Page 2 of Under the Christmas Tree

She looked at him like he was an angel on Earth, nodding gratefully.

“You don’t have to say it like that,” her mom replied. “Babies remember lots of things. They have lots of feelings.”

Katie looked down at herself as if her mom could see her. “Yes, thank you, Mom. I happen to know a decent amount about them.”

“Not enough, clearly.”

“I’ll see Jaden beforeandafter Christmas Day. I’m certain he won’t know the difference.”

“You’re really not going to even try?”

Katie was out of ways to have this conversation. Sometimes, years of practice made you an expert at something. In others, it was just running out of ways to make your mother realize hospitals didn’t run on the whims of mothers who wanted to see their adult children on days they had to work. “There’s literally nothing I can do. I have to be here in case the next coming of the Lord happens.”

“Katie Smith,” her mom replied, as though scolding a child. She wasn’t even religious, so Katie wasn’t sure why she was so upset about the flippant comment.

“Yes, Mom?”

“You’re getting coal for Christmas,” her mom said, seemingly giving up.

Katie laughed. “Well, at least I won’t be too distracted by my luxurious gifts to tend to my patients.”

“Hmm.”

She knew her mom was still disappointed and hurt that Katie wasn’t going to be there for yet another Christmas, but, deep down, she knew why. For Katie’s whole life, her mom had sung the praises of the medical staff who had delivered her children. They both knew she didn’t really want Katie doing anything that would leave the hospital short-staffed and the patients suffering.

She just also wanted Katie home for Christmas. It was a complicated mix of emotions.

Even more so when you factored in her recent determination to get Katie married off to someone back home, make her move back, and turn her into a sort of mini-me.

“I have to go now,” Katie said, hoping it wouldn’t distress her mom further.

“I’ll call you tomorrow,” her mom promised, and Katie sent up a wish that it wouldn’t be to discuss her work schedule. “Have a good shift, darling.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Katie said, deflating as she hung up the call.

Malik approached her as she dropped into a chair, holding out her coffee. “Family fun?”

Katie laughed once, reaching up to take the mug. “Just my mom—and a six-month-old, apparently—stressing about me missing another Christmas day.”

“It’s a good thing she doesn’t know who does scheduling.” He paused, his cup hovering before his lips. “Or how much you like your job, apparently.”

Katie raised her eyebrows. “How’d you mean?”

Malik shrugged. “It’s not like you ever seem that sad to be working the holidays.”

“Oh.” Katie thought it through.

She really wasn’t, if truth be told. Sure, it would be nice to be at her family’s Christmas celebrations, and she looked forward to joining them again in the future, but she did love her job. She’d known what she was signing up for when she became a doctor, and, honestly, there was always something extra special about births on holidays. Some magic in the air that Katie always wished she could bottle.

When it was Christmas—Katie’s favorite holiday—and everyone was feeling extra special cheer, she couldn’t help but appreciate it. There was something about being around that kind of love and happiness that made missing her own family hurt a little less. And, working in a hospital, often missing family events, you kind of banded together, and made bonds that felt like family.

Maybe things would be different if she had a partner or children of her own, but, as it was, she knew what she’d signed up for and she didn’t have either. Much to her mother’s disappointment.

“Yeah,” she told Malik eventually. “I guess it never occurred to me to be upset about it because we all know what we’re getting into doing this job, you know?”

He laughed. “I’m sure there are plenty of people who knew what they were getting into but still get a little annoyed at missing holidays. You’re just a workaholic. You’ll change your mind one day.”

She laughed. “I doubt it.”

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