Laura Iding - Snowbound With The Single Dad

‘I was here with some friends.’

‘Oh.’ She seemed satisfied with that answer and rested her forearms back on the barrier.

The crowd thickened around them, pushing them a little closer together as people jostled to get a better place at the barrier. Callum wound his arm around her waist, holding her firmly against him, to stop anyone coming between them. The countdown around them started. Ten, nine…

It was the smallest of movements. Jess rested her head on his shoulder then a few seconds later he felt her relax a little more and felt some of the weight of her body lean against him.

A grin spread across his face. It wasn’t like anyone could see it but it had been automatic and was plastered there for the world to see. Three, two, one.

‘Woah!’ The noise went around the crowd as the lights flickered on the tree, lighting up the square in a deluge of pink and silver.

‘Pink! It’s pink!’ Jess yelped, as the wine sloshed out of the cup and she turned to face him. Her eyes were sparkling, her excitement evident. It was the first time since he’d seen her again that she looked totally carefree. Totally back to normal.

Her face was right in front of his, her brown eyes darker than ever before and their noses almost touching. He could see the steam from her breath in the cold night air. He placed his cup on the barrier and brought his hand to her hip, matching the hold of his other hand, and pulled her a little closer. He gave her a smile.

‘My plan worked. I told them that pink was your favourite colour and that you’d be here.’

She let out a laugh and placed her hands on his shoulders. She didn’t seem annoyed by him holding her. She didn’t seem annoyed at all. In fact, if he wasn’t mistaken, she was edging even closer.

Her dark eyes were still sparkling, reflecting the twinkling lights around them, ‘Oh, you did, did you? I bet that took a bit of planning, especially as you didn’t even know if I’d agree to come on a walk with you.’

He pulled her even closer. ‘Oh, I knew. I was absolutely sure you’d come with me.’

He could turn back the clock. He could flick a little switch right now and this could be thirteen years ago. Standing almost in this exact spot.

She tilted her head to the side. ‘Well, that was a bit presumptuous, wasn’t it?’

He shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. But this might be.’

He bent forward. People around them were still cheering about the Christmas lights, breaking into song as the music got louder in the amplifiers next to them.

But Callum wasn’t noticing any of that. The only thing he was focused on was Jess’s lips.

And everything was just like he remembered. Almost as perfect.

The last time round Jess had tasted of strawberry lip gloss, and this time she tasted of mulled wine. He could sense the tiniest bit of hesitation as he kissed her, so he took it slowly, gently kissing her lips, teasing at the edges until she moved her hands from his shoulders and wrapped them around his neck, kissing him right back.

And then everything was perfect.

CALLUM LISTENED TO the NHS helpline music with growing impatience. It was funny how all rational thought flew out of the window when your child was in pain.

Drew was clutching his stomach again. He was pale and feverish, and he couldn’t even tolerate fluids. But the pain was making him gasp and sob and Callum was feeling utterly helpless.

He glanced at his watch. It would be nearly midnight by the time the NHS helpline put him through to one of the nurses—and he told Drew’s story again—then they would have to drive out to one of the GP centres. Who knew when his son would get some pain relief?

No. He couldn’t wait that long.

As a member of one of the emergency services, he hated it when people used the services irresponsibly. But this didn’t feel irresponsible. This did feel like an emergency. And he could explain later why he hadn’t been prepared to wait for the helpline.

Jessica was on call tonight. Should he take Drew to Parkhill?

He hadn’t even told her about Drew yet, and this would be a baptism of fire. But as Drew’s father he couldn’t think of anyone he would trust more with his son. He’d seen Jessica at work. He’d heard her colleagues talk about her.

She was undoubtedly a great doctor, who cared about her patients.

He was supposed to be taking Jessica out for dinner in a few nights’ time. He’d been hoping to tell her about Drew then, and also to explain why evening dates could prove to be difficult. After a day of work he really didn’t like to ask someone to babysit his son. He wanted to spend time with him. And he was hopeful that Jess would understand that. But now that would all have to wait.

Within minutes he had Drew bundled up into his booster seat, still in his pyjamas and wrapped in a fleecy blanket.

The roads were coated with snow and deadly quiet. Anyone with a half a brain was tucked up in bed. The only other traffic on the roads at this time of night was the gritters. He made it to the hospital in record time, parked in one of the emergency bays and carried Drew inside in his arms.

‘I need to see Jessica Rae right away.’

The receptionist looked up, her face unfamiliar. ‘Can you give me your details, please, sir?’

‘Jessica Rae—I know she’s on duty tonight. I want her to check over my son.’

The receptionist plastered a weary smile on her face. ‘Give me your son’s details. I’ll get one of the doctors to see him.’

Callum felt his patience at an all-time low. ‘Page Jessica Rae for me—now!’

One of the triage nurses appeared at his side and gave a knowing smile to the receptionist. They were probably used to frantic parents, but it didn’t excuse his behaviour. ‘Come with me, sir, and I’ll start the assessment procedure for your son.’ She reached over and brushed Drew’s fringe out of his eyes, taking in his pale colour and the sheen on his skin. ‘Let’s get some obs.’

Callum felt himself take some deep breaths as he followed the nurse down the corridor. She was ruthlessly efficient, taking Drew’s temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, then putting some cream on the inside of one elbow to numb the area and prepare it for a blood sample to be taken. As she scribbled down Drew’s history, then held a sick bowl to let him retch into it, she gave Callum a tight smile.

‘I know you asked for Dr Rae, but she’s in surgery right now. She will see your son, but he needs some other tests done and some blood taken in the meantime. I’m going to ask one of the other doctors on duty to see Drew right now.’

There was something in the way she said the words. The quiet urgency in them. As if she suspected something but wasn’t prepared to say it out loud. She had that look about her—the nurse who’d seen everything a dozen times and could probably out-diagnose most of the junior doctors.

‘What do you think’s wrong?’

She gave the slightest shake of her head. ‘Let’s leave that to the doctors, shall we?’

He tried his best not to erupt. To tell her that he didn’t want his son to wait a second longer.

She glanced at him as she headed to the curtains. ‘I’ll get the other doctor now. The sooner Drew is seen, the better. Then we can get him some pain relief.’

He nodded automatically. Pain relief for his son. That’s what he wanted more than anything. Anything to take the pain away from Drew.

‘Dr Rae, there’s a kid with an acute abdomen in A and E. Father is insisting you see him.’

Jessica pulled off her gown and gloves and dumped them in the disposal unit. ‘Really? What’s the name?’

‘Kennedy. Drew Kennedy.’