A Christmas Wish Read Free Page A

closing brought her back to the present. Shaking her
head, she headed for the room where her patient waited. Her mind went wild,
thinking of a million and one ways to get out of having dinner with Ethan. The
problem was, all of her excuses sounded lame.
    It’s for
the kids, she reminded herself.

Chapter Five
     
    Stunned by the rich tapestry
combined with modern decorations, Jasmine followed their maître d’ through the
front courtyard. Clear lights suspended from tree branches formed a triangle up
top, where a chandelier hung. Within minutes Jasmine felt transported from Lake
Buena Vista, Florida, to a cottage somewhere in Sorrento, Italy. The sight was
surreal. It was as if she’d stepped out of the world as she knew it and into a
heavenly space.
    “Miss?”
    Jasmine
forced herself to focus and looked at the maître d’, then at Ethan. It wasn’t
until then she realized Ethan held her hand. She didn’t recall when, in the few
minutes they’d been here, Ethan had laced his fingers with hers. Her stomach
flipped and her knees trembled in response to his irresistible smile. Letting
go, she sat on the chair the maître d’ held out for her. It’d be a while before
she forgot about this place. Its warmth and charm made her feel at home.
    “This
is beautiful,” she finally managed to say after the maître d’ left. Avoiding Ethan’s
piercing eyes, Jasmine dropped her gaze to the tabletop. A lit candle in a
silver holder sat in the middle, along with a couple of wine glasses with rose
petals in them.
    “Wait
until you try their food,” Ethan said. “Have you given the field trip with the
kids a bit more thought?”
    “As a
matter of fact, I have,” she said, somewhat relieved when their waiter showed
up to take their orders, giving her more time to consider her words. After the
waiter left, Jasmine eased back in her chair, more comfortable with Ethan. She
couldn’t tell if her comfort was as a result of the beauty and enchanting feel
of the place or not. “What do you think about planning the field trip for the
week before Christmas?”
    “I
think we’ll break the kids’ hearts if we change plans on them.”
    Jasmine
stared at him, then scanned their surroundings, taking in the other tables and
the dimmed lighting. “It isn’t fair. You put me in a bad position. You
should’ve consulted me first.”
    “Jas.”
His large hand grabbed hers, the unexpected touch made her body jolt in
response. “If I’d known what you shared with me last night, I would’ve never
promised anything to the kids.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m sorry.”
    Ethan shouldn’t
have promised anything regardless, not unless he’d checked in with her. Jasmine
could either accept his apology, or make a bigger deal about it and ruin the
delicious dinner this place promised. And as much as she didn’t want to admit
it, the kids—her patients—hadn’t been the only reason she’d come anyway.
    “I
can’t do Christmas Eve,” she said, tugging her hand from his.
    Holding
on to her hand, he asked, “You can’t or you won’t?”
    “Both.”
    “Jasmine.”
He took a breath. “I can’t even begin to imagine what you go through every
Christmas. I won’t pretend I understand because I’d be lying.” Ethan ran his
thumb over her knuckles. “Can you make an exception and do this for the kids…
your patients?”
    Her
patients weren’t just patients. They were her kids. Two of them would still be
here next year, if they took well to their therapies. And one wouldn’t be here by
this time next year. Her heart broke in half at the thought. She’d give
anything so kids didn’t have to suffer and could outlive terrible diseases like
leukemia. As much as the memory of her parents and brother pained her on such a
holiday, it’d shatter her to a million pieces if she broke the kids’ hopes for
spending Christmas Eve at Disney World.
    “Jose,
Frankie, and Roxie are the only reasons I’m doing this.”
    His
lips spread