Page 7 of Under the Christmas Tree

Katie grinned, standing up and holding out a hand for Maggie, pulling her upright when she took it.

She’d misjudged the distance between them and, once Maggie was standing, Katie found herself basically pressed against Maggie. As she watched Maggie’s eyes widen and her nostrils flare, Katie felt herself blushing without really knowing why. They were friends. They were often in close proximity. Maybe it was a little different when they were face-to-face with barely an inch between them, but it wasn’t that much different than a hug. And they did that all the time.

Katie cleared her throat and stepped back. They were both tired. And hungry. It was probably just that. “Did you eat?” she asked as Maggie busied herself putting her gear away.

“Uh… just some stuff from the machine a few hours ago.” She waved a hand in the direction of the two vending machines on the opposite side of the room, still not looking at Katie.

“Well, you must be as ravenous as I am then,” Katie said, walking backwards to the door once Maggie was ready. “Pizza and Netflix back at mine?”

Maggie finally looked at her, something a little flustered and wary about her expression that Katie didn’t understand, but she smiled, and Katie was glad to see it. “Sounds great. I could murder a pizza right now. But I warn you, I might not have the energy to leave.”

Katie laughed. “As if I want you to. You know full well that you could move yourself in and I’d never ask you to leave.”

“Right.”

They walked towards the elevators, Maggie looking down at the floor, and Katie couldn’t help but wonder what was bothering her tonight.

“Katie! Maggie!” Malik called as they passed the nurses’ station. “O’Sullivans. You two game?”

O’Sullivans was a bar near the hospital that a lot of the staff frequented after their shifts. The owners knew their clientele well. They served food every hour they were open, and they kept a stock of the regulars’ favorite drinks—alcoholic and not—at all times.

Ordinarily, Katie would accept the invitation, even though she only ever went for a quick drink and some food before running out for more work or a few hours of sleep before more work, but, tonight, she just wanted casual clothes, blankets, and time on her couch with Maggie. Maybe she’d even get six solid hours. She always slept better when Maggie was there.

She grinned at Malik. “Sorry. Maybe tomorrow. I’m beat.”

Maggie smiled at him too. “Same. Thanks for the invite, though.”

He leaned on the counter, watching them for just a second too long.

When Katie started narrowing her eyes at him, he laughed quickly. “No worries. You two have a good night.”

There was something in his voice. Katie knew what it was, but she hoped Maggie missed it.

She chanced a glance at Maggie. Her face was aflame.Ah.

Katie was going to have to have a word with him tomorrow. There was no excuse for making salacious comments that made Maggie feel uncomfortable.

Besides, they were going to eat pizza, stare at a TV screen, and fall asleep. There was nothing about it that was salacious. She didn’t know what Malik was getting at. It was much moreslumber partythansalacious.

They entered the elevator and Maggie waited until the doors closed on just the two of them before she looked at Katie. “So, your mom was on you about Christmas again earlier?”

The fact that, even sleepy, hungry, and hours later, Maggie had picked up on that and remembered it made something in Katie’s chest feel warm. Nobody, not even her mom who was always monitoring something in her life, ever paid attention to her like Maggie did. Nobody in the world knew or cared the way Maggie did. Katie had never had a friendship like it. Hell, she’d had relationships that were less attentive. And, every time it happened, she felt soft and warm, like the edges of the world were blurring into something nicer than reality.

She leaned back against the rail, watching as the floors flicked closer to one. “Yeah. You know how she is.”

“Annoyed you’re missing another Christmas?”

Katie shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but she knew Maggie would see through it. “She just doesn’t get it, you know? And I see her point. She wants her kids around her for Christmas. It’s not like it’s something egregious she’s asking for.”

Maggie stepped closer to her, pulling Katie’s gaze to her face. “You can understand her point and still be upset by her continued pushing. And of how upset she gets about it. Her feelings can be valid and she can be sharing them in the wrong place. Both things can be true.”

Katie sighed, wishing the whole world saw her the way Maggie did. “I’m the one letting her down. She sees the culprit as the natural one to complain to.”

Maggie breathed a sympathetic laugh. “Culpritis a strong word for it.”

“Not if you ask my mother, it’s not.”

“Well, parents can be wrong too sometimes.”

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