Free Island Christmas by Kimberly Rose Johnson

counter and slipped, landing on his arm.”
    Her heart rate finally began to slow, and she realized her legs shook. She turned to her son. “I’ve told you not to climb onto the counter because you could fall and get hurt.”
    Jason’s eyes watered. “I sorry.” Silent tears streamed down his face, breaking her heart.
    “Me too, buddy.” She wanted to hug him, but didn’t want to cause him pain. She continued to rub his back, swallowing her own tears. “I’m sorry about this Chris. You’ll never want to babysit again.”
    He shrugged, clearly too polite to deny the truth.
    The curtain slid open, and a man wearing scrubs walked in. “Ms. Narrelli?”
    “Yes.” She nodded.
    “The business office asked me to make sure you filled out this paperwork. We already have you in our records but must have the part regarding your son filled out.”
    “Of course. Thank you.” She took the pen he offered and sat down. Her hand shook as she filled in the form then signed a shaky version of her signature.
    Jason rested on the exam bed quietly and watched the TV that had been tuned into the football game. She glanced at Chris and noted his eyes were glued to the screen. At least he hadn’t missed all of his game.
    Jason seemed content as long as he sat still. “How you doing, Jasie?”
    “Okay. My arm hurts.” Crocodile tears slipped down his cheek causing her own eyes to water. She blinked away the threatening tears and cleared her throat.
    Glancing at her watch, she sighed. A good thirty minutes had passed watching the game with the guys and waiting for a doctor, but she couldn’t wait any longer. Zoe expected her to return to the restaurant. “The restaurant is expected to be super busy today, and I need to go back to work. Will the two of you be okay together?” She looked at Chris, who nodded, then Jason, who did as well.
    “Thank you for being such a big boy, Jason. Please listen to Chris today and no more climbing onto counters.” She brushed the hair off his forehead and gave him a kiss. “Will you call me when you know if it’s broken or not?” Although from looking at it, she highly doubted he had broken his arm. She suspected a sprain at the most.
    “Of course. You can’t stay a little longer?” Chris asked.
    She checked the time again. “If I hadn’t gotten off to such a rocky start at the restaurant, I wouldn’t go back.” It was clear Jason was comfortable with Chris. “How long do you think it will take?”
    “The nurse said an orderly will be coming in soon to take him to x-ray.”
    She nodded. “Don’t leave him, Chris. Please go with him to x-ray.”
    “I will.”
    “Thanks. I owe you.” She moved to pass him so she could exit the cubicle, but he caught her hand.
    “He’s going to be okay.” Chris’s intense eyes held a promise of hope.
    “I know. Or I wouldn’t leave. Even if it meant losing my job. Thank you for being here with him.”
    He nodded and released her hand.
    An orderly came in wearing a big smile. “You must be Jason.” The woman who looked to be in her fifties spoke gently to her son. “How would you like to go for a ride in this wheelchair?”
    Jason’s eyes brightened, and he nodded.
    Chris stood and helped her son off the bed and settled him into the wheelchair. Jason looked at the man with adoration in his eyes. She could understand that feeling. Chris was a special man.
    Confident that her son was in good hands, Rachel did one of the hardest things she ever had to do and left. The rest of the work day flew by in a blur.
    At the end of the evening Zoe stopped her on the way out. “Thanks for coming back today. You did a great job, and I’m glad Jason wasn’t badly hurt.”
    “Me too. A sprain is so much better than a break. He has to wear a brace for a while, but that’s not too big a deal. Especially this time of year.” She waved then headed to her car and ten minutes later pulled into her driveway. The lights inside shone brightly, casting a glow