Mistletoe Miracles

Chapter 1

Letting the water run over my body as I clean away from my latest surgery, I think about how difficult this one had been with Christmas so close. It had been an emergency surgery, one no one expected, as a woman who had just given birth began to bleed out six hours after delivering her baby whom the patient aptly named Noel for the holiday season. I was just getting ready to head home, to see Jacob and spend some much-needed couple time with my boyfriend of three years, when I was paged to perform an emergency hysterectomy to save this new mother.

Without hesitation, I called Jacob and explained that I would be late tonight as an emergency popped up. He seemed understanding and I was happy about that. He knew how much being a doctor, being a top surgeon, meant to me. After telling him I loved him, I rushed back to the changing room and got ready to scrub in.

The surgery took five hours as it turned out the bleeding wasn't caused by the patient's uterus like we thought, but a cyst on her left ovary no one had caught. It took some time to clean out the blood that flowed into her fallopian tubes and out her still-dilated cervices before removing the affected organ. But everything was worth it as I was able to tell her husband that his wife would be fine and that they could still have more children in the future, as Noel had been a blessing to this couple after five years of trying. To him, this was a Christmas Miracle, and he thanked me before running to his wife's side with baby Noel being pushed beside him by a nurse.

Touching my hand to my flat stomach, I wonder if one day I will have children of my own and if they will be born around Christmas like the little girl today. Would Jacob be there for me through every step of our journey and let me name our baby just like the husband of my patient did for her? With a smile, I think yes, Jacob would do all of that because he loves me. Because he knows I love Christmas much to everyone's annoyance, and that yes, he would accept any name I choose.

Shutting off the water, I step out of the shower and grab my towel nearby. Jacob is waiting for me to come home, and I did warn him that this surgery might take hours to complete to make sure the new mother survived to raise her baby. He should be fast asleep in our bed, waiting for me to come join him under the covers and start the three-day weekend I was able to secure for us.

Drying my body as I walk towards my locker, I hear my phone going off and sigh. I know this ringtone all to well and wonder just what my mother is doing calling me at four in the morning.

"Hello, mom." I greeted as soon as I answered the call.

"I thought you'd be up at this time, Marrisa." My mother chuckles out, making me roll my eyes. As much as I love my mother, Elain Dalton, I also am annoyed at how eccentric she can be around the holiday time.

"Yes, I am just finishing up at work and about to head home." I retorted, pinning my cell phone between my ear and shoulder as I slip on my thongs and jeans.

"Yes, yes, yes. My daughter, a big-time surgeon at Toronto General, is oh so busy." Mother exclaims dramatically, gaining another eye roll from me. Deciding that getting dressed is more important than entertaining my mother's theatrics, I put the phone on speaker mode and grabbed the bra from the hook to shimmy on.

"So why are you calling at four in the morning, mom?" I asked once my bra is in place before reaching for my knitted sweater.

"Oh, to invite you and Jacob home for Christmas. It's been a while since you visited, and I would love to have you home." She answers right away with a pleading tone to her words. I sigh, running a hand through my damp hair as I consider her invitation. The last time I visited her and my father was Canada Day. It's been five months since then, and I really am due for a visit.

"I will have to talk to Jacob as I know his parents wanted to do something for Christmas with us. Do you think I could give you my answer tomorrow?" I say, waving at Alice, my head Nurse, as she comes in and gives me a puzzled look.

"Yes. Just let me know tomorrow what the plans are so I can prepare your room and have gingerbread cookies waiting for you to decorate!" She readily agrees, the mention of her homemade gingerbread making me grin. I tell her that I am getting ready to head home and will call her tomorrow after I have gotten some much-needed rest before hanging up the call and letting out a sigh.

"Elain sounds the same as usual." Alice calls out with a chuckle, making me groan.

"If you mean Christmas eccentric, then yes." I agree, getting another laugh out of my friend.

"Well, if you decide to go, think you could snag me a few of those cookies?" She asks, throwing something at my that I instantly catch. Noticing the protein bar now in my hand, I thanked her for the treat and quickly devoured it before shoving my feet into my winter boots.

"I will bring you a whole gingerbread village as long as you keep supplying me with these protein bars." I answered, throwing the wrapper into the bin before reaching for my jacket and shrugging it on.

"Deal, Mari. Now go enjoy some lover time with that hunk of yours." Alice teases me, making me blush a bright red. I waved goodbye to her before leaving the changing room and hurriedly headed towards the exit before another operation could pop up. After a long forty-eight-hour shift that was extended by another five hours, I needed some sleep and some mind-blowing s*x.