Page 2 of Doctor Clause

This year he’d decided. If the S in his name wasn’t standing for Stephen, it was going to be for Scrooge.

A quiet holiday was in the cards for once. No one was standing in his way.

Chapter Two

Leeona

A ball of yarn was the embodiment of relaxation. The quality decided the feel of it. The better the yarn, the softer the texture. Likewise, the lower the calibre, the scratchier it felt against the skin. Both had their benefits. The only important detail about wool was making sure it was... well... woolly.

Natural fibre wasn’t strictly for food anymore; it was growing in popularity for its therapeutic benefits. The repetitive nature of crafts involving needlework was akin to yoga and, in recent years, considered a form of meditation.

That’s how the moms’ knitting circle at Eastport General began—to alleviate the stress of having an ill child restricted to a hospital bed. They supported each other. They cried with one another. They made unique items to whittle away the hours together. If it could be knitted or crocheted, one of the moms was doing it.

The club also provided that wee bit of socializing necessary to remain sane, while providing an outlet to stay creative and productive. There were many uses for their creations too. Some were given to hospitalized children. Some were sold for charitable donations. Some were sold for profit.

For a single mom, with an ill or terminally ill child, a full-time job wasn’t an option. Income mainly consisted of government handouts and charitable donations. Making handcrafted items was an alternative to welfare or in some cases boosted low incomes to more stable levels.

Of course, nothing was quite that easy. There needed to be an outlet from which to sell. Luckily, Leeona’s sister was an indie jewellery crafter and willing to peddle both their wares at weekend markets.

“So,” Menerva said in her usual nasal tone, “how are things coming along?”

“Fine,” Leeona answered, raising the almost completed scarf in the air. That wasn’t what the other woman was referring to though. She knew it, but wasn’t looking forward to that conversation. Avoiding conflict like the plague was her motto.

“Pfft.” Menerva arched one brow, while lowering the other slightly at the same time.

“Oh,” Leeona sighed. “You meant the calendar. That’s, well... you know. It still has a bit of a hiccup. I’m working on it though.”

“Hiccup?” Menerva echoed. “It’s more like projectile vomiting, if you ask me.”

“It’s not that bad,” Leeona replied. “I’m just missing one doctor for the calendar. I’ll find him. I just need a bit of time.”

“Time?” Menerva echoed again. “How much time do you think you have? My cousin, Lenny, agreed to donate the photo shoot, and the printing costs, during the off-peak season. Now, it’s the holiday rush, and you still have one month not booked.”

“I know,” Leeona said meekly. “We are all very grateful to you, and your cousin. The calendar wouldn’t be possible without you both.”

“Darn right,” Menerva huffed. “Unfortunately, Lenny is on the verge of cancelling the whole thing.” She shrugged. “He has to make a living, right?”

“He can’t!” Leeona exclaimed. “We already have so many orders, and the children are counting on us to make their wishes come true for Christmas.”

“He can!” Menerva bellowed back. “And he will. You have forty-eight hours to book a Dr. December or there won’t be a charity calendar, and we will have to figure out funding another way.”

A deadline, nothing was worse. At first, it seemed as if the job of finding the doctors to model was going to be easy-peasy, and it was for the first eleven. Eastport General was blessed with a plethora of handsome doctors willing to take one for the kids. After finding November, things took a turn for the worse. For some reason, the partners of some of the candidates for the final month were opposed to the idea of their men posing half-naked in photos, especially pictures the whole hospital, patients included, would inevitably see.

The simple solution was to have the doctor fully clothed, but eleven other shoots were already completed in a different style. Besides, December was an important month. People would be looking forward to it. The model needed to be special.

“Did you hear me?” Menerva scoffed.

“I did,” Leeona piped up. “I’m meeting with a possible candidate this afternoon.” That was a lie. “Oh. Look at the time. I better get moving.”

“I think I speak for all the moms when I say; I expect to hear some positive news at our next get-together.”

The weight of the room fell on her shoulders, making them droop. There was no candidate. There was no hope. The calendar was doomed. She was doomed.

Even the elevator was against her, stopping on every floor without need. No one was there when the doors opened and slowly closed again.

“Hello,” Jordan said with an overly cheery smile. “How’s everyone’s favourite mom doing?”

That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The floodgate opened, tears pouring out. “I’m a horrible person,” she sobbed. “I’ve let everyone down.”

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