Once Upon a Christmas Read online

  Just what was going on with Jack?

  Bryony was nervous about working with Jack the next day but he seemed back to his usual self, relaxed and good-humoured as they sat in the staffroom and discussed the shifts for Bonfire Night.

  ‘It’s my turn.’ Sean Nicholson, one of the other consultants, looked at Jack with a resigned expression on his face. ‘You deserve a year off from Bonfire Night. You’ve had a bad few years.’

  Jack rolled his eyes. ‘I won’t know what to do with myself,’ he drawled, and Bryony gave him a sympathetic smile.

  ‘You hate this time of year, don’t you?’

  ‘I’ve just seen too many kids with burns after handling fireworks,’ he said grimly, scribbling something on his pad. ‘OK, so Blondie and I are officially off that night, but if you need us you can call us.’ He looked at Bryony. ‘Would you be able to come in that night if we needed you?’

  Bryony nodded. ‘After eight. I’m taking Lizzie to her bonfire party.’

  Jack stared at her, his body suddenly unnaturally still. ‘What bonfire party?’

  ‘Her friend is having a few sparklers in the garden. Nothing dramatic,’ Bryony assured him, but he shook his head.

  ‘No way.’ His jaw was tense. ‘She shouldn’t be going.’

  Bryony sighed. ‘She’s seven, Jack. She wants to be with her friends.’

  ‘So? Invite them all out for a hamburger.’

  ‘It’s just a few fireworks and drinks for the parents. It will be over by eight.’

  He let out a breath. ‘All right. But I’m coming with you.’

  ‘Jack—’

  ‘I’m off and I’m bored.’ His blue eyes glittered dangerously. ‘It’s that or she doesn’t go.’

  ‘You’re not her father, Jack!’ Suddenly remembering that Sean was still in the room, Bryony coloured with embarrassment and shot them an apologetic look. ‘Sorry, you guys.’

  ‘No problem,’ Sean said easily, ‘and I’m sure we won’t need you here so just go and have a good time.’

  ‘Great. That’s what we’ll do, then.’

  Jack ran through the rest of the rota and Sean left the room.

  Bryony looked at him. ‘So what are you planning to do? Bring the fire brigade?’

  ‘When you’ve spent as long working in A and E as I have, you won’t let your daughter go to domestic firework parties,’ he said tightly. ‘It’s fine. I’ll come, too. And you can tell Lizzie’s friend’s mother that I want a bucket of sand and another bucket of water handy.’

  ‘Why don’t we just have an ambulance on standby, just in case?’ Bryony suggested tartly. ‘Anne’s mother will think I’ve gone barmy.’

  ‘Better barmy than burned.’ Jack strode to the door. ‘What time does it start?’

  ‘We’re getting there at five-thirty for tea and then fireworks,’ Bryony said wearily, and Jack nodded.

  ‘Right. I’ll pick you both up at five-fifteen. And I want Lizzie in gloves. She’s not touching a sparkler with her bare hands.’

  Bryony stood up and followed him out of the staffroom, wanting to argue but knowing that he was only being cautious.

  He had dealt with a huge number of burns on Bonfire Night, all of which could have been avoided.

  And he did adore Lizzie.

  Deciding that she should be grateful that he was so protective of her daughter, she picked up a set of notes and called the next patient from the waiting room.

  And secretly part of her was excited at spending an evening with Jack. Even if it was in the company of half a dozen parents and their offspring.

  It would be lovely to have him there, even though nothing was going to happen.

  Reminding herself that Jack was not the man she was dating, she sat down in her chair and waited for the patient to arrive.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE NIGHT of the bonfire party was freezing cold and Bryony pulled on her jeans and thickest jumper and wore her long black coat.

  Lizzie was wearing a bright pink hat, pink tights and a pink fleece, and Jack blinked when he arrived to pick them up.

  ‘How are my girls?’ He picked Lizzie up and planted a kiss on her cheek. ‘You’re looking very pink, angel.’ He spoke in that lazy drawl that sent butterflies flitting through Bryony’s stomach. ‘Do you have any pink gloves to go with that outfit, sweetheart?’

  ‘Somewhere.’

  Jack smiled and put her back down. ‘Find them for me, there’s a good girl.’ He looked at Bryony and she smiled, determined to have a nice evening.

  ‘Is my dress decent enough for you, Jack?’

  For a moment he didn’t react and then he laughed. ‘Exactly the way I like it. None of you showing.’

  Bryony rolled her eyes and tried not to be offended that he didn’t actually want to see any of her body. Obviously she was lacking in something, or he would have pounced on her long ago.

  Lizzie came back into the hall, holding her gloves, and Jack nodded.

  ‘Good girl.’ He opened the front door and led them towards his car. ‘Now, Lizzie, tonight when the fireworks start, I want you to stay by me. The whole time. OK?’

  ‘But what if I want to play with my friends?’

  ‘You can play with them before and after,’ he said firmly, strapping her into her seat. ‘But during the fireworks, you stay with me.’

  Lizzie’s eyes were huge and solemn. ‘Are you very afraid of them, Jack? Will I need to hold your hand?’

  Bryony smothered a giggle but Jack’s expression didn’t flicker. ‘I’m terrified of them, angel. And I’m relying on you to be beside me.’

  ‘I’ll be there the whole time,’ Lizzie assured him, and Bryony rolled her eyes as she slid into the passenger seat, knowing that Jack had got his own way.

  Lizzie’s friend Anne lived in a house with a huge garden and they arrived to find that the trees had been decorated with fairy lights and everyone was gathered round, laughing and waiting for sausages to cook.

  It felt wintry and cold, and delicious smells wafted through the freezing air.

  ‘Hello, Lizzie.’ Anne’s mother greeted them warmly and drew them into the garden, introducing them to people they didn’t know.

  ‘Where have you stored the fireworks?’ was Jack’s first question, and Bryony put a hand on his arm and smiled at Anne’s mother.

  ‘Jack is a consultant in A and E,’ she explained hastily, ‘and we doctors are always a bit nervous of fireworks. Take no notice.’

  ‘Anne’s father has it all under control,’ the woman assured them, waving a hand towards the bottom of the garden. ‘The children won’t be allowed near them. Apart from the sparklers, of course.’

  Bryony saw Jack’s mouth open and quickly spoke before he did. ‘That’s great,’ she said cheerfully, her fingers biting into his arm like a vice. ‘Those sausages smell fantastic.’

  ‘Well, we’re just about ready to eat.’ Anne’s mother led them to a table loaded with food. ‘Grab yourself a roll and some ketchup and tuck in!’

  She walked away and Jack scowled at Bryony. ‘You just made holes in my arm.’

  ‘I was trying to stop you embarrassing Lizzie,’ she hissed, smiling sweetly at one of the mothers who passed. ‘Now, eat something and relax. Try and remember that you only see the disasters in A and E. You don’t see the normal, happy bonfire parties that everyone enjoys.’

  There was a long silence and then, to her surprise, Jack sucked in a breath and gave her a lopsided smile. ‘You’re right,’ he said dryly, running a hand through his cropped dark hair. ‘I’m being an idiot. It’s just that I love Lizzie so much.’

  Bryony’s face softened. ‘I know you do.’ On impulse she stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, feeling the roughness of stubble against her lips and smelling the sexy male smell that was Jack.

  He looked startled. ‘What was that for?’

  ‘For being you.’ Deciding that, for a girl who was supposed to be forgetting about Jack, she wasn’t actually doing that well, Bryon
y left him by the bread rolls and went and found Lizzie.

  ‘You kissed Jack.’ Lizzie was looking at her curiously and Bryony felt herself blush.

  ‘Just on the cheek,’ she said hastily, and Lizzie tipped her head on one side.

  ‘Jack would make a cool dad.’

  Pretending that she hadn’t heard that remark, Bryony turned to chat to one of the mothers that she knew vaguely, trying not to look at Jack who was now deep in conversation with one of the prettiest mothers in the school. He looked broad-shouldered and powerful with his back to her, and her stomach twisted as she saw the woman laughing up at him flirtatiously.

  Reminding herself that she was supposed to be getting a life and forgetting about Jack, Bryony joined in with the others, handing food to the children, topping up drinks and wiping ketchup from faces.

  Anne’s father lit the bonfire and the flames licked towards the dark sky, suddenly illuminating the massive garden.

  ‘You kids stay here,’ he ordered cheerfully. ‘I’m going to start the show.’

  ‘Mummy, can I have another drink?’ Lizzie tugged at her sleeve, her cheeks pink from the cold, and Bryony took her hand and led her over to the table.

  ‘What do you want?’ She picked up some empty cartons and then found a full one. ‘Apple juice OK?’

  ‘Great.’ Lizzie took the cup and looked around her happily. ‘Isn’t this great, Mummy? You, me and Jack together.’

  Bryony swallowed. ‘Well, er, we’re not exactly …’ Then she smiled weakly. ‘Yes, sweetheart, it’s great.’

  There were shrieks of excitement from the other children as they played closer to the fire and Bryony felt a stab of unease.

  They were too close …

  Opening her mouth to caution them, she noticed the other parents laughing, totally relaxed, and closed her mouth again. She really must try and act like a normal parent and not like a doctor, seeing accidents everywhere.

  ‘Can I go and play, Mummy?’ Lizzie put her drink down and moved towards the other children, but Bryony grabbed her arm, struck by a premonition so powerful that it made her gasp. ‘No, Lizzie. I think—’

  Before she could even finish her sentence there was a series of horrific screams from Annie, and Bryony saw flames engulfing her little body with frightening speed.

  ‘Oh, my God—Jack!’ Bryony screamed his name at the top of her voice and ran forward, dragging off her coat as she ran.

  Jack was there before her, knocking the girl to the ground and covering her with his jacket. ‘Cold water—get me cold water now!’ His voice was harsh and everyone ran to do as he said while Bryony stood there, so shocked she could hardly move.

  All Jack’s attention was on the injured girl. ‘It’s going to be all right, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine.’ Jack lifted his head and looked straight at one of the fathers. ‘Call the paramedics and get me a hosepipe and cling film. Blondie, I need your help with her clothes.’ Bryony still didn’t move.

  ‘Dr Hunter.’ His voice was sharp. ‘I need your help here.’

  His sharp reminder of her profession brought her back to reality. She nodded and breathed deeply, trying to forget that it was Annie lying on the ground.

  Her daughter’s friend.

  Annie’s mother was screaming hysterically and clinging to the other mothers while two of the fathers had fortunately listened to Jack’s orders and rolled out a hosepipe.

  ‘OK, sweetheart, you’re going to be fine.’ Jack carried on talking to Annie, his voice gentle and reassuring as he removed his jacket from the injured girl and took the end of the hosepipe.

  Bryony dropped on her knees beside him. ‘What do you want me to do?’

  She felt physically sick but as usual Jack was rock-solid and totally calm.

  ‘Her clothes are smouldering. If they’re not actually stuck to her body, I want them off.’

  He turned the hose onto Annie’s body, the cold water taking the heat away from the burn as Bryony struggled to remove the clothing.

  ‘Get me scissors.’

  Someone quickly produced a pair and she cut the clothing away as gently as she could, careful not to disturb any that actually adhered to the burn.

  ‘It’s all below her waist,’ Jack said softly, his eyes assessing the area of the burn. ‘It’s the skirt area. Her skirt caught fire. Has someone called the ambulance?’

  ‘I did, Jack,’ Lizzie said in a shaky voice from right beside them. ‘They said they’d be here in two minutes.’

  ‘Good girl.’ Jack gave her a nod of approval. ‘Sweetheart, I need some clingfilm. The stuff you wrap round food in the kitchen. The women over there are too upset to help and the men seem to have forgotten. Can you find it for me, angel?’

  Lizzie nodded and shot down the garden towards the house, legs and arms pumping. She was back in less than a minute with a long, thin box.

  ‘That’s my girl. Now open it up for me,’ Jack ordered, and Lizzie fished it out awkwardly and struggled to find the end.

  ‘How much do you want?’

  ‘I’ll do it, Lizzie.’ Bryony took it from her, worried about her daughter seeing her friend so badly injured. ‘You can go into the house with the other children.’

  ‘I want to help.’

  They heard the sound of an ambulance approaching and Jack looked at Lizzie. ‘Go and meet them. Tell them I want oxygen, two large-bore cannulae, IV fluids and morphine. Have you got that?’

  Lizzie nodded and Bryony glanced at him.

  ‘She won’t remember that, Jack, she’s only seven.’

  ‘She’ll remember,’ Jack said firmly, his eyes fixed on Lizzie. ‘Oxygen, two large-bore cannulae, IV fluids and morphine. Go, angel.’

  Lizzie sped back down the garden to meet the ambulance, leaving Jack and Bryony to wrap the exposed burns.

  ‘Can you get us clean sheets?’ Bryony addressed one of the fathers who was hovering by helplessly.

  ‘And someone put that bonfire out,’ Jack added, checking Annie’s pulse and breathing.

  She’d stopped screaming and was lying shivering, sobbing quietly, her father by her side.

  Annie’s mother was still hysterical at the far side of the garden.

  Seconds later the paramedics arrived with Lizzie, complete with all the equipment that Jack had asked for.

  As Bryony grabbed the oxygen and fitted the mask gently to Annie’s face, Jack smiled at Lizzie, his blue eyes showering her with approval and warmth.

  ‘Good girl.’

  Despite the stress of the situation Lizzie returned the smile bravely and Jack gave a nod.

  ‘All right, I’m going to need your help here, Lizzie. Annie needs some fluid and we’re going to put a line in and give her fluid through her arm. Then we’re going to take her to hospital. I want you to hold this for me.’

  Bryony looked at him uncertainly, still not sure that her young daughter should be exposed to the harsh realities of immediate care, but Jack seemed determined to involve her and Lizzie was frowning with concentration as she listened carefully to Jack’s instructions and did as he asked.

  Too worried about little Annie to argue, Bryony turned her attention back to the little girl, following Jack’s instructions to the letter.

  ‘Shall I give her morphine?’

  ‘We’re going to give it IV.’ Jack murmured, picking up a cannula and searching for a vein. ‘Can you squeeze for me?’

  Bryony took Annie’s little arm and squeezed, praying that Jack would find a vein first time.

  He did, of course, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

  ‘Give her the morphine and cyclizine in there and then we’ll put a line in the other arm, too,’ Jack said, holding out a hand for the syringe that the paramedic was holding ready. ‘OK, sweetheart.’ He looked down at Annie, his eyes gentle. ‘This is going to make you feel better, I promise. And then we’re going to take you to hospital. You’re doing fine. You’re brilliant.’

  He gave the morphine and then put a cannula
into the other arm and looked at Bryony. ‘OK, let’s get some fluid into her and get her covered or she’ll get hypothermia from the cold water.’

  He and Bryony worked together, each anticipating the other’s needs, until finally the little girl was stabilised and in the ambulance.

  ‘I’ll go with her,’ Jack said. ‘Meet me at the hospital when you’ve dropped Lizzie at your mother’s.’

  ‘I want to come, too,’ Lizzie said firmly, and Bryony shook her head.

  ‘Sweetheart, no.’

  ‘Bring her,’ Jack said firmly. ‘I’ll run her home later. She can wait in the staffroom.’

  He dug in his pocket and produced his car keys, a wry smile playing around his firm mouth. ‘If you prang my car, Blondie, you’re history.’ Handing the keys to Lizzie, he jerked his head towards the front of the house. ‘Go and wait for your mother by the car, sweetheart.’

  Lizzie did as she was told and Jack took Bryony by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. ‘She’s just seen her best friend horribly burned,’ he said quietly. ‘That is going to stay with her a long time and will be easier to bear if she knows she did something to help. Trust me on this one. She’s tough, our Lizzie. She’ll be fine. But do it my way.’

  Bryony swallowed and nodded, knowing that whatever they did now the trauma had already happened for Lizzie. Maybe it was best for her to be involved.

  Anne’s parents came over, her mother clinging to her husband, her face streaked with tears.

  ‘Can we go in the ambulance with her?’

  Jack exchanged glances with one of the paramedics and then nodded. ‘Of course. But try and be calm. I know it’s a terrible shock but she needs you to be strong. If she sees you panicking, then she’ll panic, and I don’t want her any more scared than she is already.’

  Bryony waited while they loaded Annie into the ambulance and then she joined Lizzie by Jack’s car.

  She pressed the remote to unlock the door and gave a short laugh. Now she knew it was an emergency. There was no other reason that Jack would have let her near his precious sports car—he never let anyone drive it.

  She strapped Lizzie in the front seat and slid into the driver’s seat, telling herself that it was only a car. Exactly like her car really, except that it was capable of ridiculous speed and cost about fifteen times as much.