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that felt entirely too good. Lilah seemed to enjoy it too because she stopped kicking. Suddenly, as if he finally noticed what he was doing, Matthew pulled his hand away and the silence stretched between them. Was that a spark? she wondered. Grace pushed that thought aside because she wasn’t ready to jump into a relationship with anyone right now and probably never again. She’d been burned one too many times, and the wounds were still very raw. This was about his connection to Lance’s baby and nothing more.
    “So we should eat before it gets cold.” Matthew stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
    “You just said we should eat. Where are you off to in such a rush?” Grace asked.
    “I need to step outside and make a call,” he answered on his way out the door.
    Weird. Grace shook her head and dug into her burrito bowl. She closed her eyes in food ecstasy at the taste of jalapenos, cilantro, and cheese over steak, lettuce, tomato and rice with red beans. It was fresh and delicious, and she ate it with delight. She was in food heaven. Matthew came in a few minutes later and sat down in the chair he’d vacated earlier. He had a smile on his face, and he took up his food and began eating.
    “You look like the cat that ate the canary. What are you up to?” Grace asked curiously before taking another bite of her food.
    “Nothing at all,” he said innocently.
    She soon found out because the nurse she’d affectionately nicknamed “Nurse Sunny” because she was always so upbeat came running in. She threw her arms around Matthew as he was sitting, and he almost dropped his food.
    “Mr. Ryder, you are so amazing, I could kiss you and I will!” Nurse Sunny said and planted a kiss on his lips.
    Grace said nothing and continued chewing. She gave Matthew an amused look and a raised eyebrow.
    Nurse Sunny continued to talk. “Do you know what he did?”
    Grace shook her head. “I have no clue. Facilitated world peace?”
    “No, better!” Nurse Sunny shook her head. “Well, not better than world peace, but he’s outfitted the hospital for Christmas. Toys for the children, Christmas trees, holly, mistletoe, elves and toy soldiers. It looks like controlled chaos out there, but the trees and lights are going up quickly, and everyone is loving it. Even the people in the ER get gift cards, I hear.”
    “Well, you are certainly the man of the hour,” Grace said with a smile.
    “You said you wanted Christmas, so here it is,” Matthew said.
    “I’m going to go back to work and watch it all go up. Maybe I can help decorate some of the Christmas trees!” A laugh bubbled out of Nurse Sunny, and she practically ran out of the room.
    “Well, you don’t do things small, that’s for sure,” Grace replied. “I was scared she’d explode and confetti would come out.”
    Matthew burst out laughing. “Really? Confetti?”
    “She’s like a red bull and espresso rolled into one plump package,” Grace said. “I don’t think she’s human. No one can be that perky.”
    “A Christmas tree is coming in here for you as well and some lights so don’t freak out,” Matthew warned.
    She reached over suddenly and took his hand. “I won’t, but thank you, Matthew, for the tree and for making everyone here happy. Low-income hospitals need more charity like this. I guess I was meant to be here.”
    “Maybe, but I’d still rather you be at the house waiting for your baby to arrive,” he said.
    “Me too, but she’s going to be fine, and that’s all that matters,” Grace answered.
    They ate the rest of their meal, and from her opened door she could see the dull hospital gain some life with the colorful holiday decorations. People dressed as elves did the decorating and handed out candy canes. A four-foot tree with all the decorations was brought into her room, and a string of lights was hung by the window. Plastic snowflake decals were stuck to the window, and a small village scene was placed on the windowsill. She had to