Christmas On The Children's Ward. Carol Marinelli

Tanya to spend Christmas with me and my family could only confuse things, whereas with you and I…’ He gave another shrug. ‘Well, we’d both know that there was…’

      ‘Nothing in it,’ Eden finished for him as his voice trailed off. ‘Thanks but, no, thanks.’

      ‘Why not?’

      Somehow she managed a smile as she placed a nappy over her shoulder and rested Justin against it as she stood up.

      ‘Playing your girlfriend for a day, just isn’t my idea of a fun Christmas,’ Eden said. Heading down the ward and coming to Justin’s room, she pushed the door open. ‘You’ll have to come up with someone else, Nick.’

      ‘Think about it,’ Nick said, but Eden shook her head.

      ‘’Night, Nick.’

      As the door closed behind her, she placed Justin in his cot, soothing him gently as he struggled to open his heavy eyes. She listened to the sound of Nick’s footsteps going down the ward and felt the sting of a great salty tear as it rolled down her cheek.

      Stupidly, she’d dreamed of that very moment.

      Secretly dreamed of Nick asking her to be with him and his family, the thought of sharing Christmas with him a fantasy she’d harboured—only not like this.

      Never like this.