Page 17 of Christmas at Watson Memorial

“No, it's fine. I just mean… Come on. Let's get that heart where it needs to be,” she cuts off, pointing at the container.

The rotors spring to life again as we lift off into ominous black clouds. There's no Plan B now — everything must go right. We can't divert, can't make an emergency stop to weather the storm. We're carrying precious cargo and something more: we're carrying hope for Holly.

Chapter 10

Selene

The Watson Memorial Hospital helipad materializes out of the swirling snow like a ghostly platform suspended in the air. My hands grip the controls tighter, knuckles white with tension, as relief floods through me at the sight.

“Watson Memorial, this is Life Flight 7,” I radio while beside me, Alexia alerts the transplant team. My voice stays steady despite my racing heart. “Beginning final approach. Visibility severely limited.”

“Copy Life Flight 7. Dr. Clarkson and team standing by to assist Dr. Winters upon landing. Proceed with caution.”

I wrestle with the controls during our descent, fighting against wind gusts and stinging snow that pelts the windshield relentlessly. Through the whiteout, I catch glimpses of figures rushing toward the helipad, hunched against the storm.

“Not too different from landing in a sandstorm,” I mutter, more to myself than to Alexia, who clutches her seat withwhite-knuckled fingers. “Just colder. And there's coffee waiting for us on the ground.”

“Less talking, more landing. Please,” she grits out through clenched teeth.

The skids touch down with surprising gentleness given the conditions. As soon as the rotors start slowing, the transplant team converges on us. Alexia transforms instantly — gone is the terrified passenger, replaced by a surgeon radiating confidence from every pore.

“For God’s sake, be careful with that container!” she barks as she hands over the precious cargo to a transplant team member.

Before I can even climb down from the cockpit, they’ve vanished into the storm.

***

“She'll save my little girl, won't she?” Vivian whispers beside me in Holly's room, her voice trembling with fear and hope.

“If anyone can do it, Dr. Winters can,” I assure her with a slow nod. “They'll be at least four hours. How about we grab some coffee? I could use one.”

“Tell me everything, please. I need… I need something to focus on, or I'll go crazy waiting,” Holly's mother pleads in the hospital cafeteria, gripping her scalding coffee cup like she's trying to break it.

I take a long sip of my drink and pause. How do you tell a terrified mother you nearly crashed while transporting her daughter's only chance at survival?

“The round trip was quite the adventure,” I acknowledge with a casual shrug. “At least the mutant pigeons in Central Park didn't attack us this time.”

“Holly loves those stories you tell her,” Vivian sighs, attempting a smile.

“Well, it was definitely an adventure,” I admit. “What matters is your daughter has a fantastic surgeon doing everything possible to give her many more years with us. Plus, I promised her some helicopter flying lessons, and I always keep my promises.”

“You care about her, don't you?”

“Holly? Of course, she's a wonderful kid. I adore her.”

“No, Dr. Winters. I see how you look at her,” she corrects.

“I… well… it's complicated, I guess.”

“There's nothing complicated about the way she looks at you too. Especially when she thinks no one's watching,” she adds with a wink.

Before I can respond, the cafeteria door bursts open and Safira Garzia storms in, her face stormy with anger. Behind her, Arya runs in, frantically gesturing warnings about the impending explosion.

“Care to explain how we suddenly have a heart for Holly Thompson? Because I distinctly remember all flightsbeing grounded due to weather conditions,” she demands, her raised voice drawing attention from nearby nurses who abandon their coffee to watch the show.

“Must've been those Christmas elves at Watson Memorial,” Arya cuts in, dropping into the chair beside me. “You know how they get this time of year, all hopped up on candy canes. Probably hijacked Santa's sleigh for a Vermont joy ride or something.”

For a moment, Safira gapes at Arya, opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water.