of the register office, they headed across the road to their reception venue: a Victorian gothic church, which had been turned into a community arts centre.

  ‘Excuse me a minute,’ Martin said.

  A few seconds later, snow began to fall very softly.

  Martin reappeared with a huge grin on his face. ‘Well, hey—it’s Christmas Eve. And you need to have snow at Christmas, don’t you?’

  ‘How on earth did you manage that?’ Hayley asked.

  ‘Snow machine,’ he said, smiling. ‘Don’t worry—it’s biodegradable and non-toxic, and I cleared it with the venue last week.’

  Everyone in the wedding party burst into an impromptu chorus of a Christmas song about snow.

  Hayley and Sam laughed, and thoroughly enjoyed having their wedding photographs taken in real snow on Christmas Eve.

  Then they headed up to the top floor of the building. There was a canopy of fairy lights in the vaulted ceiling, and there were floor-to-ceiling lancet windows set within tall Gothic arches. At one end of the room, a large table was set up for the sit-down meal, covered in a white damask tablecloth. The arrangements in the centre of the table were holly and ivy, in keeping with the theme of Christmas; there was a large real Christmas tree next to the stage at the other end of the room, with a large silver star on the top; and there were sprigs of mistletoe strategically dotted round the room.

  Sam’s face actually ached from smiling, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t remember ever being this happy—and, best of all, that happiness shone from Hayley’s eyes, too.

  After the meal, Martin switched back into best man mode, and introduced all the speeches.

  The first was from Hayley’s dad. ‘I’m going to keep it short and sweet,’ he said. ‘I want t
o welcome Sam to the family. And I’m so glad to see my little girl happy. Everyone, please raise your glasses and toast the bride and groom.’

  ‘The bride and groom,’ everyone echoed.

  Sam stood up next. ‘When I was whale-watching in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, I never expected to meet the love of my life. So I’d like to make a very special toast to our bridesmaid, Danielle. If it wasn’t for her breaking her foot, I’d never have met a woman with eyes like an Icelandic summer sky and a smile that makes my heart beat faster.’ He raised his glass. ‘Thank you, Dani—for being an excellent bridesmaid and for being your wonderful whirlwind self.’

  ‘Dani,’ everyone chorused.

  ‘I’d also like to thank everyone who’s helped with the organisation of our wedding,’ Sam continued. ‘We’ve really appreciated it. Everyone in Muswell Hill has made me feel really welcome and I’m proud to be part of such a team—and I’m even prouder to be Hayley’s husband.’

  Everyone cheered.

  And then it was Martin’s turn. ‘As the best man, I’m supposed to tell you scurrilous stories about my little brother. If I did that I’d be here all night and there wouldn’t be time for cake or dancing, so I’ll keep it brief. Given that my brother met Hayley while they were whale-watching and he talked the emergency department into doing go-karting on ice, I’m half surprised that he didn’t talk Hayley into doing something insane for their wedding—like getting married at the top of an indoor snow ski-slope or in an aquarium among the sharks.’

  Everyone laughed, especially when Sam said mournfully, ‘Now, why didn’t I think of that?’

  ‘But seriously, Hayley’s utterly lovely,’ Martin said, ‘and she makes my brother happy—which makes our whole family happy. I’d like to welcome Hayley to our family, and may I ask you all to raise your glasses in a toast to the bride and groom—the new Dr and Dr Price.’

  ‘Dr and Dr Price,’ everyone chorused.

  After the meal, the venue staff cleared the tables and set everything up for the evening buffet. Hayley and Sam wandered hand in hand around the hall, chatting to everyone while Maybe Baby were playing Christmas songs that had people up on the dance floor.

  When the hall was mostly full, Martin stepped over to the PA system. ‘The bride and groom are going to cut the cake.’

  Thanks to Josh’s aunt, they had an amazing cake with four layers—lemon, chocolate, vanilla and fruit cake. There was a deep red ribbon around the bottom of each layer, the same colour as Hayley’s bouquet and Danielle’s dress, and around the sides were deep red and white poinsettias.

  Hayley put her hand on the knife, and Sam put his hand over hers. Together, they posed for photographs and then cut the very first slice. ‘And we’d like to say a special thank you to Josh for asking his aunt to make this wonderful cake,’ Sam said. ‘Especially after the go-kart incident.’

  ‘You’re just lucky she didn’t ice that cake with go-karts,’ Josh said with a grin.

  And finally it was time for the first dance. Maybe Baby struck up their chosen song and Sam took Hayley into his arms, swaying with her in time to the music.

  ‘I love you just as you are,’ he said.

  Hayley smiled up at him. ‘I wouldn’t change anything about you, even the dangerous stuff—because I love you and I trust you.’

  He kissed her. ‘Merry Christmas, Dr Price—and happy wedding day.’

  ‘Merry Christmas, Dr Price—and happy first day of the rest of our lives,’ she said.

  ‘The rest of our lives,’ he echoed. And it was the best feeling in the world.

  * * * * *

  Look out for the next great story in the MIRACLES AT MUSWELL HILL HOSPITAL duet:

  THEIR PREGNANCY GIFT

  And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Kate Hardy

  MOMMY, NURSE...DUCHESS?

  THE MIDWIFE’S PREGNANCY MIRACLE

  CAPTURING THE SINGLE DAD’S HEART

  HER PLAYBOY’S PROPOSAL

  All available now!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THEIR PREGNANCY GIFT by Kate Hardy.

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  Their Pregnancy Gift

  by Kate Hardy

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘I CAN’T WAIT to get rid of you,’ Danielle said. ‘You’ve made me miserable, you’ve stopped me doing everything I love doing, and I do actually hate you.’

  She looked up to see Alex, the new consultant on the maternity ward, standing in the open doorway of her office.

  He raised an eyebrow. ‘Practising your break-up speech?’

  Dani felt the colour flood into her face. ‘I hope I’d be a little kinder than that.’ Certainly kinder than Leo had been to her, last Christmas Eve, when he’d told her that their marriage was over and he was leaving her for someone else. Someone else who was expecting his baby—when he’d told Dani only a few months before that he wasn’t ready to start a family.

  She pushed the thought away. ‘If you must know, I was talking to my walking cast.’

  ‘Right.’

  There wasn’t even the glimmer of a smile, and she sighed inwardly. From what she’d seen of him over the last couple of months, Alex Morgan was good with their patients, but all his social skills seemed to switch off as soon as he had to deal with his colleagues on anything other than a work basis. He hadn’t been to a single team night out, always ate lunch on his own, and if he was in the staff kitchen he never joined in with the conversation.

  She didn’t think he was being snooty; but she didn’t think he was shy, either. There was obviously a reason why he kept his distance from everyone else, but Dani—who’d always got on well with everyone—had no idea how to reach him. He was possibly the most difficult person in the department to have as the co-organiser of the ward’s Christmas party, but she’d just have to make the best of it.

  ‘You wanted to see me?’ he asked.

  ‘We need to talk about organising the ward’s Christmas meal. Are you busy at lunchtime today, or can we discuss it over a sandwich?’

  ‘Sorry. I have meetings,’ he said.

  Dani didn’t believe a word of it, but the ward’s Christmas meal still needed to be sorted out. If she gave Alex a longer timeframe, he’d be forced to pick a day. And if he picked one of the two evenings this week when she was busy, then she’d move her other arrangements because she really wanted to get this done and dusted. She gave him the sweetest, sweetest smile. ‘OK. Do yo
u have time for a coffee after work some time in the next two weeks to discuss it?’

  He masked his expression quickly, but not before Dani had seen it. He’d obviously realised what her game plan was, and he couldn’t think of a decent excuse that would work for two whole weeks.

  Gotcha, she thought in satisfaction.

  He took his phone out of his pocket and made a show of checking his diary, though she was pretty sure it wasn’t that full.

  ‘How about tomorrow?’ he suggested.

  ‘That’ll be fine, as Hayley’s training with Sam tomorrow night.’ She glared at her cast. ‘Thanks to this.’

  ‘Uh-huh.’

  OK. So he wasn’t going to bite. Anyone else would’ve been polite enough to ask what she’d done to her foot, or at least make a comment. But Alex clearly didn’t want to get into conversation with her. Fair enough. She couldn’t force him to make friends with her. If he wanted to keep himself to himself, that was his decision and it wasn’t her place to try and change it.

  ‘Thank you. I’ll meet you outside the staffroom tomorrow after our shift,’ she said.

  ‘Fine,’ he said.

  And still he didn’t give her a single smile.

  She sighed inwardly, and got on with writing up the case notes from her clinic that morning.

  * * *

  God, what was wrong with him? Alex wondered as he headed to his own office. Danielle Owens was nice. She’d been friendly right from his first day on the ward, trying to make him feel part of the team, and in response he’d been completely standoffish. Meeting her for a drink tomorrow night to discuss the team’s Christmas meal was the only social invitation he’d accepted in the two months he’d been working at Muswell Hill Memorial Hospital, and that was solely because the head of the department had blithely informed him that his predecessor had been scheduled to organise it with Dani and he was sure that Alex would be happy to step into those shoes, too.

  Actually, Alex wasn’t happy about it. At all. But he didn’t have much choice.

  Maybe he should’ve taken a longer break. But six months was surely long enough to get your head round the fact that you weren’t who you thought you were, and everything you’d always believed wasn’t true. He needed to stop sulking about it and just get on with things. And he’d really missed his job. At least he knew who he was at work. Alexander Morgan, obstetric consultant.