Chapter 20
Jamie
After all the stress of yesterday, Jamie was pleased to see Alice looking relaxed and happy. Sat in the church hall, making gift boxes for toys, she hummed along to the festive music playing quietly from the radio in the corner.
He glanced over at the row of windows in the bland wall, then peered at the high ceiling as he yawned. He hadn’t got much sleep last night, worrying about Alice, the B&B. Whether stupid Alan would return. He looked at the walking stick leaning against Alice’s chair, and she caught him staring.
‘That’s about the fifth time I’ve seen you peering at my walking stick.’
He smiled softly, reaching for a small cardboard box and some festive wrapping paper. ‘I’m just worried about you.’
‘I’m okay. It’s just a flare-up. My knee will be back to normal in a couple of days. It normally works like that with me.’
‘Fibromyalgia is weird, coming and going like that.’
Alice nodded. ‘Yep. I just count my blessings I’m not in major pain every day like some.’
‘Do you use the walking aid often?’
‘Nope. So stop worrying.’
He gently nudged her arm. ‘Let me know if you ever need me to carry you.’
Alice grinned. ‘I might make you do it just for the exercise.’
‘Hey, what you trying to say?’ He patted his flat stomach and chuckled.
Spencer stood up at the other end of the table.
‘Right, I’m going to start loading the boxes onto the minibus, then we’ll set off to the hospital.
’ He waggled a hand at the remaining toys.
‘We’ve got about half an hour left before we need to set off, so get a wriggle on, and whoever is getting changed into an elf costume, can you sort that now, please? ’
Needing to get changed, Jamie sped up his wrapping duties, covering the last two boxes assigned to him in reindeer paper.
‘You don’t have to come to the hospital,’ said Alice quietly, leaning his way.
He knew why she’d said that. The last time he was in a children’s ward was as a patient. He guessed Alice was thinking it might be triggering for him. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t entirely sure how it would make him feel — he just knew it was something he wanted to do.
Jamie packed some Christmas gifts, then helped Alice with hers. ‘I’ll come to the hospital.’
Her smile was warm and encouraging as she reached for her walking aid to stand.
Jamie went to help but lowered his arms after she blew out a small laugh at his flapping hands around her. ‘Sorry. I’m fussing, I know.’
‘Thank you for fussing, but I’ll let you know if I need any help, okay?’
He gave a brief nod. ‘Okay.’
‘Come on, let’s get our costumes on, then get in the minibus.’
The December air was fresh and not as cold as it had been lately but still held a bit of a chill in each breeze. Jamie was glad of the warmth in the vehicle, especially as their red-and-green elf outfits were quite thin.
It wasn’t long before they were at the hospital, and entering the building brought back so many memories.
Jamie had spent a big part of his childhood going in and out of hospital.
One time, he’d even spent Christmas Day in a ward.
Alice came to visit that day. That memory had him lean a little closer to her.
‘You okay?’ she asked softly.
‘Yeah, I’m good.’
Spencer got them carrying the gifts up to the children’s ward. Only Alice and an elderly woman called Marisa, who loved talking about her cats, didn’t have to lift anything.
There used to be a disinfectant smell that Jamie associated with hospitals, but the children’s ward no longer had that scent.
The children and nurses lit up as a bunch of elves entered with Christmas presents. Spencer sang a little of “Jingle Bells”, then had the kids join in before handing out the gifts.
Jamie went over to a blond boy, around the age of ten, and sat in the chair to his side, introducing himself.
‘I know you’re not a real elf,’ said the boy. ‘But it’s okay, I won’t tell the little kids.’
Jamie thanked him for being thoughtful. ‘So, tell me, what’s your name?’
‘Kyle.’
‘You in for Christmas?’
Kyle shrugged. ‘They said I can go home Christmas Eve. I’ve got my fingers crossed because I don’t want to be here on Christmas Day. All my friends will be home with their families.’
Jamie knew how he felt. He also wasn’t about to ask what was wrong with the child, remembering how he hated people asking questions about his illness when he was going through treatment. All he wanted was to be like everyone else.
‘Have you ever been in hospital?’ asked Kyle, looking over the wrapped present Jamie gave him.
‘Yep. A few times.’ He pointed at the gift. ‘You’re allowed to open that today if you like.’
Kyle smiled and unwrapped the box to find a book about a wizard boy. ‘Thank you, but I don’t read.’
Jamie loved books at his age, especially when Alice read to him. Perhaps Kyle might like to listen rather than read. ‘Hmm, let’s check it out together. See what we think of the first chapter.’
Kyle nodded. ‘Okay.’
Jamie scraped his chair closer, then leaned towards the bed as Kyle got comfortable. He opened the book to chapter one and started to read while Kyle kept his eyes on each page.
Before long, they had gone through the first three chapters and Kyle was eager to hear more, but the nurses told the children it was time for the elves to head back to Santa’s Grotto. Jamie folded a piece of the wrapping paper and used it as a bookmark.
‘Do you think you’ll read the rest, Kyle? Have I got you interested in books now?’
The boy nodded. ‘Yes, I like it, and at least now I won’t be bored tonight.’
‘And if you do end up in here on Christmas Day, just know it won’t be so bad.
I had a good Christmas here once. My nan brought me chocolate, and my best friend played games with both me and the doctors.
We had Christmas dinner, watched a film about a snowman, and we wore paper hats.
It wasn’t so bad in the end.’ It was far worse in prison, what with so many missing their loved ones, but he wasn’t about to add that to the conversation.
Kyle looked a lot brighter by the time Jamie said goodbye, which made Jamie feel a lot better too.
The atmosphere in the ward was joyous, and the children were showing each other their presents as the volunteers headed back to the minibus.
Jamie stared out the window, watching the world go by. He hoped Kyle would be okay. He mentally thanked the doctors who helped save his own life as a child.
The thought of wasting so many precious years had him chastise himself as rolling hills came into view. Why did he have to go down such destructive roads? He should have just stayed by Alice’s side all day every day, then his life would have been very different.
He glanced her way for a moment, watching her chat to Marisa, across the aisle.
You’ve always been by my side .
As if knowing he was having negative thoughts about himself, Alice’s hand slipped into his while she continued talking to Marisa.
Warming, he smiled softly as the coastline of Port Berry came into sight.
There was nothing he could do about the past, but he and Alice would have the best future.
The life he felt they should have had. He was going to do everything he could to make sure happiness took centre stage.
Just looking at her walking stick, knowing her flare-up had come from stress, made him even more determined to bring peace to the table.