Dearly Loved (23 page)

Rubbing her back, David prayed for the family, and for Meredith. He felt her hand toying with the front of his shirt as her breathing became more even, making him feel he’d at least been some measure of comfort for her. A surge of protectiveness washed over him, making him want to insulate her from the harsh realities of life. Of course, he knew he couldn’t. In fact, he figured he’d been the cause of some pain.

It was some time before David realized she’d fallen asleep. Her head was heavy against his chest. Her hand had stilled its movements. When he whispered her name, he received no response. Poor thing. He leaned back to get more comfortable, being careful not to wake her.

David had hoped to get her into his arms tonight and maybe even steal a kiss. He was quite willing to compromise by holding her while she slept.

Seventeen

Meredith slowly opened her eyes and realized she was in David’s arms. Unwilling to end the moment, she pressed her cheek against his chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart beneath her ear.

She sent up a silent prayer for the family going through such a horrible loss. After the bewildering, devastating afternoon of surgeons, nurses, extended family, and the chaplain, she knew her grief was nowhere near that of the family, but losing such a young patient hit her hard.

She glanced around the living room and noticed the room was darker than when David had arrived.
How long was I out?
I can’t believe I fell asleep!
She sighed. David arms tightened around her and his lips brushed against her temple.

Meredith stiffened, fighting against the sweet sensations coursing through her. She pushed at his chest and struggled to sit up. He released her. Pushing her hair out of her eyes, she sent him a faint smile. “Sorry I fell asleep.”

David sat up and stretched his arms high above his head, looking as if he’d dozed a bit himself. “No problem.”

Meredith bit her lip. “I should probably see what time it is.”

He glanced at his wristwatch. “It’s about seven.” His eyes softened and he caught her hand in his. “How are you feeling?”

She lowered her gaze. “Better. Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder.”

“I’m glad I was here.”

She swallowed. “Me, too.”

David stood up and retrieved the flowers and gift from the side table. He put them in her lap and sat down beside her. “Happy Birthday,” he said softly.

Meredith brought the flowers up to her nose. “These are beautiful.” She released a sigh. “But it’s hard to get excited about a birthday, especially when that little boy will never have another one.”

David put his arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “He won’t need birthdays in Heaven,” he said gently. “It will be an unending celebration there.”

“I know you’re right. It’s just so hard.” Blowing out a breath, she began to tear the paper from the box. “You shouldn’t have, you know. Bought me a gift, I mean.”

“That’s what girls always say. But a guy forgets one time and boom, they’re in the dog house.”

“Speaking from experience?” she teased, her mood lifting a little.

David cleared his throat. “I think I read about it in a comic strip once or something.”

“Mmhmm.” Stifling a smile, Meredith opened the lid of the box. Don’t expect anything of earth-shattering sentimentality. Knowing David, it will probably be more along the lines of a gag gift. Pulling out some tissue paper, her face broke into a smile. From the box, she lifted out two bags of candy. Hershey’s Kisses and Hugs. She gave him a speculative look.

“Hugs and kisses,” he said, sounding pleased with himself. “Get it?”

“I get it. Thank you. I love chocolate.”

“They’re for when you feel in need of a hug or kiss. If I’m not around, these will have to tide you over.”

She peered up at him through her lashes. “So they don’t work with anyone else?”

David leaned back against the cushions with his arms behind his head. “Nope. Just me. Of course, they’re nothing like the real thing.”

“I don’t know. I’ve had these before and they taste pretty good.”

He leaned forward and put his hands on her shoulders. “Let me show you the difference.”

Meredith laughed nervously.
You’re getting in way too deep, missie
. “It was just a joke, David.” She eased away from him and got to her feet. “So, are you hungry? I could make us something for dinner.”

“Sounds great.”

David followed her into the kitchen, looking over her shoulder while she went through her refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. They finally settled on canned chicken soup and salad. Meredith chopped vegetables for the salad while David stirred the saucepan of soup. She had to admit she liked the cozy feel of working together in her kitchen.

Her face heated.
Don’t get used to it. Temporary is David’s middle name
. After their meal, Meredith rose from the table and put their dishes in the sink.

“Do you have to work tomorrow?” he asked.

She nodded. “I go in at six-thirty.”

“Then I better let you get some rest. You need more sleep than a catnap.”

She smiled. She walked David to the door, half-afraid, half-hoping he would kiss her.

His hands remained at his sides as he regarded her with a bemused expression. Meredith reached out for the door handle, then paused. Before she could analyze the wisdom of her actions, she reached up and wrapped him in a fierce hug. David hesitated only a moment. His arms slid around her waist and he returned her embrace. Lowering her arms from around his neck, she stepped away. “Thanks, David. For everything.”

His gaze searched hers for a moment. “Happy Birthday.” He opened the door and went outside, turning to wave as he walked to his Jeep.

She waved back, already bereft.

***

The following week, Meredith sent flowers and a card to the patient’s family, continually keeping them in her prayers. The news back from the Medical Examiner that the boy had a pre-existing congenital heart defect which contributed to his death seemed like a moot point. The knowledge had come too late.

Work was difficult. Meredith felt paranoid about every abnormality in her assessments of her patients, and worried she’d overlook something that could have ill effects on a child. She spent extra time double-checking everything, her mouth going dry at the thought of losing another one. It didn’t matter if reason said it was a rare occurrence. It had happened once. It could happen again.

In the evenings, Meredith nibbled on the chocolates from David. He was right. They were a poor substitute for the real thing. More than anything, she craved the comfort of his embrace. As much as she’d like to think things were developing between them, she knew better. She’d gone around and around in her head about him and nothing ever came out any different. David was David, and she was…just Meredith. Good for a few laughs—and a few kisses.

Meredith worked through Thanksgiving, which suited her just fine. David had to work, too. He had all those football games to cover. The holiday in the Peds unit was a trifle forced. The nurses always felt bad for the kids being stuck in a hospital when they should’ve been at home with their families. Each of the nurses brought a potluck dish to contribute for a meal. Celeste, her new Charge Nurse, brought in a roasted turkey, and all the food was shared with anyone interested, parents and patients alike.

When Meredith went home later in the day, she sat down and paid bills, took Bitsy for a walk, and watched an old black and white movie on television. Her last thought before falling asleep that night was when she might get to see David again. She prayed it was soon.

***

A loud pounding sounded on Meredith’s door the next morning. Bitsy went ballistic, racing around the house barking furiously. Meredith struggled from the bed and trailed to the front door. She glanced at the kitchen clock. Six o’clock in the morning!

Leaning her forehead on the front door, she yelled, “Who is it?”

“It’s David. Open the door!”

Meredith let out a squeak of alarm. “What are you doing here so early? And no, I will not open the door!” She pulled the folds of her robe around her throat.
I look hideous! He’s nuts if he thinks I’ll let him see me like this
.

“Open the door, Merrie. It’s cold out here.”

Meredith peeked out the window and saw lots of sunshine. The outside thermometer visible from the window read fifty-six degrees. Cold indeed. She heard David stomping his feet and rubbing his hands together for emphasis. Meredith bit back a smile, her melancholy fleeing just at the sight of him.

“You still haven’t told me why you’re here,” she called through the panels of the door. “It’s my day to sleep in and you woke me up!”

David rattled the door handle. “I’ll tell you when you let me in.”

Meredith groaned. She went to the mirror in the living room and ran her fingers through her wild mass of hair in an attempt to control it. No luck. There was no way she’d open that door to him.

In the reflection of the mirror she saw the front door swing wide open. David stepped inside the house holding up a key. “You really should hide your spare key in a better place. I had no trouble finding it.”

She spun around, letting out a faint scream. He grinned when he saw her. “Nice bathrobe, Merrie.”

She wrapped her arms around the ratty folds of her bright purple bathrobe embroidered with garish yellow daisies and lifted her chin. “Why are you here exactly?”

“It’s the day after Thanksgiving!”

“And?”

“Let’s go get a Christmas tree!”

Meredith sank onto one of the living room chairs and put her head in her hand. “You can’t get a tree the day after Thanksgiving,” she said slowly as if humoring the mentally insane. “They get all dried out before Christmas, the needles fall off, and they become a fire hazard.”

“But it’s the tradition. Hurry up and get dressed. I have to be in to work in a few hours.”

She peeked up at him. He had no right to look so hale and hearty this early in the morning. She got to her feet and hurried to her room, shutting the door with more force than necessary.

Since she showered the night before, Meredith worked on taming her hair into a respectable style. She eventually gave up, instead just tying it back with a deep purple ribbon. She scrubbed her face, brushed her teeth, and applied enough make-up to mask her sadness and fatigue.

Slipping into a pair of black jeans and blue cotton sweater, she yanked on her leather boots and grabbed a coat from her closet. When she emerged from her bedroom, she found David sitting on her couch, looking at one of her high school yearbooks.

He grinned at her. “So I was a ‘foxy babe’, huh?”

Face flaming, Meredith remembered the mushy sentiments she’d written around his picture. She marched over and plucked the yearbook from his hands. “I was sixteen at the time, with the maturity level of a five year old.”

David pressed his hand to his chest. “Ouch.”

She raised her brow. “Now that you got me up, can we get this show on the road?”

He jumped off the couch. “Let’s go!”

In his Jeep, Bitsy pranced around in the back seats, alternating poking his nose out each of the back windows. David wouldn’t hear of having him confined to a dog kennel. She noted he didn’t seem to be too concerned about the cold now.

He told her he was driving to a Christmas tree farm on the outskirts of town. They stopped at a house with a small yard enclosed with a chain-linked fence. About twenty or so trees grew inside. She understood now why many of the Christmas trees were shipped down from Oregon and Washington. These trees were pitiful.

As they got out of the car, Meredith grimaced. “I think we’re at Charlie Brown’s tree farm.”

David hushed her when the owner met them in the driveway. The man glanced pointedly at his watch. Meredith blushed. It was barely seven in the morning.

David smiled. “We’re here for a Christmas tree!”

The man shrugged and led them through a gate and into the yard. “Did you bring your own saw?”

He shook his head.

“I’ll go get one. Be right back.”

Once he was out of earshot, Meredith tugged on David’s arm. “You’ve got to be kidding. These aren’t trees! They’re scrubby bushes!”

“C’mon, Merrie. Where’s your Christmas spirit?”

“Still asleep, like I wish I was,” she grumbled.

David linked her arm through his and led her over to the tallest tree in the yard. “What about this one? You can tell it’s a fighter, defying all odds.” He gave it a considering look. “You’d have to put that side against the wall.”

She giggled. “Look at it. You’d have to put it in a small hexagonal room. Every side is bad!”

“Shh. Here comes the owner.”

“Find anything you like?”

David gave her arm a warning squeeze. “We’ll take this one.”

“That one’s a beauty. It’s fifty bucks.”