Page 24 of Christmas at Watson Memorial

“That smile?”

“We've got the cause of the infection,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Well, your girl's with her right now. Better hurry, Winters, before she slips away.”

I shake my head, amused, as she heads for the shower, though I'm not sure if my joy comes from knowing Selene's in the hospital, Arya's comments, or Holly's test results.

“Hey, Arya!” I shout before leaving the locker room. “That idea of yours? Not bad at all.”

I stop by the nursing station to adjust the girl's medication and head to room 305. When I arrive, Selene is kneeling by the bed, telling an absurd story about Christmas elves who change the time in Times Square and manage to make the big light ball drop forty minutes late, so a seven-year-old can make it to the celebration.

“Can I talk to you for a moment?” I ask after assuring Vivian that Holly will be much better in just a few hours with the new medication.

Selene looks at me curiously but follows me out of the room, her steps small and hesitant, perhaps surprised by my cryptic request.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, I just wanted to propose something… unusual. See, the thing is, I'd like to celebrate New Year's with you and…”

“That's unusual? Wow…” she interrupts, placing her right hand over her heart in a dramatic gesture.

“I'm on call and can't change it now. Would it be weird if we had dinner here and maybe watched the fireworks from the roof garden? I mean, if you want to — we haven't discussed it, you probably have plans for that night.”

“My plans include celebrating New Year's with a green-eyed doctor. I don't care if it's in Times Square, on the Watson Memorial rooftop, flying through a snowstorm, or locked in your office.”

“Are you serious?”

“I'll bring dinner,” she offers with a wink.

Chapter 14

Selene

“Wait, hold up — let me get this straight,” Arya cuts me off through the phone, her voice bubbling with excitement. “You want to dress up as a Christmas elf to celebrate New Year's Eve with Alexia? Holy shit, I'm in!” she shrieks.

“You're in?”

“Yeah, we've got this fancy dinner and dance thing a block away, but this sounds way more fun. We could turn it into a surprise for the kids in pediatrics. I'll call some volunteers to bring special dinner and Christmas decorations. Leave the costumes to me,” she rattles off, words tumbling out in a rush.

“Well, technically, according to the hospital legend — which I'm sure you made up yourself — the Watson Memorial Christmas elves should've been here since the holidays started. We're just making them… visible now,” I tease.

“God, that's fucking perfect, you smartass,” Arya squeals. “The Ice Queen invites you on a New Year's Eve date at the hospital, and you want to turn pediatrics into Santa's village. Brilliant. Damn, why didn't I think of that? Already ordered the costumes while we were talking — green velvet with tons of bells,” she announces. “And pointy ears — the good kind, silicone, not those plastic ones that hurt after ten minutes.”

“Gotta go, Marco's calling — he's a friend who owns an Italian restaurant. I ordered a special dinner for Alexia on the rooftop garden.”

When I end the call, my phone explodes with messages. Looks like Arya spread the word, and half the Watson Memorial staff is eager to join in, even if just to bring some food, spare costumes, or decorations to make the night special for the youngest patients.

I'm not usually sentimental, but my eyes well up as I catch sight of the small penguin plushie sitting on my dresser. Emily would have loved this — transforming the cold hospital corridors into a magical realm, if only for one night. “A decorated room makes it easier to be brave,” she used to say.

This time, we’re decorating the whole damn pediatric wing.

***

“Thanks for all this,” I whisper in awe the next day, watching the decorations already taking shape.

“Hey, don't get all soft on me now, smart ass,” Arya jokes. “Save it for when your doctor shows up in a few hours.”

I look around at how the pediatric wing has transformed into something straight out of a Christmas movie. Decorations everywhere, multiple Christmas trees, windows covered in frost. The kids stare in wonder, and for once, their laughter drowns out the usual beeping of monitors.