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

can catch up on my email and maybe get some work
done. At some point I need to call my editor. Last count, she’d left twelve
voice mails and threatened to call out the National Guard if I didn’t call
her.”
    “Does she know what happened?”
    “Yes, I made the mistake of texting her a
brief message. You have to know Sam. She loves to be all up in your business,
then tell you what she would do under the same circumstances. She means
well, but she’s crusty too. Not a lot of TLC in her skill set, if you know what
I mean.”
    “I had a roommate like that back in
college. Her own life was a train wreck, but she always had advice for me on
how to run mine.”
    “That’s Sam. I’ve never missed a
deadline, but you’d never know it by her. She starts the pressure before I have
a single word on the page.”
    “Which reminds me. Chad tells me your new book is based on your aunt and uncle’s
love story back in the forties. I can’t wait to read it.”
    “I’ve barely started working on it, so
don’t hold your breath.”
    “Maybe you can make some headway while
you’re sitting with Mark.”
    My cell rang. Kirsten called to tell us
Mark was in his room.
    “Thank you so much! We’re on our way.”
    An hour later, Shelly took off to run
some errands, and I settled in, making myself at home in Mark’s room. A
constant stream of aides and nurses came and went, but in spite of the numerous
interruptions, I was so thankful to be close to Mark. I couldn’t stop touching
him. Cupping his cheek in my hand, stroking his forearm, brushing the few locks
of hair that were exposed beneath his gauze-wrapped head. My eyes always
tracked back to his, wondering when I’d find them open again.
    A nurse dressed in those comfy scrubs
favored by medical professionals joined me by Mark’s bed. “Research tells us
that coma patients often hear the voices of those around them, so feel free to
talk to him.”
    “Okay.”
    “I’m Susie Blake, and I’ll be taking good
care of Mr. Christopher while he’s our guest. Are you his wife?”
    “No, I’m just his girlfriend.” That
sounded so lame. “I mean, we’re very close . . . very close. We’ve been seeing each other since‌—‌let me think‌—‌over
a year now? So I guess you could say we’re, uh . . . yeah, I’m his
girlfriend. Lucy. My name’s Lucy.”
    I bit the side of my lip. This is
precisely why I write books, because I can never seem to get a sentence out
without getting tangled up with words. There’s a reason God calls some to speak
and some to write.
    Susie laughed as she checked Mark’s
monitor, punching buttons and rearranging tubes. “Nice to meet you, Lucy. And
I’m thinking you must be pretty special to my patient here, no matter what your
relationship is.” She smiled up at me as she tucked the blanket in beneath
Mark’s leg.
    “Well, he’s amazing. You’ll see. He’s kind
and funny and smart, and never met a stranger.”
    “Sounds like a sweetheart of a guy. I’ll
look forward to getting to know him soon. In the meantime, you let us know if
there’s anything you need. There’s a pillow and blanket in the closet there,
and that’s a recliner, so feel free to kick back when you want to sleep. There’s
a refrigerator around the corner where we keep some juice and fruit. Popsicles
are up top in the freezer. We keep the coffee fresh, so help yourself.”
    “Thanks. That’s really nice.”
    “Okay, then. I’ll check back in a little
while.”
    I grabbed the blanket and pillow from the
closet, thankful for some added warmth against the ice locker that was Mark’s
room. I pulled the chair closer to the bed and covered my legs with the soft
blue blanket. I stared at Mark for the longest time before remembering what his
nurse just said about coma patients being able to hear the sound of your voice.
I tried, but it felt so strange, like I was trying to disturb his nap or
something.
    I dropped my head in my hands and rubbed
my face,