âKatie, if more people were like you then the world would be a much better place, believe me.â
He touched her lightly on the cheek then strode away. Katie bit her lip as she watched him hurrying to the stairs. He gave out such mixed signals that it was no wonder she felt confused. One minute he was pushing her away and the next.â¦Well, the next he was behaving as though he really felt something for her. Was it just that he was an inveterate flirt and couldnât help coming on to a woman: the gentle touch, the intimate smile, the lingering eye contact? Or was there more to it than that? Did Nick really feel something for her, perhaps?
Dear Reader,
Midwife Katie Denning never imagined that she would meet the man of her dreams while dressed as an elf! Desperate to find a replacement Santa for the hospitalâs Christmas carol concert, she accosts a tall, dark, handsome stranger in the car park and begs him for help. All she needs is someone who can be nice to the kids and do a bit of ho-ho-ho-ing and their new specialist registrar, Nick Lawson, seems to be perfect for her requirements.
Despite his misgivings, Nick agrees to help and proves to be a huge hit with the children. He certainly makes their wishes come true by turning himself into the perfect Santa, but can he make Katieâs wish come true as well? All Katie wants is a man who will love her as much as she loves him, but Nick seems reluctant to make a commitment to her despite their shared attraction. Can she convince him that love can overcome any obstacle if that is what they both wish for?
I had enormous fun writing this book. Nick and Katie are both lovely characters and deserve to find happiness together. The Midwifeâs New Year Wish is the latest book in my Dalverston General Hospital series and I would like to thank you all for writing to tell me how much you have been enjoying it.
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and that all your wishes come true.
Jennifer
P.S.You can e-mail me at: [email protected].
âOK, FOLKS, can we have a bit of hush while I check that everyoneâs here?â
Katie Denning flicked the pompom attached to her bright green elfâs cap out of her eyes and consulted her list. It was Christmas Eve and the staff at Dalverston General Hospital were about to perform their annual Christmas carol concert. It was the first time that Katie had organised the event and she was determined that it was going to be a huge success. Sheâd spent hours working on their costumes but it had been worth it, she decided, looking around the room. Never had she seen such a well-dressed collection of elves and fairies in her entire life!
âRight, if you could all shout out when I call your names it would be a big help,â she instructed. âIâll start with the fairies so thatâs Anne, Vicky, Linda and Jane.â
âHere!â they chorused obediently.
Katie put ticks beside their names then worked her way down the list, ticking off the elves, the reindeer and George, the hospitalâs head porter, whoâd agreed to be a snowman that year. âSo that just leaves Santa,â she concluded, glancing up and frowning when she realised that Jim Carstairs, the surgical registrar whoâd offered to play Father Christmas, was nowhere in sight. âHas anyone seen Jim today? I hope he hasnât gone off sick with that flu bug thatâs been doing the rounds.â
âHe was in Theatre when I last saw him,â Vicky explained helpfully. âHe said to tell you that heâd be along as soon as heâd finished so I donât know whatâs happened to him.â
âIâll give Theatre a ring and find out,â Katie said, hurrying to the phone. She put through a call to Theatre, her heart sinking when one of the staff there explained thereâd been a problem with the patient theyâd been operating on and that she had no idea how long it would be now before Jim was free to leave.
Katie thanked her and hung up but it was going to cause no end of problems if she had to find a replacement for Jim so late in the day. They could always go ahead without him, of course, but the kids on the childrenâs ward would be so disappointed if Santa didnât turn up for his promised visit and Katie hated to think of all their sad little faces. She quickly explained her predicament to the others, sighing when everyone groaned.
âI know. Itâs going to be almost impossible to find someone to take Jimâs place at this stage. I darenât try and filch anyone else from the wards because weâre already working on minimum staffing levels as it is.â
âHow about one of the visitors?â Anne suggested. âVisiting hour is just about to finish so if youâre quick you might be able to waylay somebody suitable. Iâm sure youâll find someone willing to play the part if you tell them itâs for the benefit of the kids.â