Read Online The Magic of Christmas by Sarah Morgan - Free Book Online

strongly his body reacted to her.
    He didn’t want any sort of relationship with a woman. It was far too soon.
    The girls weren’t ready.
    And he wasn’t ready, either.
    * * *
    The following day Lara was strapping a patient’s ankle in the treatment room when Jane put her head round the door.
    â€˜Have you seen Christian?’
    â€˜Not since lunchtime.’ Lara looked up. ‘Why?’
    â€˜Because his daughter is in Reception, asking to see him.’
    â€˜Which one?’
    Jane stared at her. ‘How many does he have? How do you suddenly know so much about his children?’
    â€˜He must have mentioned it,’ Lara said casually. ‘I’ll go and see to the daughter while you find Christian. I’ve finished here, anyway.’ She handed the patient an information sheet. ‘Keep the leg up when you’re sitting down. You can take some ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain.’
    She washed her hands thoroughly, wondering why one of Christian’s girls had suddenly arrived in the emergency department. ‘Is she on her own?’
    â€˜As far as I could see. I wonder if he’s gone down to the chief exec’s office or something?’ Jane slid out of the room to continue her hunt for Christian and Lara hurried through to Reception.
    Aggie sat there, looking forlorn. Her arm was bandaged and her face was covered in spots.
    â€˜Oh, my goodness, what’s happened to you?!’ Lara swiftly entered the code that unlocked the door through to Reception and hurried over to the little girl. ‘Aggie. Do you remember me?’
    â€˜You look like that fairy. But without the wings.’Aggie gave a faltering smile and Lara saw the remains of tears on her cheeks.
    â€˜That’s me. The fairy. My name’s Lara. What’s happened? Are you ill? How long have you hadspots?’ She peered a little closer at Aggie’s face and realised that, close up, the spots looked like nothing she’d ever seen before. ‘Er…Aggie, about these spots…’
    â€˜I need to see Daddy.’ Her voice was a soft whisper and Lara nodded.
    â€˜Of course you do. But tell me what happened. Why is your wrist bandaged?’ She looked at the loose, saggy bandage and knew immediately who had done the bandaging. ‘Did you fall?’
    Aggie swung her legs. ‘Not exactly.’
    â€˜And those spots…’ Lara reached out a finger and rubbed at the spots. ‘Aggie, why have you been painting spots on yourself?’
    â€˜Because I need to look ill,’ Aggie blurted out. ‘Daddy said we weren’t to bother him at the hospital unless one of us was ill, but I really, really need to talk to him. It’s totally urgent and important.’
    Lara stood up and held out her hand. ‘Come on. Come through and see our toys and I’ll find your daddy. Where’s Chloe?’
    â€˜She’s playing with a friend. I was at home with Nanny Bottle. But she was very thirsty so shedrank and drank and then her eyes went all funny and her voice sounded jumpy. And then she couldn’t make my tea.’
    â€˜Nanny Bottle?’ Lara tapped in the code and opened the door. ‘Is she your new nanny?’
    â€˜Yes. She’s worse than Nanny TV,’ Aggie confided gloomily. ‘At least Nanny TV was awake—when she wasn’t asleep.’
    â€˜Your new nanny is asleep?’
    â€˜I expect she was tired from all that drinking. She sort of drank and drank and then swayed like this and hiccoughed a lot.’ Aggie demonstrated. ‘And then her eyes went funny and her voice went jumpy. And she fell asleep.’
    Drunk?
    Lara glanced at her in horror as she led her through to Christian’s office. ‘Don’t worry about that now. You’ll be safe here. This is your dad’s office.’
    â€˜I know. He brought me once so that I can imagine where he is if I miss him during the day.’ Aggie