The Nurse's Christmas Wish (The Cornish Consultants)

‘Different places.’ She was aware of his gaze resting on her face and shifted uncomfortably. She had a feeling that Mac Sullivan didn’t miss much.

‘What happened to your parents?’

‘My mother had me when she was sixteen and couldn’t cope with me. I had asthma as a child and I used to be pretty ill, in and out of hospital all the time. I was shifted from foster-home to foster-home while they tried to find someone who’d adopt me, but people were put off by the severity of my illness.’ She shrugged. ‘I didn’t fit people’s image of a perfect baby, I suppose. I’m not maudlin about it. It’s just the way it was. I got on with it.’

‘But you hang onto this fantasy of a perfect family Christmas.’

He definitely didn’t miss much.

‘Now who is being astute?’ She smiled. ‘I’m not a victim, Mac. There are a lot of things I didn’t have when I was a child, but I intend to make sure that I have them in the future.’

He reached for his glass. ‘Like what?’

‘A proper home. A man who loves me. A dog and several children.’ Her cheeks dimpled into a smile. ‘Probably five, actually.’

‘Five?’ He sounded shocked and she laughed.

‘Yes. I want a noisy, crazy house where you can’t have a moment’s peace but where everyone is there for everyon

e else.’ She bit her lip and gave a shrug. ‘I want every Christmas to be the one I never had. I suppose I want the fairy-tale.’

‘One person’s fairy-tale is another’s nightmare.’ He gave a short laugh and helped himself to more casserole. ‘This is delicious, by the way. You’re an excellent cook.’

‘I love cooking.’

He looked at her. ‘You love playing house.’ His tone was soft and she didn’t even bother denying what was so obviously the truth.

‘So now you understand what makes me tick, what about you? Did your wife cook, Mac?’

Had his wife played house?

His fork stilled. ‘Is this part of your rehabilitation programme?’ His voice was suddenly harsh. ‘Get me to talk about Melissa?’

He could be formidable when he wanted to be, Louisa mused. No wonder he succeeded in keeping people at a distance.

‘Pretty name,’ she said quietly, ‘and, no, it isn’t part of any programme. Just a natural question as part of the conversation. Or doesn’t she come up in conversation?’

He inhaled deeply. ‘I don’t want to talk about her, Louisa.’

His shoulders had gone from relaxed to rigid. If she’d been sensible she would have dropped the subject. But when it came to someone hurting, she wasn’t always sensible.

‘And does that help? Not talking about her?’

His gaze lifted to hers. ‘Nothing helps.’ He dropped his fork onto his empty plate and rose to his feet. ‘Thanks for dinner.’ And with that he left the room without a backward glance.

CHAPTER FOUR

‘RTA COMING in, Mac,’ Josh said, dropping the ambulance hotline. ‘Car came off the coast road and went over the cliff. The driver has been trapped for two hours but they’ve just got him out and they’re bringing him here now.’

Louisa stared. ‘He went over the cliff and he’s still alive?’

Josh shrugged. ‘It’s the right time of year for miracles.’

Mac rolled his eyes. ‘Let’s hope so. OK, folks, everyone into Resus. Let’s move.’

They donned protective clothing while Mac, as team leader, briefed them on their roles.

‘Louisa, you’re airway nurse. Work with Josh. All communication with the patient to go through Louisa.’ He barked out instructions as he dragged on gloves and eye protection. ‘Circulation team—if that car went over the cliff, the chances are he will have glass and debris in his clothing so I want you wearing thick gloves to undress him.’