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‘Thank you,’ she said, kissing him. ‘Let’s open them one at a time.’
She loved the film encyclopaedia he’d bought her, the digital photo frame, the new restored special edition of one of her favourite films, a large box of the exclusive chocolates he’d bought her previously as an apology and the only girly indulgence he knew she liked—some exclusive chocolate-scented toiletries.
And he was blown away by what she’d given him. Inside the stocking was an envelope containing a year’s membership to the British Film Institute, a CD by one of his favourite cellists, seasonally shaped chocolates which she’d wrapped individually, and a tiny musical box that played the first part of Bach’s Air on a G String. And a rare first edition of one of his favourite Cornell Woolrich tales—something that had been missing from his collection. ‘Katrina, I’ve no idea where you managed to find this, but it’s fabulous. And you’re wonderful,’ he said, meaning it.
The following morning saw Rhys dressed up as Father Christmas, Katrina and Tim as Santa’s helpers—both in elf costumes—and Lynne as a Christmas fairy, complete with wings and a magic wand. Thanks to the Hospital Friends Group, they had small parcels to give out to all the children on the ward and their siblings: a touch-and-feel board book and socks for the babies; colouring pencils and joke books for the older ones; and small gift tokens for the over-tens to put towards music or video games.
Katrina noticed that little Tommy Price, in with idiopathic thrombocytopetic purpura—a condition involving bruising and a rash that didn’t disappear when pressed, showing that there was bleeding under the skin, and they were busy checking out the cause—didn’t have any visitors. Although he’d said thank you for the present from Father Christmas, the eight-year-old hadn’t moved from his bed to join the other children in the playroom. And she’d noticed that although all the other children in the bay had cards stuck to the wall above their beds, Tommy had nothing.
Her heart ached for him. Seeing how the other children’s families had made a special fuss of them must have made him realise what he was missing, and as a result he’d withdrawn completely.
Was this how Rhys’s childhood had been, too? And, if so, was he going to be able to cope with a Gregory family Christmas? she wondered.
She stopped by Tommy’s bed. His family had been the only ones not to respond to her request for permission to give all the patients a seasonal chocolate lolly. She’d decided to take the line that silence indicated consent, so she handed Tommy the reindeer-shaped chocolate with the red nose. ‘Hey. Happy Christmas,’ she said.
‘Yeah. You, too. And thanks,’ he added swiftly.
Tommy’s eyes were a little too bright; Katrina, realising that he was near tears, began telling him atrocious jokes until she made him smile. She made a point of pulling a Christmas cracker with him at lunch and slipping him an extra chocolate lolly at the end of her shift.
‘I can’t believe Tommy Price’s family didn’t even bother coming to visit him on Christmas Day,’ she said to Rhys, glowering as they left the hospital together. ‘That’s so mean.’
‘Don’t you think you’re being just a tiny a bit judgemental?’ Rhys asked mildly. ‘Maybe his parents are desperately scared of hospitals. Maybe home life’s tough—maybe his parents are caring for an elderly parent or a small child with special needs as well, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day.’
‘You’re right. I’m sorry.’ She sighed. ‘But sometimes I really wish I had a magic wand. I don’t want fabulous riches or eternal youth.’
‘You just want to fix things for people,’ he finished. ‘But you can’t fix everything, cariad.’
‘No. I just wish I could.’ She shook herself. ‘Right. Enough. We’re going to Maddie’s.’
The nearer they got to Madison and Theo’s house, the more Rhys’s stomach churned with nerves. This was important to Katrina, and he was going to do it. But, lord, how he wished he were on a desert island instead. Especially when Madison ushered them inside and he realised how many people were there, how everyone was talking and laughing and acting as if they’d known each other all their lives despite the fact that, as far as he knew, this was the first time Theo’s family had met the Gregorys.
This was so very different from the way he was used to spending Christmas.
He managed to smile and be polite to everyone, and Madison seemed pleased with the home-made Welsh taffy and the champagne he’d brought as his contribution to the day. She was definitely delighted with the chocolate Christmas cake Katrina had made; clearly Katrina’s love of chocolate was shared by her family.
