The Nurse's Christmas Wish (The Cornish Consultants)

Louisa registered his pallor, saw him sway and frowned in consternation. ‘Are you all right?’

‘Come and sit down,’ Hannah said quickly, interpreting Louisa’s glance. ‘You’ve had a fright. We don’t want you fainting.’ She pushed him into a chair and kept her hand on his shoulder. ‘It’s Rick, isn’t it? Rick Matthews? I recognise you now. You own the garage on the high street.’

The man inhaled deeply, his elbows on his thighs, his face still pale and drawn. ‘That’s right.’ He looked up at Hannah, no recognition in his eyes.

‘I’m Hannah.’ She crouched down beside him, her hand still on his shoulder. ‘You fixed my car for me last winter. Saved my life.’

He looked at her blankly. ‘Did I?’

‘You certainly did.’ Hannah gave him a warm smile. ‘Calm down, Rick. Poppy is going to be fine.’

Rick closed his eyes and shook his head slowly. ‘I’m a terrible father.’

‘You’re a great father.’ Hannah took his hand in hers. ‘When I brought my car in I remember you telling me that you had a little girl. That you were on your own with her. That must be very hard for you.’

This was one of the advantages of living and working in a small community, Louisa thought as she listened. Hannah knew about this man. He’d helped her and now she was helping him. The knowledge gave her a warm feeling. Wasn’t that what Christmas was all about?

‘My wife left a year ago.’ His expression was bleak. ‘I thought we were doing OK. I thought I could do everything a woman could do...’ His expression was anguished and Mac looked up and frowned.

‘Children have accidents, Rick. It’s a fact of life. We can try and prevent them but they still happen.’

Rick shook his head. ‘I failed her...’

‘You brought her here straight away,’ Hannah said calmly, her hand still on his arm. ‘You didn’t fail her. You did the right thing.’

Rick stared at his daughter, now breathing easily on the trolley under Mac’s eagle eye. ‘I always think a mother could do it better. Especially at this time of year. I tried to cook turkey last year and it was a disaster. I didn’t cook it for long enough and the oven was too high. It was burned on the outside and raw in the middle. We ended up eating baked beans.’ He gave a helpless shrug and looked at them. ‘How do people do it? I mean, are you born knowing how to cook a turkey?’

‘Certainly not,’ Mac said dryly. ‘I wouldn’t have a clue how to cook a turkey.’

Louisa bit her lip. ‘I’m great at cooking turkey. I’ll do you a deal,’ she said impulsively, turning towards Rick, ‘I’ll cook your Christmas lunch if you’ll fix my car.’ She heard Mac inhale sharply. ‘You can come to us for Christmas Day.’

As far as she was concerned, the more the merrier.

Rick gave a disbelieving laugh. ‘You’re offering to have us for Christmas? Why would you do that?’

‘Because she just can’t help it,’ Mac muttered under his breath, and Louisa ignored him.

‘Because I’ve ordered a turkey that would feed the whole of Cornwall and because I need my car fixed. You have no idea how to cook a turkey but I have absolutely no idea why my car hates cold weather. I’m hopeless. I can’t even open the bonnet.’ She shrugged helplessly. ‘So—is it a deal?’

Rick looked towards Hannah and Louisa was struck with inspiration. ‘Hannah’s coming, too,’ she said firmly, ‘as soon as she finishes her early shift.’

Hannah gave a delighted nod of acknowledgement and Mac closed his eyes for a brief moment.

At that moment Poppy struggled to sit up and Mac removed the oxygen mask from her face so that she could speak.

‘Can we, Daddy?’ Her voice was hoarse and weak and Rick breathed out slowly, his eyes shining with love as he looked at his daughter.

‘Well...’ His face broke into a smile. ‘Well, yes, it is. Why not? Thanks. Thanks a lot.’

Louisa grinned. ‘Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t seen the state of my car.’

‘Whatever’s wrong with it, I’ll get it sorted for you,’ Rick vowed, and Louisa nodded.

‘I know you will.’ She turned to the little girl. ‘And now, Poppy, you’d better tell me what’s on your Christmas list.’

At that moment the anaesthetist hurried into Resus. ‘Did you bleep me?’

‘Yes.’ Mac straightened and ripped off his gloves. ‘But we’re fine here now, thankfully.’ He glanced at Rick. ‘Let her play with the toys here for half an hour—see how she goes, but there shouldn’t be any ill effects. Hannah will stay with you. Louisa, I need a word with you outside.’