Hope's Toy Chest Read Online Free PDF Page A

ninth floor was used as rooms for the parents, or those traveling through. I know we still have the rooms for medical students, and other staff if they need a crash room when working long hours.”
    “Don’t forget the storage ,” she reminded him. “Now how about you tell me what you’re getting at?”
    “Jessica’s mother wants to take her out of the hospital, the day after tomorrow, to have one final Christmas with her that isn’t surrounded by the nursing staff, doctors, machines, and the sickly scent of bleach. I can’t with good conscious sign off on it. Jessica is in too frail of health to risk her catching a virus, traveling in this weather.” He took a deep breath, his breath caught in his throat. “I want to take over one of the rooms and give Jessica the Christmas she deserves. To let them spend the night there with the Christmas decorations, and the next morning can be their Christmas, and Jessica can open her presents.”
    “You don’t think it would be too much for her?”
    “She’d be in a safe and secure environment. I’ll stay her e at the hospital, checking in on her to make sure everything is fine. If there are any changes in her health, I’ll return her to the floor. She’s on a three day radiation with one day off rotation. The day after tomorrow is her off day.”
    “How are you going to pull this off by yourself?” She tossed her pen on the desk, watching him.
    “I know someone who’d be willing to help, and Elizabeth will be back in town that morning. If there are any last minute things, I know I can count on her and Jason. Do I have your approval?”
    “To take a sick child up there you’re going to need a deep cleaning of the room.”
    “I won’t ask for the hospital cleaners. I’ll see to it and everything else. Cleaning, decorations, everything. What do you say?” His stomach churned waiting for the answer. It was worse than waiting to see if he’d gotten into his top choice for medical school.
    She nodded. “Don’t take any unnecessary risks with her health.”
    Excitement coursed through him, and for that brief moment the joys of Christmas began to return to him. “Thank you.”
    He stood and quickly made his way to the door. There was so much to do before Jessica’s Christmas celebration. The first thing he needed to do was talk to Chelsea.

Chapter Six

     
    Chelsea sat in the middle of Kingsley’s living room surrounded by mountains of toys. Thanks to his key, she’d been able to make a dent, as small as it might be. She had managed to get the stuff divided for two children. Now she sat there wrapping them, putting them in a Santa sack to be delivered on Christmas Eve.
    The front door opened, and dress shoes made a dull thud on the hardwood floor. “Chelsea ?”
    “In here.” She put the last piece of tape on the baby doll and tossed it onto the pile in the sack. “What brings you home at this time of the day?”
    “Lunch.” He held up a bag of Chinese food. “Want to join me?”
    With a glance at the clock, she smirked. “It’s ten-thirty in the morning. Where did you find a Chinese restaurant open at this time?”
    “The one by the hospital is always open early preparing for the day. They’ll take orders from us at the hospital before they open.” He set the bag on the table. “I thought we could have some lunch and I could convince you to help a little girl.”
    “You didn’t h ave to bribe me. After all, I owe you for letting me take over your house.” She stood up, carefully making her way through the piles. “It smells delicious.”
    “I’ll grab plates and we can talk about what I’d like your help with.” He turned to the cherry wood cabinets and grabbed the dishes. “I got chicken and broccoli, beef teriyaki, and crab rangoon.”
    “Can I get drinks?”
    “I keep a pitcher of water with a splash of lemon in the refrigerator. If you’d like to pour me a glass, I’d appreciate it.” He took the dishes to table and begun