Chapter 23
As promised, and carefully planned, I had a present for every kid in the ward.
Grace sat down with the nurses a couple of days ago to figure out just the right things for the kids who had been there for a while. For others, we had to guess. Then I had ordered pretty much double of everything for new kids, siblings, visitors or another hospital if we had enough left.
No kid was leaving here without something cool.
They might wonder why Santa couldnt stop staring at the gorgeous woman in the cat jumper though. Damn, Grace could wear a sack and shed still look hot. On her, even an ugly jumper wasnt that ugly.
Hey, Santa, do you have anything for Luke? Chantel asked me. She was playing the part of an elf, but not the sexy-looking kind, thank God. I didnt want to see my sister like that. Other peoples sisters, sure, but not mine.
Right. I jerked my brain back to the bag of presents open in front of me. I searched for one with Lukes name on it and handed it to Chantel to give to the kid. He was pale and looked exhausted, but his eyes lit up at the sight of the Lego kit he revealed when he pulled back the paper.
Heres one for Lexie, I said.
Me! She bounced up and down where she sat in sheer excitement. Like Luke, she was pale, but her smile when she opened her toy truck would have brightened any room. Yes!
She stood and hurried off to show her mother, and drove the truck up and down across her bed.
I glanced up to see Grace watching, a smile on her lips. Hawk was right, I needed to tell her how I felt, if only so I knew she knew. She might tell me to get lost, but that was a risk I had to take. What was life without risks anyway?
I smiled back, then turned on the charm for a kid who sat off to one side. I hadnt seen her before, so I guessed she was new here. The start of a long, hard road. At least I might help to get it off on the right foot.
Whats your name? I asked.
She shifted a little and looked down at the floor. Chelsie.
Oh, I totally have a present here for you. I dipped my arm and my face into the bag and searched around. I pulled out a present and passed it to Chantel to give to the girl.
Chelsie looked at it doubtfully before she opened it. Its Rappy. She held up a grey and white plush fish that resembled the Rapids logo, before she drew it in close and gave it a hug. His name is Albert.
I think she likes him, Chantel said.
I nodded. Yeah. Id seen enough kids her age to know a soft friend was a big help and comfort on this journey. Albert would probably be getting all the needles first, to show Chelsie it was okay.
I blinked back tears because big, badass football gods dressed up as Santa dont cry. At least not where people can see.
We handed out the last of the presents—only a handful were left— and I stood up from the chair I was sitting on and stretched. The bag that was heavy over my shoulder an hour ago was a lot lighter now. I closed the top and stashed it in the corner near the door.
I posed for a few photos with Chantel, for the local newspaper and news platforms. This was a much better news story than my sex life. With any luck, it would go even more viral. The world needed more feel good stuff in it.
Thank you. The journalist who covered the story nodded and hurried out the door. No doubt they had a deadline to make, or wanted to get the story written and out there.
You did good work, bro. Chantel patted me on the shoulder. Keep this up and youll get a sainthood some day.
Saint Bam does have a ring to it, I said. No one with any sense would canonise a guy like me, but it was fun to dream about.
Not as good as Saint Chantel. She gave me a sassy grin and walked off to talk to one of the cute doctors who dropped in for a moment between doctorly duties.
I watched for a while, to make sure he got the message that if he touched my sister, hed be back here as a patient.
Saint Chantel, keep dreaming, I said under my breath. Speaking of dreaming, I looked around for Grace, and found her standing a couple of metres away, watching me.
Hey, beautiful, I said. Surprise. I gestured toward my costume.
I thought you werent coming, she said.
I couldnt tell what she was thinking. She could be ready to wrap her pretty little hands around my throat, for all I knew.
No way in the world I would miss this. Okay, I couldnt blame her for thinking that. I did have a track record of letting her down when it came to big events. Although, that was one time and with good cause.
Youve made a big difference in their lives. She smiled toward a small group of children who sat with their toys, playing some sort of make believe.
Youve made a big difference in mine. I wanted to wrap my arms around her like Chelsie had with her toy Rapid, and hold her close like that forever.
Since the kids might wonder if Santa was cheating on Mrs Clause, I put a hand in my pocket instead.
I have something for you. I curled my fingers around a small box and pulled it out. I couldnt let the woman on the top of the nice list miss out on a present.
She blushed, but took the box and eyed it. You shouldnt have.
Maybe, but I did. I shrugged. Open it.
She eased the lid up and gasped at the pair of earrings with sapphires in the centre.
Theyre beautiful, she breathed.
Can we talk? I asked.
Isnt that what were doing? She cocked her head at me, but one eye was still on the earrings.
Yeah, but let me get out of this first. I wanted her to listen and take me seriously, and that would be hard when I was dressed like this. Ugly jumpers have nothing on the padding I had under my shirt.
Grace smiled.
I meant into my ugly jumper and jeans, but if you wanna skip right to that, Im all for it. I grinned.
She snorted. Talking first.
At least she wasnt ruling out the chance of getting naked later.
Right. Ill be back in a minute. I waved to the kids and hurried out the door as fast as my padded belly would let me. Okay, I might have waddled. Whatever, I got out the door.
Rapids bad boy plays Santa, hmmm? Harvey Danbury stepped out of the elevators, phone in hand.
You must have me mistaken for someone else, I said.
He peered at me. I would know Bam Clintons arrogant face anywhere, he said. Even dressed up.
Cool, cool, I said. Theres no story here, asshat. Unless you plan to run something about me pretending to be Santa. If you are, I have news for you.
Harvey smiled that reptilian smile of his. I might be here for a feel-good story.
I barked a laugh. Did hell freeze over?
He made a face. Yeah, thats not very plausible, is it? I wouldnt waste my time on a story that wont pay. People much prefer dirt.
People need to get a life, I said. You in particular. Did your mum not hug you enough?
His lip curled.
I guess I hit a nerve.
Actually Im here because my niece was admitted yesterday, Harvey said. He nodded toward the cancer ward.
Pull the other one, I said, it plays Jingle Bells. I stared at him for a moment before I realised he was serious. Oh.
Yes. Chelsie and her mother are the only family I have left. He shrugged.
I wanted to tell him to cry me a river, but Chelsie didnt deserve to have us fighting just outside the door.
Im sorry, I said instead.
I almost felt sorry for him, but then he held up his phone and said, Im not off duty. Ever.
You suck, I said dryly. I stepped past him and headed into the elevator. I didnt even care if it went all the way to the top before it went down to the carpark level. Anything to get away from that jerk. He better not be hassling Grace while I wasnt there. Hed have me to answer to if he did. And the rest of the team. And Rubie Thomas, who wouldnt be shy in telling him to fuck all the way off.
I stripped down to my jeans and jumper and stashed my Santa costume in the back of my car. I locked my truck and jogged back to the elevators. Because life likes to screw with you, I pressed the button and waited.
And waited. One stopped on level five and the other was on level four.
Neither budged.
Come on. I shifted from foot to foot like I stood on hot coals.
Finally, I couldnt take it any longer and headed for the stairs.
Why did they have to put the kids on the eighth floor? I muttered to myself as I passed the second. Kids deserved a nice view, but it was a long way when you were going one step at a time. At least I had the well and all the landings to myself. No one to see I was dumb enough to run up eight flights of stairs. If I was watching, I would laugh at myself and my own impatience.
On the other hand, the elevator might still be stuck, in which case I wasnt as dumb as I felt.
I finally reached the eighth floor, puffing lightly, and glanced toward the elevators. Yep, still on the same floors.
Win.
I prepared my best smile and stepped back into the ward.
Mr Bam! one of the kids shouted. You missed Santa.
Hey, Jessie. I gave her a wave. That sucks. I bet he was cool.
He was. She grinned and held up a doll with pink clothes and bright pink hair.
Looks just like you, I said. All that pink.
Jessie grinned and went back to playing.
Id call this a success, Grace walked toward me, a smile on her face.
Yeah. We made a buttload of money and a ton of happy kids. I eyed Harvey, who seemed more interested in Chelsie and her Rapid than me and Grace. Good, we might get some peace.
I think we can say your reputation went up a few notches, she said.
Thats good to know. I cocked my head at her. I suppose our work here is done.
You could say that, she agreed. Her smile faded and I thought she might cry. Not happy tears.
So, you wanna go and talk? I asked. I sent a little prayer to above that she hadnt changed her mind.
If you think theres anything that needs to be said. Was that a flash of hope I saw cross her features?
Theres plenty, I said. I didnt give you those earrings for nothing. Its— Even if Harvey wasnt looking, the ward was crowded. Lets get out of here for a bit. Go somewhere private.
She looked over her shoulder. Okay. They wont miss us for a few minutes.
I took her hand and led her out the door.