Page 86 of Fractured

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Christmas day is a whirlwind of watching kids rip open neatly ornamented gifts, chatter amongst family, and way too much food. I can tell my family members are treading carefully with each conversation. I’ll be relieved when this monumental life event has become a thing in my past, and people don’t walk on eggshells around me any longer. However, my mother and sister have never really treated me with kid gloves, so I appreciate the gesture all the same.

Later that evening, I sit curled up on my couch, continuing to reopen my phone app awaiting word from Nick on when he’s heading home.Home? What the heck, Kat? Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’ve never even had a proper date with him. He’s been staying here to be kind. There’ve been no declarations of love.

Maybe he decided to stay with his dad for the evening. Maybe he’s doing something with Gavin and Shelly. This thought makes my heart clench a little.

Nick and I left the house simultaneously this morning. Nick decided to shower and change at his house before leaving for his dad’s, and so we wished each other Merry Christmas and went our separate ways. There was never any discussion regarding plans to get together this evening. I just assumed he’d return. I was proud of how I’d handled the day, trying to focus on the positive more than the negative. However, I’m admittedly becoming sad at the prospect of spending Christmas night without my Saint Nick.

Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door, and I find myself running before I can stop to consider what I look like. Sliding on the hardwood flooring to the front door in my socked feet, ‘this is my Hallmark Christmas movie wearing shirt’ and leggings, hair in twin braids, I grab the door and swing it wide. My handsome man is standing in a black leather jacket, dark jeans, and a white button-down, holding a bottle of wine and a small wrapped gift box. Unable to control myself, I fling myself in his direction and almost knock him to the ground.

“Well, Merry Christmas to me.” I hear him chuckle in my ear.

“I was worried you wouldn’t make it back. I missed you.” I kiss his cheek, all scruffy and cold.

“Kitten, nothing could keep me from spending Christmas with you.” I feel him squeeze me tighter, lifting me off of the ground. “Let’s get inside. It’s so cold.”

Nick enters, lowers me to the ground, and sheds the cold leather jacket. Following me to the den, he joins me on the floor in front of the fire. I can’t help but rub my hands up and down his sleeves in an attempt to warm him. As he smiles at me, I remember his gift. Reaching up onto the couch beside me, I grab ahold of the small box I have waiting for him.

“Merry Christmas,” I say, handing the small wrapped package to him, filled with delight for the special gift I’d chosen. He opens the wrap slowly and carefully.

“Kat, you didn’t have to. I told you, I already have the perfect gift,” he says, winking at me. He snaps open the lid of the box, revealing the watch I’d selected. I’d found a Movado Gunmetal watch online that screamed Dr. Nicholas Barnes. “Kitten, I love it.” Bending forward, he kisses me softly on the mouth. “I’ll think of you every time I look at it.” I beam at him as he pulls the watch from the box, replacing the one he’d been wearing. Holding his arm out, admiring it exaggeratedly, he grins with apparent pride. “I love it.”

“Open yours. I was going to get you flowers.” He chuckles. A loud guffaw escapes before I can stop it with my hand. Carefully tearing the beautifully wrapped paper, I find a Tiffany blue box hidden underneath. As I slowly crack open the jewelry box, I admire the beautiful white gold key pendant, the top of the key shaped like a heart. I stroke it gently with my fingertips, my mouth agape. It’s the most incredible thing any man has ever bought me. “You hold the key to my heart, Kat. Too lame?”

Again, I charge this beautiful man, knocking us both to the floor. I cannot stop placing kisses all over his face, neck, and jaw. “Thank you. Leave it to you to give me the best Christmas ever, in spite of everything that’s happened.”

We spend the remainder of the evening watching Hallmark movies with the wine Nick brought and bask in the glow of a healthy relationship in the making. It’s the best gift I could’ve ever asked for and never thought I’d receive. Better than flowers or jewelry. As the holiday comes to a close, I’m well aware I’ve fallen in love with Nick. For however long this lasts, I’ll be eternally grateful for having him in my life when I needed him most.

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Several mornings later, I walk toward the kitchen to find Nick’s ridiculous coffee station taking up half of my small kitchen counter. He insisted on bringing it over once he started spending so many nights here. Other than its size, I’m not complaining. It really does make incredible coffee, and we wake to the rich aroma each morning, beckoning us to rise and shine. Nick had to leave early this morning for work after receiving a call from the service about a post-op patient on the orthopedic floor who wasn’t doing well. He was lucky to have the holiday off from working and taking call. However, as the newest physician in his practice, the tradeoff was being on call for much of the week following Christmas so the others could spend time with their families.

As I grab a mug from the cupboard and head toward “the Cadillac,” as Nick refers to it, I notice there’s a note beside it.

Katarina,

Now that the holidays are over, I’d like for you to do something for me. Please have your coffee, take a shower, and try to eat something. Then, I need you to go and do something for someone today. Anyone. You have such a giving heart. It’ll help you heal to focus on someone else. There are people who need you. (Besides me)

Nick

xo

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Nick

The last week of the year is kicking my tail. I’m on-call more days than I’m not, but after having off for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it’s hard to complain. I’m looking forward to getting past the holiday season to take that stress off of Kat’s shoulders. Maybe she can face the world again if things are a little more normal.

I worry I may have pushed her with my note this morning. The last few days, she’s seemed so downtrodden. I didn’t want her to revert to where she’d been. She always seems so serene when she speaks of her volunteer job and when I watch her care for others in the ER. Maybe if she can focus her attention elsewhere, the other pain may lessen.

I’m fighting my own internal struggle right now. I miss my sexy vixen. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, and I’ll try to remain patient, but it’s tough lying next to her and not being able to make love to her. I’m not sure how long after her surgery she’s been advised to wait, but hopefully, she’ll get clearance to return to a normal sex life after her next checkup. Now, if only her heart and head will give her the go-ahead.

As I try to focus on typing progress notes in the computer, my mind continues to wander. Maybe after our ‘date.’ Maybe that’s how we can change gears and return to the hot-blooded relationship we had before. I need to come up with something special. I want this date to be perfect. To show her how much she means to me. To finally tell her I’m in love with her.

My nerves are starting to get to me, worrying I’ve upset her with my note encouraging her to do something for someone else today. She’s barely left the house in weeks except to work on Christmas Eve and visit her family for a few hours on Christmas Day. I’m not sure when she’s due to return to work full time.

Pulling out my phone, I decide to shoot her a text.

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