Page 1 of Under the Christmas Tree

Chapter One

“Idon’t know what to tell you, Mom, I have to work,” Katie said, not for the first time, as she made her way into the hospital.

“It’s Christmas, Katie. You have to be there. It’s getting ridiculous. Everyone’s going to start thinking you hate your own family,” her mom replied, half scandalized.

Katie laughed, ignoring the familiar pang in her chest. “I visit more than enough for them to know that’s not true.”

“Christmas is different. Andeveryoneknows it.” Her mom sniffed pointedly. “I just don’t see why you always have to be working. I’m sure everyone will be fine for one day.”

“Yeah, that’s how bodies work, Mom. People just choose not to have babies so medical staff can take a day off.”

“It’s Christmas! Who’s having a baby on Christmas Day?”

Katie paused, still two feet away from the elevator. She wondered whether her mom would figure it out without her. “I think you might have forgotten what Christmas is supposed to be about…”

Her mom huffed. “Oh, sure. If you think you’re delivering the next Jesus Christ, be my guest and miss yet another Christmas with your family. Somehow, though, I think you might not be.”

“Good to know you’d have liked me better if three wise men showed up after my birth,” Katie laughed, pushing the elevator call button.

“I like you just fine. That’s why I want you at Christmas.”

Katie sighed, stepping into the elevator and half hoping the connection would cut and they’d be disconnected.

She knew it was hard on her mom. When she’d been growing up, family Christmases were a big deal. They still were, but Katie wasn’t a kid anymore. She had a job and it needed her, even on the days most other people got off.

And it wasn’t like she didn’t miss her family or those Christmases, but she loved her job, it was important, and she wasn’t going to work every Christmas Day for the rest of time. But this was not the year.

“I’m off the 27th. I’ll be there then.”

“Everyone else will have gone. And it’s not the same,” her mom said and Katie rallied against the tone in her voice.

“Don’t worry, I know where they all live. I know how to go see them too.”

Her mom sighed. “Nobody warned me when I was bragging about my daughter going off to be a doctor that it meant I wouldn’t get to see her for Christmas.”

“You will again,” Katie said, giving up on trying to convince her that the days around Christmas still counted. “But, this year, I have to work. I’m sorry.”

She stepped out of the elevator and onto the obstetrics floor. You couldn’t predict when a baby was going to come, so it wasn’t like they kept regular hours, but the hospital in general was a little quieter at this hour, and the maternity ward seemed to be following suit.

Rea smiled at her from behind the desk. Katie grimaced back at her, gesturing to her phone.

“Mom again?” Rea mouthed.

Katie nodded, appreciating the sympathetic wince Rea gave in response. The two of them had been friends and colleagues long enough now for Rea to know the drill. Christmas rolled around, Katie was on the schedule, and Irene Smith was on the phone at least once a week, lamenting, begging, and bargaining.

Katie shrugged exaggeratedly before making her way to the break room to dump her stuff before her shift. She had a scheduled c-section coming up and needed to get updated on who was in and what was going on. She didn’t really have time to have this conversation again. Although, she wasn’t sure she’d had time for the previous fifty either.

As her mom listed everyone who was going to be there—as if Katie didn’t know her own family—and how much they all wanted to see Katie, she pushed thestaff onlydoor open.

“Hey, Doc,” Malik said from over by the coffee station.

As Katie greeted him in return, her mom paused.

“Are you even listening to me?” she demanded.

Katie took a slow breath. “Yes, Mom. I’m listening to just how much six-month-old Jaden is looking forward to seeing me.”

Malik laughed, holding up a mug in offer of pouring Katie one too.

---