Her Mistletoe Wish (3 page)

‘That’s my apartment building. My building…it’s on
fire!’

Reggie opened the door and was out of the car like a shot. ‘Reg! Wait!’ She heard Flynn’s voice in the distance but couldn’t wait. Her building was on fire. Her apartment. Her neighbours’ apartments. Her neighbours.

‘Melva! Melva!’ she called, as she ran down the street. There were police, flashing lights and people everywhere. The firefighters were doing their job, working hard to take control of the angry orange flames that were engulfing the home where she’d managed to carve out a new life for herself.

In a state of shock she continued to call out Melva’s name. Her elderly neighbour would have been getting ready for bed. What if she hadn’t been able to escape? What if she was still in there!

‘Whoa! Reg!’ Flynn was right beside her, grabbing her arms as she barrelled headlong towards the area the police had cordoned off. ‘You can’t go in there.’

‘But she needs me.’ Reggie tried to shake loose from Flynn’s grasp but he was hanging onto her with a firm grip. ‘Melva!’ she called again.

‘Stop.’ A policewoman came across and stood in Reggie’s path, effectively blocking her. ‘That is a burning building.’

‘That’s
my
building,’ Reggie begged. ‘Please? Melva. My neighbour—’ Reggie broke off as she saw a fireman coming out of the building with a woman over his shoulder. ‘Melva!’ She choked on the word and it was only then she felt the soothing and strong presence of Flynn right next to her, his arm around her shoulders, not only holding her back from rushing headlong into a burning building but also providing her with strength and comfort.

‘We’re both qualified surgeons at Sunshine General.’ His words carried authority as he spoke to the policewoman. ‘As the ambulances are…’ he paused for a second and listened, the sirens easily heard in the distance ‘…still on their way, and you have a woman there who needs medical assistance, why don’t you let us help out?’ As he spoke, he pulled out his hospital identification, proving he wasn’t lying. The policewoman checked it thoroughly and nodded.

‘What about her?’ She gestured towards Reggie, who was watching the fireman gently place Melva on the ground a safe distance from the burning building. His fellow firemen were already calling for his return to the building.

‘Let her treat her neighbour and she’ll be fine,’ Flynn said.

The policewoman seemed to dither for a second but when Flynn smiled reassuringly at her she nodded. ‘All right. We’re already short-staffed. Medical kits are over there next to the police cars,’ she said, pointing. The policewoman’s partner was already kneeling by Melva’s
side, pressing his fingers to her carotid pulse then shaking his head.

At her words, Flynn removed his arm from Reggie’s shoulders and like a racing horse bursting from the barriers Reggie was at Melva’s side like a shot.

‘Melva. Melva, it’s Reggie. Can you hear me?’

‘You know her?’ the policeman asked, moving back before Reggie could shove him out of the way. Her hands were busy, checking Melva’s pulse, leaning down to see if she was still breathing.

‘She’s my neighbour.’ Now that Reggie was actually able to be doing something, she was much calmer, just as Flynn had predicted. She glanced up to find Flynn returning with the medical kit and oxygen mask, as she continued her attempts to get a response from Melva.

‘You live here?’

‘Lived. Past tense.’ Reggie couldn’t even think about everything in her apartment that was in the process of burning. All she cared about was Melva. She kept calling to her, willing her to open her eyes. Her breathing was definitely restricted. Reggie didn’t like it.

‘Quick. The oxygen,’ she said, holding out her hands towards Flynn.

‘What about your other neighbours?’ the officer asked. Reggie just wanted him to keep quiet but she also knew that he had a job to do.

‘The family in number two, upstairs, are interstate. The young couple in the other upstairs apartment should still be at work.’ She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cellphone, tossing it at the officer and telling him the names of her neighbours. ‘Search through my directory and find their information.’ Reggie turned her attention to Flynn. ‘Melva’s pulse is faint. Her breathing
is definitely restricted. We may need to intubate. No patient response.’

No sooner had the words left her lips than Melva stopped breathing.

‘She’s stopped,’ Flynn reported. He opened the medical kit and reached for a face shield and gloves. In another instant he had checked Melva’s mouth was clear and had her head tipped back, ready to perform expired air resuscitation.

‘Come on, Melva. Breathe.’ Reggie’s words came through gritted teeth as she counted out the breaths, readying herself in position for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She kept counting, Flynn kept checking for a pulse.

‘Come on, Melva. This is getting beyond a joke, and I’ll tell you right now,’ she said in time with her movements, ‘you are not dying tonight. Not if I have anything to do with it.’ Her words were clear and determined and filled with promise.

Flynn did another two breaths then checked for a pulse. ‘It’s there.’ He looked over at Reggie, noting the look of relief cross her face.

‘Atta girl, Melva.’ She rested back on her heels for a second before helping Flynn to secure the oxygen mask over Melva’s mouth and nose. The ambulance sirens had drawn closer and in another moment they were silenced, but the blue and red flashing lights filled the darkness of the night as whoever was driving came up the kerb and onto the grass, getting as close as possible to where they were treating Melva.

‘I’ll speak to them,’ Flynn said, standing up and striding purposefully towards the paramedics.

‘She has a few burns to her arms and legs,’ Reggie
pointed out, and reached for the medical kit. ‘Melva,’ she called again, still watching the rise and fall of the other woman’s chest. ‘We’re going to take good care of you,’ she said, as the paramedics came over to give them a hand. They wrapped wet towels around the burns on Melva’s arms and legs, Reggie very happy when Flynn reported that her breathing was improving.

‘Do you know if she has any allergies?’ Flynn asked.

‘Not that I know of.’

‘OK.’ He spoke to one of the paramedics. ‘Can you get me some midazolam so we can get Melva here ready for transfer?’ He returned his attention to Melva as she started to cough a little more.

Reggie quickly hooked a stethoscope into her ears and listened to Melva’s breathing. ‘Still rasping. Let’s give her some salbutamol via nebuliser just to open those lungs.’

‘Yes, Doctor,’ the paramedic replied.

‘Reggie?’ As Melva said her name she coughed and Reggie immediately took the other woman’s hand in hers.

‘Yes, it’s me. I’m here. You’re going to be fine.’

‘So much smoke. Couldn’t see.’ Melva’s words came out broken but there was also a hint of panic in her voice and the last thing they needed right now was for Melva’s anxiety to rise.

‘It’s OK now. Shh. I’m here. I’ll take care of you.’

‘But the apartments…’

‘I’ll take care of it. You just relax and leave everything to me.

Flynn looked across at her. ‘Reggie, if you need any help—’

‘I said I’d take care of it,’ Reggie returned, her words a little crisp.

‘Of course.’

She frowned for a moment. Flynn? Backing down? Not insisting on being the big, strong hero, coming to the rescue of the damsel in distress? She met his gaze for a split second and saw nothing There but reassurance. Perhaps he had changed. Perhaps he was different from the way he’d been six years ago. There was truth in his eyes, as though he was desperate to let her know that he meant what he said.

Could she really trust him again? Reggie couldn’t deny she was relieved he was with her, somehow empowering her with the strength and professionalism she needed to help her elderly neighbour.

Reggie pressed her fingers to Melva’s pulse and was pleased to find it a little stronger than before. ‘You’re doing just fine, Melva.’ Reggie held the other woman’s hand and kissed it. ‘You have an oxygen mask on so just lie still. I’m looking after you.’

‘Good. Means I’ll be OK.’ Melva managed a weak smile beneath the mask, her eyes opening only for a second before she closed them again then started coughing.

‘Relax. Breathe easy,’ Reggie encouraged, and looked up to see just where Flynn was with getting that salbutamol organised. ‘Flynn?’ she called.

‘Right here, Reg.’ He was walking towards her, carrying the portable nebuliser. Soon they had Melva settled, with the salbutamol easing the pressure in her lungs as the paramedics transferred her to the stretcher.

‘You’ll come with me?’ Melva asked, her voice still a little raspy.

‘Try to keep me away,’ Reggie said with a smile
as Melva was settled into the ambulance. She stopped for a moment then turned and looked at their building. Smoke was billowing out but thankfully the firefighters had managed to contain the raging flames, protecting the properties on either side. People were everywhere, being kept at a distance, more police had arrived to assist with crowd control and another fire engine was just pulling up so the men and women who had already been battling the blaze for quite some time could rest and recuperate.

She knew the drill. She’d been involved in many a rescue situation over the years but now, as she continued to watch the place she’d called home become nothing more than a wreck, she couldn’t help an overwhelming sense of helplessness engulf her.

Her eyes filled with tears and although she tried to blink them away, knowing she needed to remain strong, to be there for Melva, she couldn’t shift them. Sniffing, she raised a shaking hand to her lips as the scene before her blurred into a watery mess. As a tear dropped from her lashes and rolled down her cheek, she almost jumped when Flynn’s warm and comforting arms drew her close.

She knew she should resist. She knew she should push him away, keep her distance from the man who had broken her heart beyond repair, but she couldn’t. She wanted his comfort, needed his strength, and for the first time in years Reggie gave in to the vulnerabilities she’d successfully kept at bay for far too long.

‘Oh, Flynn,’ she murmured against his chest, hating herself for loving the comfort he offered. ‘What am I going to do now?’

‘Shh,’ he crooned, resting his chin on her head and tightening his hold on her. ‘We’ll figure it out.’

‘We?’ The word was barely a whisper as she snuggled in a little closer to him, her ear pressed to his chest, and there she could hear that his heart was beating a lot faster than it should. ‘We?’ she asked again, a little louder, and as she edged back just a touch, lifting her head so she could look at his face, she saw in his eyes determination mixed with a healthy dose of repressed desire.

‘We,’ he confirmed with a definitive nod.

‘R
EGGIE
?’

She felt a hand on her shoulder rousing her from her light doze. Someone was gently shaking her awake, their deep voice tender and soothing.

‘Reg?’

She breathed in deeply, recognising the sound of Flynn’s voice. Oh, Flynn. How she’d missed him. The way he’d always held her close, supporting her, listening to her, comforting her. She’d loved the way he’d called her ‘Reg’, the one syllable sounding so special and unique and perfect from his lips. She sighed with happiness, letting the dream of his presence wash over her.

She remembered the first time he’d kissed her,
really
kissed her, not just a quick peck on the cheek. She’d all but melted into his arms and kissed him back with equal abandonment. Until that moment she’d never known kissing someone could feel so real, so right, so romantic.

They’d known each other for only two weeks and she’d been astounded at how his thoughts had been so aligned with hers. ‘I just knew it would be perfect between us,’ he’d whispered against her mouth when they’d finally come up for air. As though by unspoken mutual consent, from that moment onwards they’d been
a couple. They’d strolled hand in hand along the beach at sunset, worked side by side at the hospital, gazed longingly into each other’s eyes. She had accepted his words, his touch, his love, and she’d thought it would last forever.

Sadness crept into her soul and she started to rouse from the dream, wishing she had the chance to go back and rewrite her past. Oh, Flynn. Why? Why? She shifted, trying to shake off the tender hand on her shoulder…the one that was trying to wake her.

‘Reg?’ She heard his voice, more clearly now. She felt his breath fan her face and slowly her mind lifted itself from the fuzziness of that state between dreams and reality. Reggie opened her eyes and looked around, taking a moment to remember exactly where she was.

She was in the female ward, sitting in a chair by Melva’s bedside. She’d obviously fallen asleep, the exhaustion of the day having finally caught up with her. A busy day at the hospital and then…and then the fire. The fire that had burned her apartment and all her belongings to the ground and had almost taken Melva’s life. She looked at Flynn, realising he was crouched down beside her chair, his lips curved in a small smile.

‘Hi, there.’

‘Was I snoring?’ she asked, and was delighted when his smile increased.

‘Not that I can report. I’ll have to check with Ayana, though,’ he said, indicating where the night sister was seated at the nurses’ station, writing up some paperwork.

Reggie looked back at Melva, pleased to see her friend sleeping soundly. The echo-cardiograph was still monitoring Melva’s heart rate and from what Reggie
could see, everything looked to be within normal parameters.

‘She’s doing well,’ Flynn confirmed, and stood when Reggie eased herself out of the chair, wanting to read Melva’s latest set of observations. Feeling stiff from sitting too long, Reggie stretched her arms up over her head, shifting slightly from side to side as she worked out the kinks in her back. As she lowered her arms she glanced at Flynn, surprised to find him watching her every move. She blushed and straightened the hem of her knit top, which had ridden up a little.

‘Er…’ She cleared her throat as she tried to focus on the information on the monitor. Come on, Reggie. Pull yourself together. It’s not as though Flynn hasn’t admired your body before. Good heavens, she used to go swimming with him in the sea wearing a bikini. But that had been then, when they’d been together as a couple. This was now, when he was nothing more than a colleague…and possibly a friend?

He had stated he was going to help her out and he’d held her so tenderly, so carefully, so…lovingly? She pushed the thought away and gave her thoughts a mental shake.

‘All her vitals are steady,’ Flynn continued. ‘Her heart is strong, the burns on her arms and legs are bandaged and will eventually heal,’ he continued.

‘And on top of all this she now has the emotional trauma of dealing with losing her life-long possessions, reminders of her husband and family and all those trinkets she’s collected over the years. She shouldn’t be forced to start again, not at her age.’ Reggie reached for Melva’s hand and held it in hers. ‘She has been such a good friend to me since I moved into the apartment
block. I need to do whatever I can for her…and for the other tenants.’

‘The fire wasn’t your fault, Reggie,’ he pointed out. ‘Preliminary findings show there was a fault with the wiring.’

‘Then I should have been more diligent, forcing the landlord to check these things out more thoroughly.’ She pressed a kiss to Melva’s hand before she turned and walked to the end of the bed. ‘I feel as though I’ve failed her. What sort of Christmas is she supposed to have now?’

Flynn put both hands on her shoulders then turned her to face him. When she didn’t immediately look at him he placed his fingers gently beneath her chin and lifted it so their gazes could meet. ‘It’s not your fault.’ His words were earnest and intent.

‘But—’

‘It’s not your fault.’ He spoke with carefulness, as though he was desperate to get the words to sink in.

‘Still, there has to have been something I could have done to prev—’

He silenced her by pressing his index finger tenderly to her lips, knowing the touch would effectively silence her. He leaned in closer, bringing his mouth closer to her ear so she could hear him when he whispered clearly,
‘It’s not your fault.’
Then he gathered her into his arms and held her tightly. ‘You’re not going to do yourself any favours by playing the what-if game, Reg.’

She closed her eyes as his message finally began to penetrate through her thick skull. ‘I know you want to rewind time, to do anything you can to spare Melva the emotional upheaval she’s going to go through, but
you can’t.’ His words were barely above a whisper as she once more allowed herself to rest within his arms.

How she’d missed this. Having someone with big strong arms hold her, comfort her, support her in times of need. How she’d missed Flynn. She felt so comfortable and secure in his arms that a moment later, she yawned, a big, long yawn.

‘You’re exhausted,’ she heard him murmur, but now that she’d mentally accepted there was nothing she could have done to alter tonight’s outcome of the fire, it was as though her entire body was starting to shut down.

Plus, Flynn was making it very comfortable for her to stand there, leaning into him, knowing his big, strong arms would support her and keep her safe. At this particular moment it didn’t matter one jot what had happened between them all those years ago. What mattered was that Flynn was offering comfort and she was going to be selfish and accept it.

The memories from her past, the memories she’d tried so hard to push away, to ignore, to never think about again, were returning with a vengeance as she continued to lean against him. She knew he wouldn’t let her fall, that he would support her, and for a wild moment she desperately wanted to go back in time. Back to when Flynn had professed his love for her. Back to a moment when her life, for the very first time, had felt…complete.

‘Go back,’ she mumbled into his chest, her words incoherent.

‘Reggie?’ Flynn eased away just slightly to look down at her, but she only seemed to snuggle in closer. Who was he to argue? He closed his eyes, allowing
himself to absorb the sensation of once again having his Reg in his arms. It was clear the attraction they’d felt for each other all those years ago was still alive and well…at least, it was on his side. Could she feel it, too?

‘Reggie?’ He tried again and when the only answer he received was her steady and even breathing, he realised that the day had definitely taken its toll on her. Not only had she been watching over Melva for the past few hours but she’d also answered a barrage of questions from the police, providing them with whatever information she could. Thankfully, both her other neighbours had been contacted and although they were devastated at the loss of their belongings, at least none of them had lost their lives. Therefore, he wasn’t the least bit surprised at Reggie being so completely wiped out that she was literally asleep on her feet.

‘Come on, Reg,’ he murmured, shifting her slightly in his arms so he could guide her as they walked quietly out of the ward.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked, half roused. He couldn’t help but smile down at the gorgeous sight of her, her short, black hair sticking out a little at the sides and her eyelids half-closed.

‘You need sleep,’ he replied.

‘Good idea. Residential wing will have a bed free.’

‘Goodnight, Ayana,’ Flynn called quietly as he waved to the night nurse. ‘If there’s any change in Melva’s condition—’

‘I’ll call you and Reggie immediately,’ Ayana promised. ‘Get her to a bed, and soon, Flynn. She really is asleep on her feet, isn’t she?’ Ayana smiled as Reggie continued to lean against Flynn. It would be far easier for him to scoop her into his arms and carry her
through the hospital but he was already mindful of the looks they were receiving with her snuggled so closely against him. The last thing he wanted was for Reggie to have to deal with a barrage of gossip on top of everything else that had happened to her.

They headed out of the ward towards the lift, Reggie more than content to let him guide her. That way she didn’t have to think about anything. She couldn’t remember being this exhausted since she’d been an intern, trying to cope with the all-nighters followed by a full day shift. Perhaps the trauma of losing all her possessions, of the impending frustration and stress of dealing with the insurance company, of having to go out in the morning and buy new clothes and shoes and…She didn’t even own a toothbrush. Not anymore.

‘And all the Christmas presents,’ she groaned, her words muffled as she spoke into Flynn’s chest, another layer of stress falling on her shoulders.

‘What?’ Flynn bent his head so he could hear her more clearly.

‘I’d finished my Christmas shopping. Now it’s all gone.’ She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream and bellyache and wail, but she was just too exhausted.

‘We’ll sort it out,’ Flynn promised her as they headed out into the humid December night.

‘Thank you, Flynn. You always were so reliable…except, you know, when you broke my heart.’

‘You’re mumbling, Reg. Can’t understand a word,’ he told her. ‘And you’re starting to trip over your own feet,’ she heard him say, and the next instant she felt as light as a feather, floating along in the breeze. She looped her arms around Flynn’s neck and rested her head against his shoulder, only belatedly realising he’d
scooped her off her feet and was carrying her, striding purposefully towards the residential wing like the gallant hero she’d always thought him to be.

‘Flynn,’
she sighed as her head was finally placed onto a soft pillow. She had no idea just how much time had passed and could have sworn she’d been strapped into a car at one point. Perhaps Flynn had decided to drive around to the residential wing rather than carry her the entire way.

At any rate, she was simply glad to finally be in a bed, a sheet being pulled over her, the ceiling fan whirring gently above to keep her cool throughout the night. Someone was removing her shoes and once that was done she drew her knees up and snuggled into the inviting world of dreams.

‘Sleep sweet, Reg.’

Flynn’s glorious deep words washed over her and then she dreamed he’d placed a kiss on her forehead. ‘Mmm, Flynn. I’ve missed you,’ she whispered.

He straightened up and stared down at the woman sleeping in his spare room. She’d missed him? Really? Was that just the exhaustion talking? Did she mean ‘miss’ as in she’d wanted to see him again? Because from the moment he’d seen her at the hospital the impression he’d gained had definitely been the opposite, especially as she’d spent the better part of the last week avoiding him.

With her breathing settling into an even rhythm, letting him know she was definitely sound asleep, Flynn knew he should leave yet he couldn’t seem to move. Watching Reggie sleep made his heart contract with pain and pleasure as his mind was flooded with a round of what-if’s.

She was the woman he’d once loved with all his heart, the woman he’d planned to marry and spend the rest of his life with, the woman who had managed to show him he was a person of worth, to accept him for exactly who he was…and then everything had exploded. He’d been weak, had allowed himself to be manipulated, and it had brought him nothing but pain and mortification.

‘Not anymore.’ He shook his head and exhaled heavily. When he’d accepted the job at Sunshine General, he hadn’t known Reggie was working there, not until a few days before his starting date, when he’d had a meeting with Geetha to fill in the remaining paperwork.

‘The staff here are very friendly, especially Reggie,’ Geetha had told him after they’d finished dealing with the red tape. Flynn had literally frozen at the name.

‘Reggie?’ It might not be the same person, he’d rationalised, astonished to find his heartbeat had increased. The name ‘Reggie’ might actually be referring to a man named Reginald, not a dynamic woman called Regina who had the biggest blue eyes, fringed with dark lashes and the most encompassing laugh he’d ever heard.

‘Reggie Smith, she’s one of our general surgeons.’ Geetha had shaken her head. ‘Incredibly talented, should have been head of department years ago but instead she prefers to work as a functioning member of the team, at least that’s what she tells me.’

‘Reggie Smith.’ Flynn had settled back in his chair, his heart racing at the thought that soon he’d see Reggie again. Was that a good thing? He’d thought about her constantly over the past six years, especially when his marriage had broken up. He’d been tempted time
and time again to find her, to track her down, but what would he say to her when they met again?
I’m sorry I broke your heart. Can we try again, please, because I can’t seem to get you out of my mind?

He’d also presumed she would be happily married with a couple of children, that she’d moved on with her life…her life without him. Thoughts like that had stopped him from trying to find her. Reggie deserved the world of happiness, especially after the abominable way he’d treated her, and if she’d found that happiness with some other man, he did not want to know about it.