Eggnog and Candy Canes: A Blueberry Springs Christmas Novella (8 page)

“Mary Alice.” Nash gave the woman a hug.

Nash hugging Mary Alice? Okay, something was definitely up. Mary Alice and her sister, Liz, had practically run him out of town when he’d been chasing Beth. And when, weeks after the broken engagement and failed wedding, he’d gone back to the city, the sisters had all but dusted their hands and locked the town gates behind him. Not that the town had gates, but still, metaphorically speaking.

And now? The sisters were acting way too welcoming around Nash. It had to be more than his cologne setting them off. Cologne he seemed to not be wearing today.

Mary Alice released him and swung her snowmobile helmet jauntily. “Now, where is that father of yours, Katie?”

She inhaled sharply. Her father! He was still in the recovery room. Katie spun on her heel and took off, the squeak of Mary Alice’s wet boots trailing behind her.

Pausing outside her father’s door, Katie turned to Mary Alice. The woman unzipped her thick, one-piece snowsuit and plunged a hand down the neck of her fuzzy sweater. She fished around, her lips twisted in concentration. Her face brightened as she pulled an envelope from her cleavage. “I have a card for Harvey. Brownies, too. From Mandy’s restaurant. Got them yesterday.” She began exploring her cleavage again.

“Well, that’s nice. Warm brownies. He’ll like that.” Katie fought her gag reflex at the thought of eating brownies warmed by Mary Alice’s mega breasts. “It will be a few hours before he’s up to eating. He just had surgery.”

“It’s the thought that counts. Did you know that when I had my hysterectomy last spring I went and saw Nash in the city? He made me feel so much better about it all. You don’t need a womb to be a woman.”

Katie shook the image of Mary Alice and Nash discussing reproductive parts from her mind. “That’s…lovely.”

“Did you know his ex-wife used to be a lawyer? Well, she still is, actually. Very nice lady. She’s hoping he’ll find someone nice to marry.” Mary Alice gave Katie an assessing glance.

“That’s great that they’re still friends.”

“Beth and Nash are, too, you know. Not all men can remain friends with an ex.”

“Yeah, rather odd, huh? Well, here we are.” She peeked into the recovery area, where her father was sleeping. “He’s ready to go back to a regular room. Do you want to meet me in 107 in a few minutes?”

But Mary Alice followed her in, making herself at home. “What a place to spend Christmas. No offense to those who work here, but I mean, you understand…” She patted Katie’s shoulder, then roused Harvey with a foot jiggle. “Hey, old man! What’s the meaning of having appendicitis on your wife’s big day, huh? Trying to get yourself killed? Angelica might be sweet and kind, but I don’t doubt she’d take you out if amply motivated. We’d better get you home, pronto.” Mary Alice waved a hand for Katie to help her as she began whipping blankets off him.

“He hasn’t been cleared for anything but a regular room. He got out of the OR less than forty minutes ago.” Katie grabbed the blankets back and flung them over the shivering man.

“I’m cold,” her father said groggily. “Mary Alice, you look different.”

“Oh? You like my hair?” She fluffed her short do and twisted her head from side to side.

“Maybe you could bring my mom here,” Katie said, regretting the words as they left her mouth. “You managed to get through the snow. Wouldn’t it be safer to try and bring Mom here instead of take Dad home?”

“Nonsense. I’m already here.” Mary Alice lifted Harvey’s arm and studied his IV. “How do you take one of these things out without making blood squirt everywhere?”

“I’ll call security, Mary Alice,” Katie warned. Nobody messed with Nurse Reiter and her orders. Not even Mary Alice.

“I want to go home,” her father said. He struggled to sit up.

“Not a chance.” She pushed her father back into a prone position. “Mary Alice…” Katie used her best warning voice.

Mary Alice lowered Harvey’s arm and stared at her in shock. “Don’t you go taking that tone with me.” She lumbered over for a showdown. “And just so you know, Miss Katie Reiter, security isn’t on tonight. Went home two hours ago. Had a nice rum and eggnog at your parents’ place.”

“Then I’ll call Scott. He’ll…arrest you.” Katie winced. She was grasping at straws. Scott had never arrested a soul—not even Mandy, when he’d busted her spray painting her feelings for her best friend, Frankie, on the town’s water tower. Apprehended her, yes. Arrested? Nope.

“I think he’s consoling Amber, since her boyfriend, Russell, got stuck in the city.” Mary Alice gave Katie a knowing look. “Again.”

“She’s not going to cheat on Russell. Mr. Book Deal is The One. Scott is just…he’s…” He was a good friend who looked out for Amber. That was all. And yeah, maybe Scott still had a bit of a schoolboy crush on Amber, but that would never lead to anything between the two of them.

“Look, Mary Alice, you’ll be endangering my father’s life if you move him. There will be other Christmases.”

“Not like this there won’t.” She turned to Harvey. “I’ll bet you faked this attack, just like Katie
asked
to be put on the Christmas shifts.” Mary Alice drew herself up, her snowsuit expanding in an alarming fashion. “You two might not respect the hard work that Angelica went to in order to ensure you have a good holiday season, but I, for one, will not stand here and allow you to ruin it!” The woman’s eyes were damp.

Katie’s adrenaline surged. Something was wrong. Really, terribly wrong.

“Mary Alice…” The soft words came from Nash. He walked slowly over and embraced her. To Katie’s surprise, Mary Alice began sobbing.

He shushed her as he would a baby. Katie, unable to focus on anything else, watched in shock. Finally, she broke her spell by checking on her father. He was sleeping again. Quietly, she began prepping him for the move, hoping not to disturb the hugging duo.

This was another side of Nash she’d never seen before. He used to come across as cold and professional, but no more, and to mark the change, he was consoling one of the strongest women in town. More importantly, he knew whatever it was that was upsetting her.

Mary Alice had to be dying.

Heat flushed through Katie and she nearly fell over. What would Blueberry Springs be like without the woman? Mary Alice knew everyone and their business, and was there for the good, the bad, and the in between, always ready to help in the way she felt was best. And let’s face it, in the case of Beth and Nash—which everyone knew was a bad idea—hinder. She was the core of this town and without her they’d just be someplace out in the wilderness.

And speaking of wilderness, Jen Kulak, the nature guide who worked at Wally’s Sporting Goods, was tracking massive amounts of snow through the halls as though all was right with the world. The woman paused and stared through the doorway, ski goggles half buried in her snow laden hat.

“Is there a doctor here today?” she asked.

“I’m a doctor.” Nash released Mary Alice, who surreptitiously wiped her eyes.

“Who are you?” Jen inquired.

“Dr. Leham,” Katie said. “He used to work here a few years back.”

“Oh, right. Used to be engaged to Beth and all that. Well, I have an injured bird and couldn’t get as far as the vet. Could you take a peek at it?”

“Where’s your man, Jen?” asked Mary Alice. “Not out in the forest, is he?”

“Rob’s shoveling the hospital walk. A ton of snow’s come down already.”

“How’d you get here?” Katie asked. She was fairly certain the outdoors hadn’t turned to sunshine and rainbows in the ten minutes since she’d left the howling doorway.

“Snowshoes.”

“Where is the bird?” Nash asked.

Katie sighed. Didn’t anyone see how ridiculous this was? Everyone risking their lives in a blizzard?

“It flew into my window,” Jen said. She glanced at Harvey. “Is that your dad? Is he okay?”

“Just had his appendix removed,” Mary Alice interjected. “He’s going home in a few minutes. I have my snowmobile out front. I just need to get him detached.” She lifted the arm that had the IV. “Do you know how to unplug one of these things?”

Jen shook her head.

“Where’s the bird?” Katie asked, nudging Nash toward Jen.

“It’s in the lobby on a heat vent.”

“Let’s go take a look.” Nash guided Jen out of the room, leaving Katie to face Mary Alice once again.

“A bird, huh? The world has gone crazy,” Katie said, turning to her. The woman collapsed into a chair. “Are you okay?”

Mary Alice closed her eyes, her jaw tight. She was fighting it. Hard.

“I’m so sorry.” Katie sat beside her.

“Not your fault. This is life. Do what we will with it. Time is limited. Cherish each moment. Eat your dessert first. Sing every song like nobody is watching. Or dance to it or whatever the stupid expression is.” She placed her hands on her thighs and stood. “Let’s get your father home.”

“Mary Alice…”

“Nash said it would be okay.”

“I’m pretty sure he didn’t. Dad’s barely even out of recovery.”

“I wasn’t talking about your father.” Mary Alice jerked her snowsuit to straighten it. “Live a little, Katie. Jam-pack your days with something worthwhile that makes you smile. I’m tired of you holding back.” Her voice was loud enough to wake Harvey. “You hear me? There is a perfectly good man kissing you like you are the only thing that can save his world, and you’re standing here acting as though this is the life you want and the life you chose. Not to step on your toes, Harvey—” Mary Alice addressed the man, who was awake and interested “—but you chose her career, she didn’t. You’re good at it, Katie, but don’t let that be the reason you stay in it. You hear me? Make your move.”

“Katie is a good nurse,” her father said.

“Mary Alice, you are going through a very emotional time—”

“Shut your yap. You know
nothing
.” She yanked the IV out of Harvey’s arm and he flinched, his face wrinkled in pain. Katie snatched a roll of gauze off a nearby stainless steel trolley and pressed it to the bleeding wound.

“You need to leave,” she snapped. “Now!”

Mary Alice pointed a finger at her. “You pursue that man, you hear me?”

“Do it, Katie,” her father said, his tone resigned.

“You’re loopy from the anesthetic and don’t know what you’re talking about.” Katie’s throat was tight with tears.

Mary Alice went nose to nose with her. “Nash didn’t come back just to say hi to old patients, or return a favor. He hoofed it out here when he heard you were single and would be on bare-bones shifts.”

“You’re…”
What? Crazy? Imagining things? Telling me exactly what I long to hear?

“He’s here for you,” Mary Alice said with special emphasis.

“Balderdash.”

“That’s rather romantic,” her father said.

“He’s here for you,” Mary Alice repeated. “So the question is, what are you going to do about it?”

Chapter 5

What was she going to do about Nash? Her hands were sweating, her mind a mess. What if Mary Alice was wrong?

The woman was never wrong. What if she was
right
?

She had a connection with Nash that Katie hadn’t expected. What if…

Don’t think.
That’s all she had to do. Just shove all thoughts regarding Nash into the corner of her mind, along with being an interior decorator and Will ever asking her…no.
In the corner. Now stay there.

Good. Great. It was Christmas. Be cheery.

She smoothed her ponytail, peeked down the quiet corridor, then shut the door to her father’s new room. She’d convinced Mary Alice that Harvey would perk up if she got him a cup of coffee, sending the woman to the cafeteria while she rolled her father into a room close enough to the nursing station that she could keep an eye on him. For good measure, she’d locked him to the bed.

He was asleep again and anyone trying to jailbreak him was bad news for his life expectancy. Full stop. She was doing what security would do if they actually had hauled their butt in for a full day of work. Well, no, actually. They would have kicked Mary Alice out, but quite frankly, Katie didn’t think she had it in her.

She glanced at the clock. Time for a little bit of Christmas cheer. Not carols over the PA, that was too Angelica Reiter and she wasn’t going down that road. But Katie had a box of Christmas cookies from Mandy that she could share with the six or so patients who were in their rooms, and then the five continuing-care patients who hadn’t gone home to their families for the holiday.

Katie pulled the lid off the tin and inhaled the buttery sweetness of the shortbread cookies. Too tempting. She stole a small square and popped it in her mouth. What was it about Mandy that made her so awesome at baking? No wonder her restaurant was doing so well, her desserts were devilishly divine. Katie sneaked a second cookie, savoring the way it melted in her mouth. Nothing better in the world. And likely nothing better for adding girth to her hips. She tucked a third cookie in her mouth and smiled.

Who cared? She was single. May as well enjoy the perks.

She walked through the double doors to the continuing care nursing home attached to the hospital as Elsie Nagorski trudged by, her long grey hair swept up in a high bun.

“Still not dancing?” Katie asked, following the woman into her room. It had been months since Elsie had stopped dancing her way to and fro through the continuing care area, but it still felt odd.

“I will never dance again. All the good celebrities are dying. It makes me feel
old
. All my contemporaries are knocking off, calling it a day, pushing up daisies from six feet under.”

“Right.” Depressing. But not a lot she could do on that one. “So? What are you up to today? Anything good on TV?”

Elsie’s eyes lit up and she clasped her hands together in front of her flowered housedress. “Yes! You know Hailey Summer, the girl I told you about from Muskoka?”

“Yes. Right. I met her once.”

“Well, she’s with a movie star now. I
told
my sister, Wilma Star, that it really was Hailey with him last summer. Didn’t I? I did.” She gave a decisive nod. “She still owes me five dollars. She’s as cheap as the day is long. In Alaska. During the summer equinox. That cheap.” Another nod.