A Family This Christmas

‘Have not.’ The other twin stuck his chin out and glared at his brother.

‘Have too.’ Andrew scowled and made to haul his brother’s shorts down.

Cam stepped in. ‘That’s enough, boys. We came to visit, not turn the ward into a war zone.’

Jenny felt something oddly like laughter beginning to bubble up. When was the last time she’d laughed? ‘Better than the boring place it is at the moment. So how was your party? Did Santa Claus bring presents?’

‘Santa Claus isn’t real. He’s—’

‘Just an old man dressed up funny.’

Her breath hitched. A lump blocked her throat. She and Alison used to finish each other’s sentences. Oh, boy, this just got hard. Harder. Think of something to say. They’re all staring at you. ‘Bet you accepted the presents he gave you.’

‘Of course. They are cool. I got a remote-control plane.’

‘I got a helicopter.’

‘Pilots, eh? Have you been flying in real planes?’ She wanted to tell them how cute they were but knew not to if she wanted to remain friends with them, and, strangely, despite that little glitch over the way they shared sentences, she found she did. Though the chances of seeing them again once they walked out of here were very remote.

Cam was shaking his head at the three of them. ‘Don’t any of you come up for air?’

All three of them shook their heads and smiled at Cam, who said, ‘Great, so I’m the only sensible, sane one around here. Jenny, do you want milk for your coffee? Sugar? I can scrounge some off the nurses.’

‘Milk and sugar would be good.’

‘Dad, can we bring our presents to show her?’ Marcus—or was it Andrew?—asked. They weren’t directly facing her so there were no identifying marks in sight.

‘The lady has a name. Miss …’ His brow wrinkled as he glanced at her hands. ‘Miss Bostock, or Dr Bostock.’

Jenny locked gazes with him, and felt a nudge in the pit of her stomach. He really was gorgeous. She hadn’t been imagining it through the haze of nitrous oxide. ‘I’m happy with Jenny, unless you object.’ Definitely not Dr. She didn’t deserve that title any more.

He shrugged. ‘No problem. Okay, lads, give Jenny the food and coffee. No, don’t climb on the bed. She has a very sore foot.’

Instantly Marcus’s smile disappeared and his head dropped forward. ‘I’m sorry.’

So was she, but it had happened and grumping about it wouldn’t make him feel good. Wouldn’t do her any favours either. Leaning forward, she raised the boy’s head with her hand under his chin so he had to look at her. ‘Listen to me. It was an accident. You didn’t mean it, did you?’ His head slid from side to side. ‘You didn’t see me and I didn’t see you. I was watching the fishing boat out on the water. So let’s not worry about this again. Okay?’

Marcus nodded and looked at his dad. ‘She’s nice, Dad. I like her.’

Heat seeped into her cheeks, probably making her usually pale face resemble a stop light. That was the nicest thing anyone had said to her in a long while. She could even feel tears collecting in the back of her eyes. Great. Crying twice in less than twenty-four hours. Cam would think she should be in the mental health ward and rush his boys away.

‘Breakfast time,’ called an older woman, as she pushed in a cart that rattled with plates and cups.

Saved by the cart. ‘Can I have some milk and sugar, please?’

‘Certainly. Your family brought in some decent coffee for you. That’s lovely. Here, lads, hand Mum the milk, will you?’

Marcus stared at the woman with his mouth open and something like anguish in his brown eyes, while Andrew took the plastic bottle and passed it to Jenny, looking bemused but not upset.

‘She’s not our mother,’ he informed the woman. ‘She hurt herself on our skateboard so we’re visiting.’

‘That’s nice of you. Is that breakfast in that bag? It will probably be tastier than the cereal I’ve got here for Dr Bostock.’ With the number of patients she saw every day the woman would be used to making similar mistakes.

Cam finally got a word in. ‘Jenny, do you want the hospital breakfast? We won’t be insulted if you do.’

She shook her head. ‘Just the milk and sugar, thanks, Sadie.’ A quick read of the name badge pinned to the woman’s ample chest earned her another smile.

‘Here you go, then.’

Then another voice spoke from the doorway. ‘Good morning, Jenny.’ Angus strolled into the room, dressed in light slacks and a T-shirt. ‘Morning, Cam, boys. How’s everyone today?’

It was getting to be like a bus station in here. She looked around, found everyone watching her, waiting for her to answer. ‘I’m good. Not that I’ve got out of bed yet so I’ve no idea how I’ll go on crutches.’

‘Crutches?’ The twins’ eyes lit up.

She grinned at them. Their innocent sense of fun made her feel good about a lot of things. ‘It’s going to be exciting driving my car, don’t you think?’

‘Time we left Jenny alone.’ Cam headed for the door. ‘She’s got to talk to Mr McNamara.’

Disappointment tugged. With all the chatter between her and the twins Cam hadn’t said a lot, and now she wished for a rerun of the minutes they’d all been here. This time she’d talk to Cam, find out more about living in Havelock, just because it would be a safe subject and she could listen to his deep, husky voice. But they were already on the way through the door, the boys pushing each other.

‘Cam,’ she called. ‘Thanks for dropping by. I appreciate it.’

He turned a steady gaze her way, that anguish under control. ‘I could leave the boys with you for the day if you want company.’

I’d like that. I really would. They’re gorgeous fun. One day, Jenny, one day in the distant future. ‘Guess the ward staff might have something say about that.’

‘So would you after the first hour. We’d better not keep Angus waiting. He’s dressed for golf, I’d say.’

‘You’re not wrong, Cam. I won’t be long with Jenny if you want to wait.’

Cam shook his head. ‘We’ve got things to do in town. I want to be done and home before the temperature really cranks up. It’s hot out there already.’ Cam turned to her again. ‘See you later.’

Really? He’d drop by again? She nodded, afraid if she spoke the sudden lump in her throat might dissolve into tears. She was so used to being on her own it was like being knocked in the back of the knees to have had the Roberts trio turn up here to see her. Watching Cam walk away, she drank in the sight of his broad shoulders and a very tidy butt clad in khaki chinos.

Angus cleared his throat and she turned her attention back to him. ‘What happens next? Am I out of here this morning?’

‘Have you got anywhere to go?’

‘Yes.’ They had taxis in Blenheim, didn’t they?

The surgeon was shaking his head. ‘You’ll have to do better than that. Your admittance form gave a post box number—in Dunedin.’

Caught. ‘I’m staying in a motel.’

‘Which one?’

Hell. What was the name of one she’d checked out on line two days ago? The Grape Castle? The Vineyard Retreat? Her shoulders slumped. ‘I’ll make a booking before I leave here.’