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The bed and breakfast Dana recommended looked beautiful; the pictures on the website filled with Christmas lights, snowy scenery, hot chocolate, and lit fireplaces. It looked cozy and warm, the polar opposite of Samira’s cold and empty apartment. And yet, Samira would take her apartment any day because staying here would mean she hadn’t been mandated to take Christmas off.
Normally, she volunteered to work the holiday shifts. She had no one waiting for her at home, not like a lot of her coworkers, so she was happy to take them. After all, patients still needed doctors on holidays and it might as well be her. She usually picked up some biryani and kheer after her shift to have her own little Bada Din celebration, and that was enough for her. Except not this year.
Dana cheerfully informed her that morning that Samira wouldn’t be working on Christmas Eve or Christmas. When she turned to Robby, ready to protest, he was nodding.
“You work every holiday shift, Dr. Mohan. You need to take breaks too, you know. Relax a little, enjoy the holidays.” With that, Dr. Robby left without a backward glance.
Samira bit her tongue, stopping herself from telling him he needed to take a look in the mirror. She sighed and made eye contact with Heather, whose expression made it plain she agreed with Robby and Dana and there was nothing Samira could do to change their minds.
So, that’s what brought Samira here, to the site of a bed and breakfast in the mountains of Stahlstown with only one room somehow still available. It was more than she would typically spend, but she trusted Dana and she actually wanted to do something with her forced time off for once. Samira wanted to come back to work and when someone asked what she’d done over the holiday, she wanted to have something to say instead of her usual, “Oh, not much.”
Decision made, she added the Cardinal Suite to her cart, already looking forward to the king size bed and fireplace. Samira checked out and as she did so, her computer screen froze for a few seconds. The screen turned white and refreshed, but the charge went through. A few minutes later, she got the reservation confirmation email so she thought no more of it, already shifting into considering what to pack and how early she’d have to leave to beat the forecasted snow.
The drive to the lodge was beautiful. Snow flakes were slowly drifting down and beginning to stick. The further she drove from Pittsburgh (and the ED), the more relaxed Samira felt. Maybe everyone was right, maybe this would be good for her. Some time away from everything and everyone serving her well. She tried not to think about Dr. Abbot working the holiday shift without her or the fact that she wouldn’t get to see him.
As she pulled up to the lodge, passing through the quiet faux 18th century village, she couldn’t help but smile. It was so peaceful here, even more so with the hush of the freshly fallen snow that was starting to come down thicker and faster. It looked like she’d gotten here just in time.
Samira parked, pulling on her hat and gloves, and took her suitcase out, noting absently that the car next to hers looked somewhat familiar. Maybe someone at the ED had the same model?
She shrugged it off and headed inside. The lodge was welcomingly warm with the fireplace lit and a beautiful Christmas tree next to the check-in desk. It looked exactly like the pictures, and she couldn’t wait to see her room.
Samira was so busy taking in the lobby and common areas that she bumped into the person waiting to check in before her.
“I’m so sorry.”
He turned, and Samira met Dr. Abbot’s eyes.
She gasped quietly and she could tell he was equally surprised. The two of them were the most frequent staff working the holiday shift. He was always the first to wish her a “Merry Christmas,” while handing her some kind of holiday drink that perfectly suited her tastes, and the last to leave on the actual holiday after he walked her to her car.
It was so coincidental that she’d just been thinking about him and now here he was. Think of Jack Abbot and he appears always held true in the ED, so why wouldn’t it elsewhere.
“Dr. Mohan?”
She took in his casual grey henley under a flannel shirt with the sleeves rolled up as well as his jeans and boots. Samira tried not to stare at his forearms and averted her eyes as soon as she caught a glimpse of his chest hair before making eye contact again and smiling at him.
“Hi, Dr. Abbot. Fancy seeing you here.”
He smiled back at her, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Right back at you, Dr. Mohan. Dana got to you too, didn’t she?”
“She did. It’s the first time I’m not working the holiday shift since I started at the Pitt.”
“I know.” He said it so quietly she had to strain to hear him before he cleared his throat and continued, “Let me guess, she recommended this place to you?”
Samira nodded. “Yeah, she said it was ‘the best place to spend the holidays and who knows maybe I’d be pleasantly surprised.’ ”
Dr. Abbot rubbed his hand over his surprising amount of stubble — not that Samira kept track of how much stubble he had, no of course not — and shook his head. “She said the exact same thing to me.”
Samira wondered if Dana had done this on purpose. She wouldn’t put it past her.
Before Dr. Abbot could say anything else, it was his turn for the front desk. He looked at her for a moment before gesturing her forward. “Why don’t you go first, Dr. Mohan?”
Samira considered it before responding, “Why don’t we go up together? We both have to check in, and it would be nice to know if we’re staying near each other. As long as you don’t mind me knowing where you sleep.” She hoped he knew her well enough to know she was teasing.
She was proven correct when he teased back, “As long as you don’t mind the same.”
They grinned at each other, and it was only when the front desk clerk cleared her throat that Samira moved forward with Dr. Abbot close behind.
The front desk clerk, whose name tag read Celia, smiled at Samira. “Checking in together?”
“Oh no, we’ll be checking in separately but we know each other so figured we’d come up together.”
“Alright then. Your name, ma’am?”
“Samira Mohan. I should be in the Cardinal Suite.”
Before Celia could respond, Dr. Abbot interjected, “I’m also supposed to be in the Cardinal Suite.”
Samira turned to look at him as he stepped forward. He seemed to be as confused as she felt.
Celia looked back and forth between the two of them, puzzled. “Let me just pull up your reservations, and I’m sure we’ll get this squared away easily enough. What was your name, sir?”
“Jack Abbot.” Samira felt warm at Dr. Abbot’s proximity. She always did.
A few moments passed, while Celia tapped away on her keyboard. “Well, it looks like there must have been a glitch in the system because you’re both booked for the Cardinal Suite… Unfortunately, we don’t have any other rooms available due to the holiday. I’m so sorry. I can try to call some of our neighboring properties to see if they have availability, but with the weather and Christmas… I don’t have a lot of hope.”
Samira didn’t know what to say or do. This was supposed to be a relaxing trip and instead, it was going wrong before it could even really start. She turned to look at Dr. Abbot. It was easy to read him after so much practice in the ED, and she knew what he was going to say before he even opened his mouth.
There was no way she was letting him give up the room for her, so she made a split second decision.
Samira hoped she sounded confident, “It’s okay, Jack and I both wanted to surprise each other with a little Christmas getaway and just happened to book the same room.” She paused, taking his hand in hers and making sure Celia could see; Dr. Abbot got with the program quickly and threaded his fingers through Samira’s, rubbing his thumb over her index finger soothingly. Samira swallowed, hoping he couldn’t see how much that little touch affected her and that he wouldn’t be too upset at her next words, “Right, darling?”
Dr. Abbot raised a brow before nodding. “Right, sweetheart.”
Samira tried not to think about what it would actually be like to be Dr. Abbot’s sweetheart. She’d already thought about it more times than she’d admit to anyone but herself. “So it all works out, Celia. We’ll just share the room, like we do at home.”
Samira could see Celia hiding her skepticism, given they hadn’t been acting like a couple before this, but Celia met Samira’s beseeching eyes and glanced outside to the ever-increasing snow before nodding decisively. “How perfect, it’s so lovely to have another couple here for the holidays. We’ll cancel one of the reservations, issue a refund, and get you both checked in for the Cardinal Suite.”
Dr. Abbot spoke up before Samira could, “Cancel Samira’s. She can buy herself something nice with it. How about that new stethoscope you’ve been eying?”
Samira stared at him. She’d only mentioned getting a new stethoscope to him once in passing, and he remembered that? Did he really know her that well?
They finished checking in, and Dr. Abbot took the key from Celia with a nod. “Thank you.”
He turned to Samira and smiled at her. “Lead the way, baby.”
The way he said, baby… Oh.
Samira followed Celia’s instructions to their room down the hall and waited for Dr. Abbot to open the door. He did so and held it open for her, letting her enter first. Samira knew she’d forgotten the one flaw in this plan, okay there was more than one, but she’d forgotten the biggest one.
There was only one bed.
It took up most of the room too, and the only other piece of furniture besides the end tables was a chair in the corner.
The door closing behind them drew Samira out of her thoughts.
“I’ll take the chair, Dr. Mohan. Don’t worry about it.”
She turned to face him. “No, you won’t, Dr. Abbot. I’ll take the chair.”
“Yeah, that’s not happening, Dr. Mohan.”
Samira knew from experience they would keep going back and forth on this, unless she put her foot down.
“Okay then, we’ll just share, Dr. Abbot.”
“Oh, will we?”
“Yes, we will… Jack.”
He looked stunned for a moment before his face lit up like he’d received a gift he’d wanted for ages, but never thought to receive. “Okay, Samira. Only because you asked. Looks like you’ll know exactly where I’m sleeping after all.”
Samira laughed. “I don’t think there’ll be any doubts…” She paused and contemplated her next words, “... I hope you didn’t mind what I did back there. Insinuating you were my boyfriend, I mean.”
She didn’t regret it exactly, calling Jack her boyfriend felt like a dream come true, but she would if it made him uncomfortable. That was the last thing she wanted.
“It was quick thinking, Samira. You’re always so good at making decisions under pressure.” He sounded just like he did in the ED, approving and like he never had nor would ever have any doubts in her. Now that he’d said her first name once, it seemed like he was taking every opportunity to say it again. Not that she minded. “And of course, I don’t mind. I feel lucky that I get to be your boyfriend for the next 24 hours, even if it’s only outside this room.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you, Jack.” Her face felt flushed and she didn’t know what else to say – she couldn’t just come out and say she was the lucky one, right? – so she changed the subject, “I’d love to go out on the deck to see the snow and the mountains. Want to come?”
“Sure, Samira. I’d love to.”
She found the door to the outside easily enough and as she went to open it, it was only then she realized that they’d never stopped holding hands.
At the sight of the amount of snow on the deck, it was obvious the weather forecast was correct. If they weren’t snowed in already, then they would be soon.
It was beautiful, quiet, and peaceful. Samira realized as she stood side by side with Jack that she wouldn’t want to share this with anyone else.
She couldn’t have told you how much time passed as they watched the snow, but eventually Jack broke the silence, “We haven’t had a white Christmas in years. Remember that shift two years ago when people decided to sled down the middle of the street? The amount of people we got in the ED that day.”
“I remember. You brought me a holiday chai and a gingerbread muffin.”
“Well, I know you don’t always take time to eat and I was stopping there anyway…”
Samira couldn’t recall him walking in with his own drink, but decided not to call him out on it. “Isn’t it funny that this would have been the first Christmas in years that I didn’t spend on shift with you, and yet I’m spending it with you anyway?”
Jack hummed and was quiet for a bit before saying, “There’s no one I’d rather spend the holiday with… baby.” He smirked at her as he said the endearment. It meant something that he said it with no one else around.
Samira could hear the truth in his words and wanted to be honest in return, even as Jack calling her baby gave her butterflies. They were outside the room after all, so he was her boyfriend here. Just like she was his girlfriend.
Samira wondered how much time she could get him to spend outside the room over the next day.
She realized she had a crush on Dr. Abbot after Pitt Fest, one she’d probably been nursing since early in her tenure at the Pitt, but hadn’t done anything about it. Too scared it wasn’t reciprocated, too afraid to make any kind of move in case it was rejected, and too terrified to chance ruining what they had right now.
It felt like there was no better time to make a move. She couldn’t help but think of the quote in Love Actually, “At Christmas, you tell the truth,” and there was nothing Samira wanted more so she gathered her courage and said, “Likewise, darling.”
Jack’s sharp intake of breath showed how much her words impacted him. “Really?”
“Yes, Jack. You’re always one of the best parts of the holiday shifts. Of any shift really.” She said the last part quietly, but knew he heard her anyway. He always heard her, even when she sometimes wished he didn’t.
“You are too, Samira. The best part of my day.”
She watched the snowflakes land in his grey curls and felt the urge to brush them away. She held it in before realizing they were outside the room, so she could if she wanted to. And she really wanted to.
Samira reached up, watching Jack’s face for some sign he wanted her to stop. Seeing none, she brushed the snow off his hair, causing one of the curls to hang down over his forehead. She went to brush that back too and he caught her hand, gently pulling her closer.
She looked up at him, their breath mingling in the cold. Under the light of the moon with the snow falling around them, he’d never looked more handsome.
“Samira Mohan… sweetheart… May I please kiss you?”
She didn’t even pause to think. “Yes, Jack Abbot, you may.”
His lips were warm against hers as he kissed her gently, like he never wanted the moment to end. It was everything she’d ever hoped it would be.
Jack pulled away slightly, but stayed close. “Merry Christmas, Samira.”
“Merry Christmas, Jack.” She kissed the corner of his mouth and then his jaw before wrapping her arms around him and burying her cold nose in his neck.
Jack was quick to hug her back, pulling her as close as he could manage. “You’re shivering. Why don’t we go inside and turn on that fireplace?”
“And get under the covers?” Samira didn’t know where her boldness was coming from, but she hoped it lasted.
“Sweetheart…”
“Jack, darling… what do you say about being my boyfriend for longer than 24 hours?”
He stopped in his tracks. “I say that I’d be the luckiest man in the world, who somehow got the best Christmas gift imaginable. But Samira, are you sure?”
Jack truly looked like all of his hopes were being realized at once, and Samira felt the same.
She opened the door to their room. “I’ve never been more certain. Come inside, Jack. I’m cold.”
“Well, we can’t have that.”
“You’ll cuddle with me?” Samira said as he shut the door behind them.
“Every day for the rest of my life if you’ll have me.”
As she watched Jack turn on the fireplace, Samira felt like she could fly. “Let’s start with tonight, and see where it takes us.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“And Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I’ll always have you.”
“Me too, Samira. Me too.”
“Now, get over here, I’m still cold.” Samira patted the bed.
“That must be rectified right this moment, sweetheart.”
“And I suppose you’re the man for the job?”
“I’d like to think so. I’ll have you know my cat never complains.”
“Well then, you have a lot to live up to. Come cuddle with me, Jack.”
“Always, Samira.”