An Evergreen Wedding

By Tanya Goodwin

Last Christmas was the first one Dr. Holly Green, uber surgeon and former Scrooge, had celebrated in years since the death of her parents, thanks to holiday-spirited Dr. Noel Shepherd, who couldn't help falling in love with her. In remembrance of her parents, and with her love for Noel, Holly chooses this Christmas Eve as her and Noel's wedding date. However, her old habits die hard, and Holly can't relinquish her meticulous checklists when it comes to planning her wedding.

But her perfect "row of checks" begins to unravel when her in-laws arrive a day earlier than expected. Dealing with Noel's high-maintenance mother, playing referee among family members, and convincing Noel that his overbearing mother should stay in her home instead of the B&B he'd arranged for his parents, particularly his mother, is something Holly is sure she can handle. But a blizzard that strands everyone, including Noel, who's snowed in while attending an out of state surgical conference, forces Holly to once again accept events out of her control, even if it takes cancelling the wedding she'd dreamed about.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tanya Goodwin
• Release date: Jul 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311904898

Tanya Goodwin

Tanya Goodwin writes romantic suspense with a twist of medicine, medical romance, and mystery. Her experiences as a physician are reflected in her characters and in her stories. Tanya is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine and completed her specialty training as an obstetrician and gynecologist in Tampa, Florida. A former New Yorker, she now resides in St. Petersburg, Fl. Her present life as a traveling doctor allows her to switch from stethoscope to keyboard. Tanya is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

Book preview

An Evergreen Wedding

By

Tanya Goodwin

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2013 by Tanya Goodwin

Cover design by Rae Monet, Inc.

Smashwords Edition

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

About the Author

Other Books by Tanya Goodwin

Thank you Reader

Chapter One

Dr. Holly Green prepared to operate for the last time, at least for the next two weeks. She slipped off her engagement ring and hung it on the diamond snowflake pendant gracing her neck; the one Dr. Noel Shepherd had given her last Christmas. The ring was a Valentine’s Day present. But by far, the best package she’d received was finishing his OR case. In four days they’d be married on Christmas Eve. The holiday she’d once avoided celebrating was to be her wedding day.

She tied on her holiday print scrub cap and tapped the window to the OR. Who would have guessed that Dr. Holly Green, the New Hampshire’s Granite State Medical Center’s ultimate Scrooge, would be wearing anything Christmas. But Noel had changed that a year ago. Holly Green officially loved Christmas once again. She waved to him through the OR glass window and mouthed, Good morning.

Noel, with his surgical mask still in place, smiled with his eyes. Leaving his assistant to finish the case, Noel broke scrub and burst out of the OR. He tore off his mask, grabbed her, and dipped her. Good morning to you, too. He kissed her long and hard. Heat percolated to her cheeks.

The paper shoe covers on her feet skated across the polished OR floor. Noel! I’m slipping!

He pulled her upright. I got you! I wouldn’t let you fall.

She clung to his neck. You better not have!

The anesthesiologist and OR crew remaining in the OR suite clapped, while Clifford, his assistant, and Holly’s intern last year, turned around and waved.

Noel grinned and shot them all a thumb’s up sign.

Holly playfully punched him on the shoulder. You’re incorrigible.

And you are stunning this a.m. He reached up and wiggled the sides of her scrub cap. Hmmm? Boughs of Holly. I like it. It suits you.

Given that she’d always worn the plain disposable blue OR bouffant caps up until now, Holly secretly loved her new holiday custom-made cap her Aunt Mae had sewn for her.

Holly stroked his unshaven cheek. You’re post call, and looks like you’ve been up all night operating. We can reschedule.

Noel kissed her palm. No never. We’re going this afternoon. It’s our new tradition. I wouldn’t miss it. I slept most of the night. My patient with the hot appendix rolled in at 5 this morning. I let Clifford do the case. He’s got great hands. You’ve taught him well. He looked at her with his brow cocked. Why? Do I look that bad?

Of course not. He looked hotter, ruffled a bit like that.

The OR door swung open, and Clifford came out to join them.

Noel clapped him on the back. Good job, Dr. Jackson.

Clifford nodded humbly. Thanks for letting me do the case. He glanced at Holly. Good morning, Dr. Green.

Good morning as well, Dr. Jackson. I heard you performed adequately, Holly said, striving for her old austere voice. Although she’d softened, she had no intention of becoming a bubbly attending.

I have you to thank you for that, Clifford said.

She eyed him speculatively while suppressing a smile. Yes, you do.

Clifford pressed his lips tight. She could tell he was hiding a smile, too.

After she and Noel had saved Clifford from a near death car wreck last Christmas Eve, their strictly professional attending to resident relationship had changed to an oddly warm bond.

Candice Baxter, Holly’s 4th year medical student and surgeon want-to be, strode with a half run in her step and a worried look on her face. She halted in front of Holly and stood at attention. Am I late?

Holly shook her head. No. I’m early. You’re on time.

Candice, eager to please, rocked onto the balls of her feet. Is there anything I can do for you?

Although Holly, ready to scrub, had already stripped her ring from her hands, she was well versed in the logistics of OR room turnover. Since we’re waiting for the room, why don’t you run upstairs, grab the chief resident, and start pre-rounds, she said to Candice.

It was a two-for-two win. Candice’s overeager energy would be well spent, and when they finished her OR case, rounds would be shortened, leaving her and Noel free for the day.

Great idea, Noel chimed in. Take Clifford with you. He can start my rounds.

Blessed be medical students and residents, Holly mused.

Holly and Noel watched their charges leave. With barely a space between them, Candice and Noel sped away with purpose. Candice chattered as she and Clifford walked away.

Holly scooted to Noel’s side. I think they have a thing for each other.

I think so, too. He hugged Holly. They’re just like us last year. She’s the one in control, and he’s the one hopelessly hooked.

Holly shot her hands to her hips. Oh, yeah?

Oh, yeah! He put his hands on his hips. This was you. He parodied, You’re in my OR.

Last year, she’d practically kicked him out of her OR, ditched him at the annual hospital Christmas party after he had persistently cajoled her to attend, after which he hand delivered the hospital holiday cookies to her doorstep. She gave the man nothing but displeasure when he dragged her into finally celebrating Christmas, a holiday she’d tucked away for years after the death of her parents. She must have exhausted him, yet he kept coming back for more. Thank God, he did.

I didn’t say it like that!

You’re right. You didn’t say it like that. Noel scrunched his face. You said it like this, ‘Get out my OR!’

You don’t recall well. I let you have it. Your case was more urgent.

Noel tapped her nose. And I’ve been hooked every since.

Noel grabbed Holly’s hand. Now that the kids are gone, let’s go get some breakfast.

She held back. I don’t know. I don’t want to be late for my case. And I still have to pre-op my patient. And I have to check my table to make sure they’ve pulled all the correct instruments and sutures.

He yanked her into an embrace. And, and, and! You, Dr. Green, have never been late for a case, every scrub tech has your case cards memorized, your patient hasn’t even arrived, and I don’t want to eat breakfast alone.

Holly had fought to be less regimented, but her old self slipped through every now and then. She still craved control. Come on. You can do it, she chided herself. You’re right. I don’t want you to eat breakfast alone!

****

Noel opened the cafeteria door and ushered Holly inside the morning rush. The scent of pine, left over from the annual hospital holiday party, competed with the smell of coffee. Bundles of evergreen wrapped with red velvet ribbons bedecked the cafeteria doorway and mistletoe hung in surprise spots. Every year, Holly had stayed clear of the traditional festivities. She’d been so consumed by years of pain locked up inside of her, that she had missed the revelry and pageantry of a holiday her deceased parents had adored. But this year, she hadn’t pulled her usual Houdini. She had stood next to Noel while clapping and tapping her toe to the ICU nurses’ encore reindeer kick line performance. Hospital volunteers, dressed as elves, had joined the nurses making the festive spoof more spectacular. Holly sighed as she gazed at the decorations. This was going to be the best Christmas. It would be their first one as husband and wife.

Let’s go get in that breakfast line, he said, pulling her back from her dreamy state.

Holly glanced at the cafeteria clock. Yes, she’d been spun back to reality, for now. After check out rounds, she’d be free to dream about their wedding.

Caught you! Don’t worry. I’ll get you back to the OR in time, Cinderella. I won’t let you turn into a pumpkin.

All right, Prince Charming.

I am charming, aren’t I?

Yes, you are. Holly nudged him. Hey, ‘Charming.’ The line is moving.

Holly and Noel each grabbed a cafeteria tray and meandered along with the rest of the hospital staff, whom were all vying for a morning jolt. Every few steps they took, staff hugged them and shook their hands, congratulating them on their upcoming nuptials. Noel was a handsome and talented surgeon. His happy-go-lucky spirit and joviality always drew a crowd. Everyone wanted to be around him. Up until a year ago, everyone avoided her. But to be fair, she avoided them first. Noel could have easily had any woman, yet all he wanted was she. And that felt so good! Holly snuggled up to Noel.

Her long time nemesis, parted her way through the well wishers, and snagged Noel into her arms. She cradled his cheeks in her palms and kissed him precariously close to his lips.

Oh, Noel. I can’t believe you’re getting hitched, she crooned.

Her high-pitched squeal scraped at Holly’s ears. She could still hear Margo’s snide comments behind her back last Christmas in the women’s locker room. "I don’t see what that new hottie, Noel Shepherd, sees in her. I’ m going to ask him out. There’s just no competition!" The woman hadn’t stopped slinking around Noel since then, even though it was abundantly clear Holly and Noel were exclusive.

A guilty color bloomed to his face. Noel mumbled, Thank-you.

Holly rose onto the balls of her feet, her hackles primed to protect her pot of gold. Find your own rainbow, sister! Her clawed hand was inches from the back of Margo’s scrub top when Ashley, her maid of honor, scooted in between them.

Good morning, everyone! Ashley said, in the knick of time. She tapped Margo on the shoulder. I have the list of breakfast orders for the staff upstairs. I’ll need some help carrying all those take out trays. That sexy drug rep guy is in the break room.

Margo dropped her hands from Noel’s cheeks, thankfully distracted by another male target. Noel’s smashed face slowly rebounded to normal.

With a wry smile, Margo forced out, Congratulations to you, too, to Holly.

Holly wrapped her arm around Noel’s waist. Thank-you. Now, go away.

Margo tugged Ashley’s hand. We better hurry before he leaves!

While Margo stockpiled food for the nurses, Holly pulled Ashley to her. Thanks. You’re the best maid of honor, ever.

You’re welcome. Anytime.

They glanced at Noel, who was still massaging his face, and laughed.

Aw, poor Noel, Ashley mocked.

He waggled his finger at her. Don’t laugh. My face is still numb.

I’ll let you guys be so you can get your breakfasts and get moving on, Ashley said, giving Noel an extra glance.

Ashley caught up with Margo and prodded her along.

Noel tipped his head toward the line. Come on. The line by the oatmeal is shorter. Let’s dodge over to there. I’d regret it if I made you tardy to the OR.

Holly inched her lips into a smile. Yes, you would.

Oatmeal was her favorite breakfast, and he knew it!

Noel gently took her hand and guided her to the steaming oatmeal. He held out his hand. Your bowl, please, Mademoiselle.

She played along and handed him her hospital grade plain ceramic bowl.

One ladle or two ladles?

Make it two. I’m hungry.

As you wish.

Noel scooped two ladlefuls of oatmeal into her bowl. He did the same with his. Looks a bit plain to me. He picked up a honey dispenser and squeezed a perfect honey heart on top of her oatmeal.

Her heart went completely mush.

Noel carried their breakfast tray to a table for two in the cafeteria corner. They sat across from one another in their hospital oasis.

Holly traced a spoonful of oatmeal along the periphery of the bowl, saving the Noel’s honey heart for last. I hate to ruin such a work of art.

Noel dipped his spoon into Holly’s bowl. He swished the honey into the oatmeal.

Noel!

I wanted you to enjoy sweetness in every bite. You already have the most important heart, mine.

She scooped up a spoonful and plopped it into his oatmeal. "What’s mine