Free Silent Night, Unexpected Night by Ella Jade

 
     
    Chapter
One
    Christmas
Eve
    Sparkling white lights, red bows and
green holly decked the halls of the hospital. The holiday season had always
been one of Tanner’s favorite times to be at work. Despite the fact that people
were here and didn't want to be, the staff did a wonderful job of making things
festive and light for the patients. This particular time of year made him proud
to be the Chief of Staff at one of Boston's largest teaching facilities.
    “Dr. Rhodes,” a soft voice called from
across the nurses' station. “What are you still doing here?”
    “Hey, Jill.” Tanner smiled at the petite
nurse who always made it a point to make small talk with him. He didn’t mind talking
with the staff, but some of the women tried to get friendlier than he would
have liked. He had a strict policy of not dating his employees. “I'm on my way
out now.”
    “Did you read to the kids?”
    “Yes,” he said. “They all seemed happy
and content, especially when Santa made an appearance.” Tanner had stopped off
at the pediatric ward, and read The Night Before Christmas to the children
who wouldn't be spending Christmas morning at home before calling it a night. His
tradition of reading the story to the kids started a few years back. He liked
seeing the joy spread across those little ones faces. Their smiles reminded him
of when his own son was a child. It wasn't that many years ago, but now it
seemed like another lifetime. Where had the time gone?
    “You make it really special for them.” Her
gaze lingered on his lips longer than he felt comfortable with. Attractiveness
had plagued him his entire life. His dark, wavy hair and ice blue eyes were the
talk of all the females around the staff lounge. He worked out often, ran
marathons and swam every day. His body was in top shape. He had a good laugh
when he’d heard the buzz about him being the hospital's versions of McSteamy and McDreamy rolled into one.
    He could have his pick of any woman on
staff and before gaining the top position he had. As he got older, so did the
dating game. Running around, searching for the perfect woman had become tedious.
He wasn't sure she existed anymore.
    “Well, it breaks my heart to know
they're here tonight. I like to give them and their families something to make
the night special.” It wasn’t as if he had anything to rush home to anyway.
    “Do you have plans tonight?” she asked.
    He nodded even though his plans weren't
all that exciting. Christmas Eve was just another night to him.
    “Merry Christmas, Tanner.” She winked. “I
hope there is something extra special under your tree tonight.”
    Not likely.
    “Happy Holidays, Jill. I'll see you in a
few days.”
    He walked to the indoor garage and
revved up the engine to his BMW, waving goodbye to the attendant on his way out.
By the time he pulled into his own garage, a light snow began to fall. His son Aiden's
car wasn't there. He must have already left for his mother's house. He'd be
back tomorrow afternoon. When Tanner and Lauren divorced ten years ago, Aiden
was only twelve and they had decided he would spend Christmas Eve with her and
Christmas day with Tanner. Aiden was now a college senior, but he insisted that
was the way it had always been, and that was the way he'd like to keep it. Tanner
didn't argue with him. Aiden tried desperately to please both his mother and father.
Tanner never wanted his son caught in the middle. He was a good kid, and
despite Tanner’s differences with his ex-wife, they did their best to make Aiden’s
life easier during their turbulent years of marriage and through the divorce.
    When Aiden was younger, Tanner would
take the overnight shift at the hospital and let those with families spend
Christmas Eve at home celebrating. This year there wasn’t a need for him to
fill in, so he ate dinner with some colleagues in the staff lounge instead and
returned home much earlier than usual.
    He and his son had a big weekend
planned. They were