Hope's Toy Chest (4 page)
Chelsea sat in the middle of Kingsley’s living room surrounded by
mountains of toys. Thanks to his key, she’d been able to make a dent, as small as it might be. She had managed to get the stuff divided for two children. Now she sat there wrapping them, putting them in a Santa sack to be delivered on Christmas Eve.
The front door opened, and dress shoes made a dull thud on the hardwood floor. “Chelsea
?”
“In here.” She put the last piece of tape on the baby doll and tossed it onto the pile in the sack.
“What brings you home at this time of the day?”
“Lunch.” He held up a bag of Chinese food. “Want to join me?”
With a glance at the clock, she smirked. “It’s ten-thirty in the morning. Where did you find a Chinese restaurant open at this time?”
“The one by the hospital is always
open early preparing for the day. They’ll take orders from us at the hospital before they open.” He set the bag on the table. “I thought we could have some lunch and I could convince you to help a little girl.”
“You didn’t h
ave to bribe me. After all, I owe you for letting me take over your house.” She stood up, carefully making her way through the piles. “It smells delicious.”
“I’ll grab plates and we can talk about what I’d like your help with.” He turned to the cherry wood cabinets and grabbed
the dishes. “I got chicken and broccoli, beef teriyaki, and crab rangoon.”
“Can I get drinks?”
“I keep a pitcher of water with a splash of lemon in the refrigerator. If you’d like to pour me a glass, I’d appreciate it.” He took the dishes to table and begun unwrapping the food. “You mentioned expanding Hope’s Toy Chest. Well, I have a new idea.”
“You d
idn’t even wait until you’ve plied me with good food before you jump right into what you need from me.” She brought the drinks over and sat down. “So get on with it.”
She took a drink, and one of the crab rangoons
, before looking up at him. The idea of expanding Hope’s Toy Chest brought a new level of excitement to her. The organization in her daughter’s memory had become her coping mechanism and her life. There was nothing outside of the organization for her, at least nothing since her divorce. Her and her husband didn’t make it a year after Hope’s death before their divorce proceedings started. Without Hope they had nothing left between them, and there seemed to be no point in staying together.
“
The little girl I mentioned last night who’s dying. I need your help to bring her a Christmas the day after tomorrow.”
“Season of miracles, but I think we can pull it off. A Christmas in her hospital room?”
She accepted her food and dug in.
“
The hospital used to have guest rooms on the ninth floor for the families of the sickest children, or those traveling through. Now they are just used for medical students and crash rooms when working doubles. I’ve got permission to take over one of those rooms to give her a good celebration. The plan is to take her up tomorrow evening. She’ll go to bed with a Christmas tree shining bright, and when she wakes up Santa—well, us—will have delivered her gifts.”
“Can you get me a list of what she’d like? I’ll gather it, and wrap it.” She took a bit
e of chicken.
“I’
ll speak with her mother. If you’re willing to help, I’ll get everything else lined up.” He began eating his own meal.
“What’s everything else?”
“I need to have the room sanitized, then decorated. That reminds me, if you hear people outside this afternoon, it’s nothing. I hired people to come decorate. I’ve got an image to uphold with my neighbors, can’t let the children down just because I’ve lost the spirit.”
“How about we try to regain that spirit
of the holidays by decorating the hospital room ourselves? We can do it this evening once you’re done working. I can get the decorations and meet you there.” She pushed the broccoli aside.
“Didn’t your mother teach you that you should eat your vegetables?
It will keep the doctors away.” He teased.
“I eat salads, cucumbers, peppers, and fruits. A little vegetable neglect won’t kill me.
” She didn’t want to keep the doctor away; neglecting all her fruit and vegetables might keep him around longer.
He let
out a lighthearted chuckle. “You don’t have to decorate. I know you have enough to deal with.”
“I don’t mind. I was just sitting in your living room thinking you needed a tree as well.”
“I just haven’t been in the mood this season. It seems to have lost its joy.” With his plate now cleaned, he sat his fork down. “I have a meeting with a parent to discuss treatment options at four-thirty, so how about you meet me at the hospital at six?”
“That will be fine. Are you going to be able to get it cleaned before then?”
“I’m going to call my housekeeper, and see if she can do it for me today.” He slipped his phone from his pocket. “I should do that and then get back to the hospital.”
“Go ahead. I’ll clean up.”
He took his plate to the sink and rinsed it before putting it in the dishwasher. “Sorry to rush off.” When she waved his apology away, he slipped his jacket on. “I’ll have a list of stuff for you tonight. After we decorate, maybe we can get some dinner and come back here to find the stuff on her wish list,” he suggested.
Dinner with him
seemed more intimate and sent butterflies spinning within her. “That would be nice.”
“Very well. In the closet of my office
are the Christmas decorations I have. Help yourself to anything we might need.”
“Thanks, but you’re going to need them
here. Plus I keep extra supplies around just for cases like this.” She finished off the last crab rangoon and watched him walk out the door. He could fill out those dress slacks like no other man she knew. She wanted to touch him, to feel his body beneath her fingers.
She closed her eyes, letting the fantasy take hold. It had been so long since she felt anything stir within her. Letting her mind w
ander to what he might look like under those clothes, how his body would feel pressed against her.
He’s not the type of man to get involved with, even in my fantasies.
Kingsley was dedicated to his work, and she wasn’t sure she could take the backseat to his career. When her divorce was finalized, she’d promised herself that if she ever got involved again it would be with someone who would love her for who she was, not who she could be or what she could do for them. She had spent too long as the woman on her husband’s arm, and then the perfect housewife while her husband was busy with his career. Never again.
Kingsley had everything in order for the celebration for the Cook family. The only thing left was the decorations and the
presents. Hope’s Toy Chest would be providing some of the toys, and Kelly’s sister would be bringing the ones they had purchased in the morning. Little Jessica was going to have a Christmas that would make other children envious.
It was only five-thirty but he figured he’d mosey down to the lobby and help Chelsea carry the decorations in
.
He shut down his computer and went to grab his jacket when a knock sounded at his door.
“Come in.”
Grace opened the door and peaked her head in. “I was hoping I’d catch you here. Annabell told me of your plans and I wanted to offer Tony’s services to you. He plays Santa for the ward parties, and a couple events. He could stop by Jessica’s room before she goes to bed. Jessica with Santa in front of the tree would be a good photo for Kelly, one that she’d hold dear always.”
“Are you sure Tony won’t mind?
I don’t know why I didn’t think of that before.”
“No, he’d love to.”
“Perfect. We’re moving her upstairs around seven.”
“
Good. I’ll have him here at six-thirty to make sure she’s still awake.”
“Thank you
, Grace, and tell Tony I owe him one.”
“We’re glad to do it. This is a great thing you’re doing for the Cooks. If you need anything, just let me know.”
He curved his lips into a smile, knowing she had a hard time saying no to him. “Actually, now that you mention it, there’s something else. On Jessica’s off days from radiation, she has a sweet tooth, and she loves chocolate cake. It’s so much better when it’s homemade instead of what I could buy. What do you say?”
With a quick nod, she turned to leave. “I’ll make her my triple chocolate cake and bring it tomorrow night. See you then.”
“Thank you.” He called after her before grabbing his coat. He didn’t slip it on, but instead slung it over his arm.
For the first time in months, he strolled out of his office in a good mood. He left his worries behind him, and looked forward to the evening activates. Decorating the room upstairs held more appeal to him
than decorating his own house, because tomorrow evening he’d be able to see Jessica’s face when they revealed what they’d pulled together for her. That in itself made everything worth it.
“Doctor Mathews.” Nancy hollered to him just before he stepped into the elevator. “Can I have a moment?”
“Everything okay?” He glanced at his watch.
“I heard what you’re doing for the Cooks and I’d like to volunteer to stay over tomorrow to look after Jessica.”
“That’s appreciated but not necessary. I’ll be staying upstairs.”
“I understand but I would still like to help. Jessica has
captured all our hearts, and I would love to be a part of this special celebration for her.”
“
Very well. The accommodations are rough, but we’ll only be there one night, and like you said it will be worth it. I’ll see you tomorrow night at six o’clock, so we can take her upstairs around seven. We’ll give them most of the next day and bring her back onto the ward that evening. You don’t have to stay the whole time.”
“I’ll be there. Thank you.” She went back to the nurse’s desk.
Nancy had lost a child years ago, not because of cancer but a freak accident. It gave her an insight to just what the parents were going through. She might be a comfort to Kelly. As he waited for the elevator, he had a moment to realize how amazing his team was. His staff always rallied together when something needed to be done. It made him feel good to work with such a wonderful team of caring professionals.
The elevator doors opened and there stood Chelsea, her arms loaded with bags. “I managed everything but the tree.”
“Let me take some of that.” He grabbed some of the bags from her, lightening her load. “You shouldn’t have brought all this at once. I was coming down to help.” He hit the button for the ninth floor.
“I figured there wasn’t a reason to make a dozen trips. Taking all this now means we only have one trip left. The tree is stored in two smaller boxes, so we can both go grab one and be done. Were you able to get the list?”
“It’s in my jacket pocket but I can’t get to it now.” He smirked at them both standing there with their arms loaded. “I don’t think I have this much stuff for my whole house.”
“I’
m not surprised, you’re a man. Women go all out. It’s going to be a Christmas wonderland for her. I assumed we couldn’t have a live tree, but we are going to make up for it with the decorations.”
“Live trees are out of the question. I should have mentioned that.”
“Nothing to worry about, I told you I had this part covered.” She adjusted her armful before stepping off the elevator. “Did you get the place cleaned?”
“My housekeeper left about forty minutes ago. She did a good job, not that I expected anything less
. She’s always very thorough. She made up both of the beds in the room with fresh sheets, as well as the room next to it where I’ll be spending the night to supervise Jessica’s health.”
“You’re staying?”
“With her not being on the ward, there’s no nurses to watch over her. Nancy—the head nurse of the oncology floor—has offered to stay over as well. We’ll be able to take turns checking in on Jessica.” He nodded up the hall. “Second door on the right.”
They stepped into a room that was larger than most double occupancy hospital rooms. There were four beds, two on each side, with big windows along the wall that
could get a lot of light in the day, or could be closed off with darkening shades for sleep.
“This is bigger than I expected, I might need more decorations.”
He set everything he had been carrying on the floor. “No.”
“That sounds like a man who
thinks
he’s in charge.” She dropped her stuff as well and then sat down on the edge of one of the unmade beds.
“Thinks?” He raise
d an eyebrow at her, trying to keep his mind away from his fantasy—pushing her back on the bed, exploring every curve of her body.
“Oh yes, thinks.” She leaned back on the bed,
propping herself up on her elbows. “After all, you brought this to me, asked for my help, and suggested this would be a great expansion for Hope’s Toy Chest. That makes
me
in charge, and if I say more decorations then more is what we need. I won’t be outdone on this celebration. Now come on, let’s see if you can make yourself useful and help me decorate.”
“
You better be glad Elizabeth likes you.” He teased. “You start going through this stuff and I’ll get the tree.” Needing to get away before he lost control of himself, he turned on his heels.
She was the parent of a former patient, one he couldn’t save,
and he couldn’t get involved with her. No matter how attractive he might find her, or how his body called to her. He could never put his career on the back burner, and she deserved more than that. She deserved someone who would be home with her for dinner each night, someone who could give her time and commitment, show her how wonderful she was. She couldn’t get involved with a doctor, someone who would never have time outside the hospital.
But no matter, what he couldn’t stop thinking about her and it was beginning to drive him a little crazy. He’d never been so preoccupied with anything other than his work.
Focus on Jessica, and keep your mind off Chelsea.
Easier said than done.