Chapter 31

 

 

 

Graham

 

 

AS FRUSTRATED AND angry as I was, Jessica was right. I had to check my shit at the door and give the kids a show, one that would put smiles on their faces and hopefully leave some lasting memories.

We spent the next couple of hours going room-to-room, visiting with some of the sweetest kids I’d ever met. Many of them were obviously very, very sick. Many had lost their hair. Some could barely sit up in bed and others ran circles around me. What they all had in common was reflected in their eyes. A kind of wisdom that went well beyond their years. Like they were old souls and knew something that we didn’t. Obviously, the cancer had a lot to do with it and I could only have imagined the hell they went through, especially when they were going through chemo. It was a very sobering experience.

“Santa,” a little girl named Nora whispered from her hospital bed. She was only seven-years-old and had Leukemia.

“Yes, darlin’?” I leaned closer to her.

“I want to change my Christmas wish.”

“Oh?” I asked, afraid she’d ask me for a miracle and it would break my heart. I could see that she was very sick and weak. I knew that what she probably needed, even Santa couldn’t help.

“When I’m gone, bring Mommy and Daddy a baby. They wanted one before I got sick and I think they forgot about it.” She smiled sadly. “I was supposed to have a brother or a sister.”

Knowing what she had was terminal and that Nora probably wouldn’t live to see it happen, broke my heart. I just stared at her for a few seconds, unable to speak. Here she was, so very ill, and wanted nothing more than to make her parents happy. 

“Santa? Please?”

I forced a smile to my face and nodded. If I could have given her the world at that moment, I would have.

She smiled back at me and closed her eyes. “I’m so tired. Thank you for the reindeer and candy, Santa.”

Sliding my fingers under the spectacles, I quickly wiped the tears from under my lashes, not wanting her to see them. Then I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “You bet, Nora.”

I left her room having a new respect for Jessica and Chloe. They dealt with terminally ill children every day and I couldn’t do it. It would break me.

“You okay?” Chloe asked.

I nodded. “That was the last child, right?” I asked quietly as we headed down the hallway.

“Yes,” Jessica said and smiled. “I know, it’s… tragic to see what some of these kids are going through.”

“How do you do it?” I asked.

“Someone has to,” she replied. “Someone who cares even if it’s heartbreaking to be around.”

“Do you ever go home and cry?” I asked.

“Oh, gosh, yes. All the time,” Jessica said. “Ask Jordan.”

I looked at Chloe, who’d been silent.

She smiled sadly. “I almost quit because of the stress. But, Jessica talked me out of it last year. I’m glad I stayed. Now I don’t think I could ever think of leaving.”

“It sure makes you appreciate things,” said Cleaner, who’d been unnaturally quiet.

“You can say that again,” I said.

“In fact, I would sure appreciate a beer right now. Do you think we have time to get a couple before we show up at the fundraiser?” asked Cleaner.

“You can do whatever you want,” I said, although a beer sounded really good. “But, I’m heading over there right now. I don’t think the kids will appreciate Santa having booze on his breath.”

“Chloe? What do you say, should we grab a couple?” Cleaner said.

“No. I’m with Graham. It’s not a good idea,” she replied.

He groaned. “Come on. One beer isn’t going to get anyone in trouble.”

“You know what could though,” I replied. “Getting busy in the supply closet.”

Chloe’s eyes widened. “What?”

Cleaner stared at me for a few seconds and then laughed. “How’d you know?”

“You weren’t exactly quiet about it,” I muttered.

“Don’t even tell me,” Jessica said, giving him a dirty look. “You seriously had sex in the hospital? That’s why you were late?”

“Sorry. It took longer than I thought,” he replied with a sheepish grin. “And it wasn’t planned.”

I had a few things to say about that when my phone began to ring. I checked and saw that it was Tank.

“Hey, what’s up?” I said into the phone.

“There’s been a change in plans,” he said, sounding annoyed. “With the weather conditions getting worse, a Snow Emergency has been issued for the entire damn city. So, we’re going to have to cancel our ‘Meet Santa’ fundraiser, dammit.”

“Shit. That’s too bad.”

“Yeah. Since you’re already dressed up and have nothing else planned, I’m wondering if you’d be up for something else.”

“Sure. What is it?”

“They’re having a holiday sleepover party at the Church of St. Mathew for their students. Raina was telling me about it. Anyway, they were supposed to have Santa Claus show up, but theirs’ is stuck in Minnesota and can’t make it now. You up for it?”

“That’s the church by Eagle Lake, right?” It was about forty-five miles north of where we were.

“Yeah.”

“Sure. Why not,” I replied. “They were expecting Santa and shouldn’t be disappointed.”

“Man, I’m really fucking proud of you, Dodger,” he said, smiling into the phone. “You know that?”

“Thanks, brother,” I said, smiling. Hearing him say that felt really good.

“By the way, how did it go at the hospital?”

I told him about it, leaving out the part about Cleaner having sex with Chloe. I knew.

“Sad, huh?”

“Very. I have a new respect for Jessica.”

“And Chloe. They both work in that unit.”

My respect for Chloe wasn’t the same anymore, but knowing what she dealt with on a daily basis was probably enough to make anyone make bad decisions. “Yeah.”

“Why don’t you see if Cleaner wants to go out there with you?”

I glanced over at him. He was laughing and joking around with Chloe and Jessica.

“Actually, I think I’d prefer to go alone.” The last thing I’d need was to hear him gloat about fucking Chloe. He’d probably tell me every dirty, sordid detail and by the time we made it to the church, I’d be the one who needed to be cleansed. For killing him.

“Why?”

I made something up. “If the roads are bad, the fewer people driving on them, the better.” It was a lame excuse, but it’s all I had.

“I suppose. Did he ever pick up Chloe?”

“Yeah. By the way, Brock and the others never showed up.”

“Oh, shit. I forgot to tell you they’ve been helping people get their cars out of ditches all day. Sorry, I should have called.”

“It’s no problem. When am I supposed to be at the church?”

“Any time after six. Try to be there before eight-thirty, if you can. Some of the kids will be sleeping by nine, I’m sure.”

That meant I had time to grab a bite to eat beforehand.

“Sounds good.”

“Thanks, Brother,” Tank said. “Call me later and tell me how it goes.”

“Do I need to bring anything?”

“Yeah, actually, pick up some more candy or something. I’ll pay you back later. Santa should probably not show up empty-handed.”

“Will do.”

“By the way, obviously, the party I wanted to throw for you guys is cancelled too.”

“It’s no problem.”

“I’ll make it up to you.”

“You don’t have to. Really.”

“You know that’s not how I roll. I’m going to show my appreciation.”

“Whatever you want. I’m not going to demand anything though. That’s not how I roll.”

He laughed. “I know. I gotta go. Drive safely.”

“Will do.”

 I put my phone away and told them about the fundraiser being cancelled.

“That’s too bad,” Jessica said, frowning. “I know how important it was to Tank. Hopefully, they can figure out another way to raise money. They invested so much in this already, though.”

“I know,” I replied.

“It might be shitty outside but it’s Friday night. Anyone else want to join me now?”

“I’m working and obviously, I wouldn’t anyway,” Jessica said, smirking.

He cringed. “Ouch. Dodger?”

I told him about going to the church.

Cleaner chuckled. “Sucks to be you, Santa. It’s going to take you hours to get out there if the weather is as bad as they say. Chloe?”

She shook her head. “No. I should get home and finish unpacking.”

“Screw you all,” he joked. “Party poopers.”

Jessica looked at her watch. “I gotta get back to work. Thanks again, you guys. Be careful driving.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Say ‘Hi’ to Jordan for me.”

“You’re still coming over for Christmas, right?” Jessica asked.

“Yeah. Definitely,” I replied. “You want me to wear the Santa suit?”

“No, the kids will definitely recognize you, Uncle Graham,” she replied with a wink. “They adore you, by the way.”

“The feeling is mutual,” I replied with a smile.

“Now we just need to find you a good woman,” Jessica said. “So we can expand the family even more.”

“You’d have better luck finding two identical snowflakes in the blizzard outside,” I said, walking way.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“I need coffee,” I said, looking over my shoulder. Glancing at Chloe, I noticed that she didn’t look happy. Why? I had no idea. She sounded pretty fucking thrilled a couple of hours ago in the supply room.