A Christmas Peril (The Teacup Novellas - Book Five) Read Online Free

have slipped this heirloom into my hands, right
here, right now?
    For such a time as this.
    Exactly.
     “Miss Alexander?”
    Chad and I stood up, turning in sync at the familiar voice of
the seven-to-three shift nurse.
    “Hello, Kirsten. Any news?” Chad asked.
    “Good, and about to get even better. Dr.
Bradley has released Mark to a private room up on the eighth floor.”
    I looked at Chad then back at Mark’s nurse. “Are you sure? Isn’t this too
early? Doesn’t he need constant monitoring? What if something happens and‍—‍”
    “ If
Dr. Bradley thinks he’s
ready to move, I guarantee it’s because Mark’s condition has improved enough to
warrant a move. Bradley’s a stickler and always errs on the side of caution, so
relax. Besides, now you can stay with Mark as long as you like. No pesky limits
on visiting hours.”
    Suddenly my arms were wrapped around her.
Believe it or not, I’m not the kind of person who hugs people all the time. But
I couldn’t help it. Kirsten had just given me the best possible news. Well, almost the best.
    “I told you it was good news,” she said,
laughing with Chad as he extricated me.
    “So is Mark, uh, is he‍—‍”
    “Conscious? No, not yet. But Dr. Bradley
said the swelling has gone down substantially, and he feels confident that Mark
will do better in his own room. He sends his apologies for not telling you
himself, but he got called away for emergency surgery. He’ll be in to talk to
you once Mark is settled.”
    “And I can stay with Mark as much as I
like?”
    “Absolutely. If you want to stay 24/7,
that’s perfectly all right.”
    “Okay if we go up to his room now?” Chad asked.
    “Not yet. You know how things go around
here. It could be an hour or so, but I’ll let you know just as soon as he’s
settled, okay?”
    The next thing I knew, Chad was prying me out of another Kirsten hug. I didn’t care. Mark
would be in his own room soon, and I would stay by his side until he was ready
to go home. A few days, a couple of weeks‌—‌I didn’t care about
that either. As long as I could be there for him.
    As we sat back down, Chad rubbed his hands together. “Well, then. Good news at last. You
go ahead and finish your chai. I’ll give Shelly a call to tell her.”
    “Good idea. Thanks, bro.”
    I took a sip of my chai and started
making a mental list of things I wanted Chad to pick up for me at the house. As he placed
the call to Shelly, it dawned on me he must have her number already logged into
his cell.
    Interesting.

Chapter
3
     
    As hospitals go, it took much longer than
expected for Mark to get moved. Shelly returned around one that afternoon and
convinced me to have a late lunch with her in St. Michael’s cafeteria. The
place was hopping, but we finally made our way through the salad bar and found
a table near the back of the room. I was surprised how good a fresh salad
tasted after nibbling on packaged crackers and peanut butter the past few days.
    “Lucy, I love that you’re wanting to stay
by Mark’s side, and I totally understand. But I can stay with him too so you
can go home and get some rest. We can take shifts or whatever.”
    I took a sip of iced tea and set the
glass down. “Thanks, Shelly. I really appreciate the offer. Maybe after a day
or two. I just want to be with him when he wakes up, y’know?”
    She nodded, munching on a crouton. “I know.
Hopefully that will be soon.”
    “But you’re welcome to stay too. I’d love
the company, so please don’t think I’m trying to push you out. Because I’m
not.”
    Shelly pinned me with a look. “As if you
would? Please. But thanks. You’ll probably get sick of me before this is all
over.”
    “No way. I’d love the company.”
    She stabbed a cherry tomato. “Is there
anything else I can do for you? Chad said he’s taking care of Gertie and
running errands for you, but anything else?”
    “Not really. He’s bringing my laptop this
afternoon, and that’ll help. I