Page 12 of Dr. Scandal Claus

I walked into the bathroom and took a wash rag off the shelf and ran the water until it was hot. Then I soaked the rag andwrung it out. When I walked back into the bedroom, Scarlett was lying on her side staring down at my tablet, which she'd taken from the nightstand. In any other circumstance I would've been upset, but I left it there unlocked and open with Ethan's chart up earlier when I got her phone number from it. She was looking at her son's medical files.

"What does all this mean?" she asked innocently. Her doe eyes peered up at me, and I saw worry there.

I climbed into the bed behind her and curled my body around her, kissing the back of her shoulder. She had opened Ethan's diagnosis sheet with the facts. We'd already given it to her even though we had more tests to run, but she hadn't taken time to ask very many questions. I got that a lot with patients who felt overwhelmed up front. Their questions came later when the shock of the diagnosis had worn off and they were thinking more clearly.

"It means this condition that he has is hereditary, and that only one in five hundred people get it." I felt her body tense, and she sighed. "It means, either you or Ethan's father is a carrier, whether or not there have been symptoms. You should consider getting your DNA tested."

Scarlett was quiet for a second and still rigid in my arms. I knew how difficult getting a diagnosis like this could be and I felt sorry for her and her son. I didn't want to dwell on that right now though, and I didn't want her to either. I knew the boy would have a bumpy road, but he'd be fine in the end. So I locked the tablet and put it behind me and she rolled to her back and looked up into my eyes as I took the hot wash rag and wiped her clean.

"Mmm," she mewled, smiling as I rubbed sensitive parts of her groin.

"Scarlett, would you consider having dinner with me some night? I don't want to take you from your work or your son, but I would really enjoy having more time with you."

I finished mopping our sex off her soft folds and looked back down at her face where a broad smile beamed up at me.

"I would honestly love that, Nick."

My heart soared at her response and I leaned down and kissed her softly. Part of me was so exhilarated I could hardly speak, but part of me was still guarded, and I didn't know if I'd ever fix that part. Fiona had done a number on my confidence and ability to trust, and I didn't want to ruin this with my hang-ups. Scarlett giving me a chance could either make or break my future. I just hoped it was the former. I couldn't take much more darkness in my life.

9

SCARLETT

My feet hurt from being on them all day, but that was pretty normal. The bakery didn't seem to function at full speed without me here, and I'd missed too much time over the past few weeks. I knew the weight Nellie was pulling, filling in for me, and I had to keep making it up to her. I needed her here more than she knew, and I was very grateful she was sticking with me even through the hard moments, which I hoped there would be fewer and fewer of them.

I slipped into my office, glancing at the package sitting on a black plastic chair. I smiled at it knowing Ethan was going to love it. Then I dug into my purse where I stashed the surprise I had for Nellie. I had stopped by the bank on my nine o'clock break to withdraw some more cash. The bakery had made a decent profit, and with all her hard work, I believed Nellie deserved an extra special Christmas present. Another five-hundred-dollar bonus was tucked away in a sealed envelope.

I took out the envelope and slid it into my apron pocket. It was nearing 6 p.m. The bakery was closing early tonight because it was Christmas Eve. I knew Nellie's family traditions were tomorrow morning, and I wanted to get her home as soonas possible so she could finish her last-minute shopping or wrapping. So I snuck out to the kitchen where she was finishing the last few pans. She had her back to me, and I grinned as I walked up to her.

"Hey," I said softly, and she glanced over her shoulder. She'd been a little better since the Christmas market, but she still wasn't 100 percent happy with me. I knew it was my fault and didn't blame her at all. I felt guilty, and at the same time I felt appreciative. Without her covering for me, I'd have had to shut the bakery down. Ethan was sick and he needed me with him more.

"Hey…" She turned back to her work, and I leaned on the edge of the stainless steel sink. Her shoulders were slumped and her eyes had bags under them. It was pretty normal after a few busy weeks for both of us to look like this. Being a baker was exhausting work.

"I have something for you," I told her as she rinsed the last pan and put it into the sanitizing machine. Then she picked up a towel off the prep table behind her and dried her hands, finally turning to look me in the eye.

I pulled the envelope out of my pocket and held it out for her. She glanced at it with confusion. "What's this?"

"It's your Christmas bonus…And my thank you too. I know the past few weeks have been so busy for us and right at our busiest time I've had this thing with Ethan." I hung my head as the guilt swirled around my chest and tightened my shoulders. "I want you to know that I appreciate your help."

Nellie tore the envelope open and looked at the crisp bills and offered a sigh and a soft smile. "You already gave me a thank you, but this is extra nice of you. Thank you." There was genuine forgiveness in her eyes, though there was still a tinge of frustration there too. I still didn't blame her. This was my bakery, but I'd been expecting her to put in the effort like it washers, like she was building her dream. I felt like I'd taken her for granted.

"I do honestly appreciate everything you're doing here. I'm sorry I can't offer more. With Ethan's medical bills…"

"It's okay, Scarlett. Let's just put it behind us. They have him on meds that are working, right? So hopefully he'll get better and we can move on." She tucked the envelope into her pocket and tossed the towel onto the table again. "I'm taking off," she said as she untied her apron and tossed it onto the table too. "See you on Thursday."

I sighed and stepped back so she could pass by me. It wasn't the happy reception I'd hoped for, like at the Christmas market, but she wasn't being as sullen with me anymore so that was positive. I hoped both of us could relax and enjoy tomorrow—a much-needed day off after a super busy run for weeks in a row.

When I heard the back door of the bakery shut, I went back to my office and grabbed my jacket, purse, and package, then I slipped back into the kitchen to start the sanitizer. Five minutes later, I was on my way home on slippery roads. It took me a bit longer than normal with the precipitation falling. They were calling for an inch of ice, but I hoped the temperature plummeted overnight and we got snow instead. Ethan would like that more than ice. Though, once he saw the package I got him, he'd forget all about the weather.

When I walked through the door, Ethan was sitting in front of the TV watchingElf, and the babysitter—Tina from upstairs—perked her head up and smiled.

"Hey, Mrs. Moore, glad you're back. I still have to get to the mall tonight." Her black curls danced as she bobbed over to me and accepted the thirty dollars I offered her. For a fourteen-year-old that was decent money for a day of work.

"Thanks, Tina. Was he good?" I didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't "Mrs." It was "Miss." So I just let her call it how she saw it.

"Oh, Ethan? He was a doll. Though there were a few times he said his belly hurt." She frowned. "I think it was too many Christmas treats."

I shrugged out of my coat and hung it on the row of hooks for our jackets and Ethan's backpacks. "Alright, I'll have a look at him in a bit. Merry Christmas…Don't let me keep you."

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