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“The Grinch stole Christmas. You’re doing the opposite. You’re giving it to these kids. You should have worn Santa Claus socks.”
“Santa is overrated.”
“Says the man who proclaimed he was playing him.”
“Are you always this sassy?”
“Not always. Sometimes, I’m sweet.”
“I’d say you’re a little of both.”
We were caught in a trance, a daze. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew the hospital existed, and that other people were around somewhere, but being here with him, staring at him, smirking and laughing and thinking of the coat closet again, he was the sole focus.
“What’s the plan?” I asked, needing to stay on track.
“Each child has a stocking by his or her bed. They received redeemable tokens and can use them to ‘buy’ anything they want here in their very own store.”
“That’s adorable. And the presents?” I pointed to the tree in the corner of the waiting room.
I wasn’t sure if it had been there before or was something Hawk’s team had set up. Were the presents something the hospital had provided as decoration? Or were they legitimately presents?
“One for each child and for the staff. And you.”
My mouth dropped. “Me?”
I hadn’t thought to get him a present.
Then again, it wasn’t as though I’d had oodles of time or the inclination that I’d be spending Christmas with him.
“Hawk, I?—”
He nudged my shoulder with his. “It’s okay. You’ll find your name on it.”
“When did you even have time to get me anything, let alone wrap it?”
“I got here before you did, remember?”
He leaned in.
My heart caught. I hung on the promise of a kiss from him, but just before he moved in, his gaze flicked behind me.
“Ah,” he said. “Here come our first customers.”
Kids in pajamas began trickling in. Many had tubes dangling from their noses or taped to their hands while they pulled connected IVs alongside them.
Some walked in slippers, hugging stuffed animals. Others wore beanies on their heads. Others came in wheelchairs pushed in by family members.
Regardless, every face was lit up with delight.
“Ella!” a boy named Jarom called fromhis wheelchair.
He waved energetically and then held the red-and-green-striped pillow over his head. The woman behind him smiled as well. I wondered if she was his mom.
“That’s the biggest grin I’ve ever seen,” I said, approaching him. “What have you got there?”
“Santa brought these. They were on our pillows when we woke up this morning!”
Hawk slid me a knowing look and stepped closer. “Oh, he did? Very clever of him.”
