The Magic of Christmas

‘Too macho? He’s quite cold and commanding. And he can be very sharp if someone screws up.’

‘You’re sharp if someone screws up,’ Lara said dryly. ‘It could have something to do with the fact that, if we screw up, someone can die.’

‘Oh, well, I don’t know!! I’m doing my best but finding flaws isn’t my strength. If a man just looks at me I’m so bloody grateful I’m willing to overlook virtually everything! You’re the one that sees nothing but flaws.’ Jane looked at her with exasperation and then her brow cleared. ‘Oh, I’ve got it. How could we have been so stupid? His flaw is his kids. You’ve already said that you can’t get near him because they’re always there. Taking on another woman’s children would be a nightmare. All little girls read fairy-tales. You’d always be the wicked stepmother. They’d always resent you.’

Lara thought of the children and about how quiet Chloe was. She had no doubt that there were plenty of complicated emotions bubbling under the surface. ‘You’re right,’ she said firmly. ‘Never get involved with a man with kids. Asking for trouble.’

‘Asking for trouble. Christian has more baggage than an airline.’ Jane nodded decisively. ‘That’s the flaw. Now, focus on it and you’ll go off him.’

‘I hope so.’

For the sake of her sanity, she hoped so.

* * *

Lara was working in the paediatric casualty area the following morning when a mother stumbled in, carrying her toddler.

One look was all it took. ‘Bring her straight into this room.’ Directing them into Resus, Lara looked at the junior doctor who was reading a textbook at the desk. ‘Could you ask Dr Blake to come and see this child, please?’

Penny put the book down. ‘You do her obs and then I’ll check her over and decide whether he needs to be—’

‘Call him,’ Lara ordered, her tone curt as she backed into Resus. She forgot about her own feelings—forgot that she was trying to avoid him as much as possible. ‘Call him now.’

She hurried over, her heart sinking as she looked at the child, who seemed extremely agitated and poorly.

Hurry up, Christian.

‘I’m just going to undress her, Mrs…’ She glanced at the mother as she swiftly stripped the clothes from the toddler, leaving her in a vest and nappy. ‘Sorry—I haven’t even had a chance to ask your name.’

‘Susan. Susan Wills. This is Amy. She was two in June.’

‘And how long has Amy been ill? There, angel, we’ll soon have you more comfortable.’

‘Since yesterday afternoon, but she’s only been bad since this morning. She had diarrhoea and vomiting yesterday. And she keeps saying her tummy hurts.’

‘Does she have any allergies?’

‘Not that I know of.’

Lara checked the child’s temperature. ‘And has she been fully immunised?’

Penny walked into the room. ‘I’m sure she has gastroenteritis,’ she said confidently. ‘There’s a lot of it around.’

Lara bit her tongue. ‘She’s wheezing.’

‘Is she asthmatic?’ Penny reached for her stethoscope and the mother shook her head.

‘She’s only had breathing problems since yesterday.’

‘Asthma does sometimes just develop at this age,’ Penny murmured, and Lara reached for the paediatric wrap-around probe that would measure the child’s oxygen saturation.

‘I’m going to check her sats. I think she’s hypoxic.’

Penny frowned. ‘There are no signs of cyanosis.’

‘But she’s very agitated and that can be a sign of hypoxia in a child of this age. Is Dr Blake on his way?’ Aware that the child needed urgent medical help, Lara studied the reading.

Penny gave a faint smile. ‘Her sats look fine.’