Aleksei and Kai were in a corner watching the replay of a football game on TV, scarfing down Christmas cookies, and Liam stood there, hands in his pockets with the expression on his face of a man about to suffer the worst kind of torture. And if she wasn’t mistaken, he was inching toward the game too.
Deva and Isabel were opening the boxes with Cary, Ted, and Lucas, trying to give the kids a festive atmosphere. Chewy was sniffing around, licking at the floor for scraps of food when he wasn’t playing with a discarded piece of plastic. Deva turned on Christmas music to try to drown the TV, but the men just turned it up, turning the space into a cacophony of noise.
The boys looked up at Catriona with confusion in their eyes.
It wouldn’t take much for the situation to get out of hand. Deva and Isabel were plotting to take the television and throw it out of the window and Catriona knew she had to act.
With a smile, she kneeled by Cary’s side and winked at the young man. “I need your help. You and Ted. It will only take a minute.”
Cary arched an eyebrow and nodded. “They don’t like Christmas, do they?”
“The problem is they don’t know what to do at Christmas. They need a little push, and I think I know what to do.”
Cary took his little brother’s hand and even gestured at Lucas who frowned, not sure of what was going on, but followed, nonetheless. Chewy didn’t bother to follow, eyeing the cookies on the coffee table instead.
Leading her little troop into the next wing, Catriona didn’t knock and entered Lazarus’ room.
Sasha was curled up on the sofa with a book, the only decoration in the room a twinkling plastic tree on the table beside her. Sam was sitting by Lazarus’ side, eyes lost in front of him.
The little Ted squeezed Catriona’s hand, bringing her attention to him. When she crouched beside him, Ted looked at his big brother before looking at Lazarus immobile on his bed. “He’s not dead, darling, just sleeping. He was hurt, and his head decided that he needed to sleep a lot to heal.”
“I knew that.” Cary puffed out, and she nodded at him.
“Of course you knew, you’re too bright not too.”
Sasha got out of her seat at their arrival. “Hey! It’s good to see you. So? How are the Christmas preparations going?” Lucas shuffled, and the doctor arched an eyebrow. “That bad?”
Cary stepped forward. “They aren’t helping. And I want them to, it’s the first proper Christmas for Ted since...” The young boy hesitated, but Catriona understood and touched Cary’s shoulder in silent support.
Sasha seemed to consider her options. “I don’t know what I should do. Maybe I can drug them all, so we can tie them to chairs. That way, they won’t have any choice but to participate?”
Sam, who had sat silent until now, groaned. Surprisingly, Cary was the one who answered him. “And why are you hiding in here?”
The man frowned and stood. “I’ve never hidden a day in my life.”
The young boy wasn’t impressed. “You’re hiding now. Christmas is a family thing, and Ted and I wanted to celebrate with a real family for once. Maybe for the last time. I want it to work, and you have to be there too.”
Despite their size difference, it was clear the boy’s words had affected Sam. So was Catriona, who felt the full blast of the young Paylors’ reality. Ted tugged at her hand, and she took him in her embrace. So naturally, the little boy wove his skinny arms around her neck.
“What do you want me to do, young man?” Sam crossed his arms, looking even darker at that moment. Cary hesitated, looking back at her.
Instead of answering Sam, she turned instead to Sasha. “How is Lazarus doing?”
The doctor smiled a little. “Improving and stabilizing.”
“Would it be safe to move him? Not far, just to the living room.”
“I don’t see why not. He’s unhooked from the machines. I saw a recliner there, which could work.” And then the blond woman smiled and nodded, clearly understanding Catriona’s plan. “Sam, stand by, I’ll need you to carry Lazarus.”
Sam hesitated. “Is it safe?”
With a sniff, Sasha started gathering blankets. “I’m the doctor here, and I won’t have anybody tell me how to take care of my patient. Unless you want to throw me out. It’s the only way you’ll get rid of me until Lazarus opens his eyes again.”
Darkness returned to the man and he shook his head. “We trust you, Sasha. Never doubt it.”
“Good.” And the doctor turned to Cary and Lucas and handed them the blankets. “Boys, go prepare the spot I told about in the living room, and don’t tell the men what we’re about to do. Let’s make it a surprise.”
Cary and Lucas scattered. Catriona half expected Ted to scramble down and follow his brother, but instead, he remained in her embrace, even putting his head on her shoulder. A child who’d seen only the worst of this world, who should distrust everything and everyone, accepted her. It was extraordinary. Unable to resist, she kissed his black hair.
Quickly, Sasha guided Sam as he scooped his brother’s limp body off the bed and came to stand by Catriona as they opened the door wide and preceded Sam and Lazarus toward the living room.
The doctor caressed Ted’s hair before lowering her voice so only Catriona could hear. “Well played, my friend. The brothers believe that they can’t accept the goodness of this world, but they need you to crack open their thick skulls and help them see the light.”
