The Doctor's Christmas Bride (Lakeside Mountain Rescue 1)

Nicky was frowning. ‘Well, you’ve certainly been working long hours for the past few days, thanks to Jack doing a vanishing act. Do you know where he’s gone?’

Bryony shook her head. After their night in the honeymoon suite, he’d driven her home in brooding silence, dropped her off without saying a word and then disappeared from her life. Even Sean didn’t know where he was, although he did confess that Jack had called him and told him that he needed time off.

Bryony sighed. So not only had she frightened Jack off a relationship, she’d frightened him out of her life altogether.

She’d thrown herself into her work and had seen a steady stream of fractures and bruises as people had slipped on the ice, and she’d dealt with quite a few road accidents as people stupidly decided to drive home after Christmas parties.

And that night when she tucked Lizzie in she felt a huge lump in her throat.

‘Lizzie…’ She settled herself on the edge of the bed and took a deep breath. ‘We need to talk, sweetheart.’

‘Mmm?’ Lizzie snuggled down, her beautiful round cheeks pink from excitement.

Bryony couldn’t bear the thought that she was about to dim that excitement, but she knew that she had to say something. She couldn’t let Lizzie carry on believing that Santa was going to deliver a daddy for Christmas.

‘Sweetheart, you remember your letter to Santa?’

Lizzie nodded. ‘I wrote it ages ago.’

‘I know you did.’ Bryony swallowed. ‘But you also said you did it in November because you wanted to give Santa time, because you knew it was a pretty hard present for him to find.’

‘That’s right.’ Lizzie smiled. ‘And he’s had ages.’

‘It isn’t a time thing, Lizzie,’ Bryony said softly, reached out and brushing her daughter’s face with her finger. ‘And a daddy isn’t really something that Santa can bring you.’ Tears spilled down her cheeks and she scrubbed them away quickly, not wanting her daughter to see her cry. ‘It’s up to me to find you a daddy, and so far I haven’t managed it.’ She broke off, totally choked by emotion and afraid to say anything else in case she started to sob.

Lizzie sat up and curled her little arms round her neck. ‘Don’t be sad. You don’t have to find a daddy for me. That’s why I asked Santa. So that you don’t have to worry about it.’

Bryony shook her head, tears clogging her lashes. ‘Lizzie, no, he can’t—’

‘I’ve been good,’ Lizzie said firmly, climbing onto Bryony’s lap. ‘I’ve been so good sometimes I’ve almost burst. And once I’ve got my daddy I’m never speaking to Sally again because she’s just horrid.’

Bryony smiled through her tears and stroked her daughter’s hair. ‘I know you’ve been good, angel, but it doesn’t make any difference. Santa can’t get you a daddy. I should have told you that before. He can get you toys and things like that, but not a daddy.’

‘Just wait and see.’ Lizzie gave her a smug smile and nestled down in her bed. ‘Night-night.’

Bryony closed her eyes. ‘Night-night.’

What was she supposed to do? She’d just have to wait until Christmas morning and hope that all the other presents that she’d chosen would compensate in some small way for not being able to produce a daddy.

But she knew that her daughter was heading for a cru

shing disappointment.

Bryony worked the morning of Christmas Eve and there was still no sign of Jack.

‘I think he’s at home,’ Sean said when she tentatively asked if he knew where Jack was.

Bryony frowned, knowing that it was very unlikely that Jack would be at home. He hardly spent any time at home, especially not at Christmas. He either stayed at her house or camped out with Tom or Oliver or stayed in his room at the hospital.

‘Are you spending Christmas with your mother?’ Sean pulled on his coat and reached for his mobile phone.

‘Lizzie and I are staying in our house tonight,’ Bryony told him, ‘and then we’re all going to Mum’s for lunch tomorrow. Tom and Oliver will be there, too, patients permitting.’

Sean lifted an eyebrow. ‘And Jack?’

She shrugged. ‘I don’t know. He usually comes but this year…’ She broke off and flashed a smile at Sean, suddenly needing to get away. ‘Are you off to see Ellie and the baby?’

Sean nodded. ‘They’re being discharged this afternoon, all being well.’