Key to Christmas Read online

  Key to Christmas

  By

  Marlene Bierworth

  Book 17 in the

  Ornamental Match Maker Series

  A special event in OMMS

  Christmas in July

  Copyright © 2019 Marlene Bierworth

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without written permission of the author, Marlene Bierworth, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Disclaimer

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, character and events are the product of the author’s imagination. While the author has tried to be historically correct, her goals in this book are great characters and storytelling. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals, is purely coincidental.

  From the Author

  Mrs. Claus is all about spreading Christmas cheer — especially to the many lonely hearts seeking friendship, love, healing, second chances, and that special someone of their own.

  To help each lovely heroine and dashing hero find their perfect match, Mrs. Claus sends them a magical holiday ornament. From a carousel horse that matches the exact horse a hero will be found riding to an iced angel just like the cookies a dreamy chef bakes, each ornament has a real world counterpart that, if followed, will lead to true love. These books are designed to be a fun quick read with a touch of magic and romance.

  From historical to contemporary, from heartfelt to humorous, each of these sweet romance stories ends in a festive happily ever after that will leave you wanting more — so be sure to check out all the titles by multiple authors in our Ornamental Match Maker Series, by visiting

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/712109532498752/

  This is my fourth contribution to the series. It is a merry mixture of fun with the Claus family encased in a modern parable that depicts truth – the reason for the season. John arrives in Pam’s ER room with loss of memory while Cedar Springs is beginning its yearly celebration of Christmas in July. Little do the couple know of destiny, and how it will impact their lives. But freedom of choice remains an option, and saving Christmas may be too much responsibility to bear.

  May the Spirit of Christmas rein in your life all year round, and may readers the world over, continue to enjoy tales of romance everyday! Love reins!

  The far-away mystical land of Santa Ville is Jack Frost’s most favorite place in the entire world. You will find him painting stunning landscapes with streams of shimmering garland, while the streets dance with fun and frolic. Dedicated workers are busy performing their daily tasks with a single commitment to perfection. Here, if one simply believes, the gift of magic is sure to be discovered hiding with a playful tease around every corner. The residents of this village beat with one heart, and at the center core, we find the spirit of Christmas. Adorned with a scarlet cloak of love, he deals with unbiased justice – a trustworthy source to descend dark, empty chimneys, and spill bags of wishes under trees – allowing unbelievable dreams to consume unsuspecting hearts.

  The Match Maker stomped her foot with irritation, as the shadow of mockery invaded her blissful world. Every year brought more skeptics, and it muddled her message of the fullness of love she wished to spread. Why was it so hard to grasp? The gifts of wishes and dreams, delivered into one’s heart, bear witness to the truth. In this modern age, the entire concept was considered old-fashioned and obsolete! Only the young grabbed hold, for their hearts were still pure and untainted by the world’s influence.

  “A ridiculous theory, the cynics say! What do they know?” Mrs. Claus muttered.

  It infuriated the dear lady that lived in the Polar Paradise Penthouse and she refused to hear any more of its nonsense. She had lived too many years, and viewed a great deal that man could not explain. After all, this was her family’s mission and legacy. The Match Maker laughed aloud, and it brightened her mood.

  Although contrary to the latest fad circling the earth – she preferred to label her twist of magic a miracle. For it was a known fact that the delightful Match Maker, Mrs. Claus, was not only on her husband’s good-girl list, but also written in the Miracle Maker’s book of Life.

  Her line of work always zoomed in on romance. Happily-ever-after! A model of what she experienced with her man, Santa Claus.

  Serious business lay ahead of her today. She could not leave this next union to chance. So much depended on it. She despaired slightly, knowing love always offered a free choice, and that her lifelong career of joining hearts together hinged on the success of this one couple. Among the masses of females, she must locate the willing soul that would succeed her – the one designated to become the next Match Maker, her daughter-in-law, and her son’s wife. She sighed, deep and worrisome. If only her rebellious boy would surrender to his future role in the family business. It would make her job so much easier.

  Mrs. Claus stroked the golden key that exhibited atop a shapely stone displaying four pure white daisies – the number designated for the new Claus family. Beside it in a glass container was the counterpart – the gold key necessary to unite the two and the kingdom as one. She picked both up and walked toward the large screen that covered nearly an entire wall in the viewing room. Holding it next to her heart, she closed her eyes and touched the monitor. It sprung to life and immediately the image of a young woman materialized. She was dressed in a white uniform and her long, auburn hair was tied in a ponytail on the top of her head. The woman appeared extremely busy and Mrs. Claus could barely get a glimpse of her face as she dashed to and fro. Sirens squealed, and the incoming crisis commanded everyone’s undivided attention.

  Mrs. Claus bent closer and stared, trying to steady the image so she could see the face of the chosen one. Her future…

  What was that violent shaking? Santa Ville vibrated and the floor heaved under her feet. The walls were ripping apart at the joins and threatening to crash in on her. She stumbled, and both objects dropped from her hand, falling deep into the depths of the viewing screen, lost into the abyss.

  In her last minute of awareness, the elderly Match Maker heard a crash of thunder and a threatening roar. A mocking, sinister laugh filled her ears as her knees buckled and she dropped onto the shiny tiles unconscious.

  The village continued to rumble. Snow began to fall and the kingdom soon became a mountainous bulge on the flat, icy terrain.

  Someone released the curse and only true love could unlock the door. This would surely affect all of mankind.

  All because one rebellious heart refused to bow to his destiny.

  The Love Story Begins

  The sirens screamed, announcing the arrival of two ambulances dispatched to the accident on the interstate. The medical team hurried toward the entrance just as the first cot rolled into the building. Doctor Pamela Legend rushed to intercept. Her blood always pumped with excitement at the fast pace and challenges of the emergency room.

  Jimmy, a new addition to the paramedic team, recited his initial prognosis. “Found this fella in a ditch. Cut up bad, and unconscious – still is. The heartbeat is irregular. Looks as if he wasn’t wearing a seat belt – no burns or abrasions. Maybe he jetted through the air from one of the three cars in the accident. No broken bones either. The man got lucky and landed on a soft patch.”

  “Or he could have been out there jay-walking and got hit from behind,” his partner chimed in. “His luck ran out when his head missed the soft patch and landed smack on a rock.”

  “I don’t require a detective’s appraisal, gentlemen. Stick to your medical observations,” Pam said. In her opinion, these tw
o characters had missed their calling.

  “The man’s breathing. He’s all yours.” The paramedics turned and strolled to the desk to fill out paperwork.

  Pam quickly examined the man on the stretcher. His eyes were dilated causing the turquoise color to expand and open wide into a turbulent sea of misty waves. An entire story could be told by studying those eyes. She wrenched free of the vision that crammed her curiosity. His pulse was steady. From around her neck, she raised the stethoscope to her ears and rested the blunt end of the instrument against his chest. She listened to the beating of his heart and startled when the rhythm was indeed odd – not racing or sluggish – just odd, like an unsteady beat of a tune that had misplaced its melody. She pushed away. She needed caffeine.

  “Take him to cardiac – room 2. I’ll be right there.”

  “Yes, Doctor,” said the volunteer as he pushed the EMS cot down the hall.

  Pam Legend glanced anxiously around the waiting room. It was full, as usual. There was never enough time to stay ahead of the numbers. Accident victims, especially those with possible heart conditions, automatically went to the top of the list. She shook her mind clear of what she could not do – as in magically wish them all well enough to go home – and concentrated instead on what she could. Pam continued to diagnosis and give instruction as to the initial treatment for the remaining victims of the accident. When everything appeared under control, she made her way to the cardiac ward.

  In room two, she continued with her first patient’s examination and scribbled the results in the man’s files. He remained unconscious. His body recoiled and sporadically kicked as if he were in the middle of a nightmare. She could see no medical reason for the distress.

  A nurse came in and stood ready for instruction. “Take Mr.…” Pam scanned the file. “We have no name recorded on this file.”

  The nurse examined his armband. “Registration has him labeled as John Doe. Mustn’t have had any identification on him.”

  The doctor sighed. “That’ll have to do until he wakes up and tells us otherwise.” Pam recorded the fake identity name on his file and hung the clipboard at the bottom of his bed.

  “Bring him to the imaging department. We’ll start with a full set of chest ex-rays.”

  Pam watched them roll her patient away then headed to the bedsides of the other wounded accident patients. She did what she could to make them comfortable, then ordered further testing and the scheduling of specialists to treat their specific injuries. An hour later, Pam returned to the cardiac unit. She walked to the desk and dropped exhausted onto a chair. For a moment she buried her head in her hands. Inactivity felt good, but soon her dedication to work summoned her back to duty. Pam pored over the stats on the monitoring screen that perched on the desk, scanning the data of all the people tucked behind curtains in the ward.

  When Pam felt satisfied that nothing had changed and everyone appeared to be resting, she decided a short time-out from the unit would be in order. She had not managed a break for hours, and her double shift was just beginning. A coffee and a glazed donut might provide the necessary pick-me-up, to bring in the next twelve hours with renewed energy.

  Pam motioned to the head nurse. “Janet. Tell Dr. Shamus I’ll be back in ten. Page me if there’s an emergency, and he needs extra hands.”

  “Yes, Doctor Legend.” Janet was all starch and enforced any who worked under her to heed the letter of the law. Her erect posture and cool eyes broadcasted her attitude – mind your P’s and Q’s if you know what’s good for you. Her rigid call to detail had agitated Pam’s more casual bedside manner on more than one occasion. But you could always be certain when Nurse Janet Draper was on duty, she left nothing half-done, and no discrepancies dared to invade her perfectly run ward.

  An hour later John Doe was back in the unit, and Pam ventured to look in on him. He was awake, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression on his face. She moved inside his cubicle and pulled the privacy curtain closed. He glanced her way. The vacant glaze of his pupils suggested a deeper emotional issue to add to his minor injuries and heart problem. Pam picked up the clipboard and flipped the pages.

  “The results of the ex-rays haven’t come over yet. Sometimes the departments get swamped, and it takes a while. How are you feeling?”

  Silence.

  “You had no identification on you at the site where they found you. Do you have a name?” Pam asked.

  Still nothing.

  “It would help your recovery, sir, if we could access your medical files,” Pam said in a more commanding voice. “There are far too many John Doe’s in the system.”

  His eyebrow rose. At least he comprehended what she was saying to him.

  “Can you not speak? Please, nod yes or no.”

  He nodded yes, and then a raspy voice broke through. “Sorry. I am in a bit of a conundrum.”

  “Can you elaborate?” Pam asked.

  “It appears I have no recollection of my name, my past, or how I ended up in an accident. Where did you say they found me?”

  Pam scanned the report the paramedic had filed. “In a ditch off the main highway just before the exit into Cedar Springs.”

  “Cedar Springs – is that where I am?”

  “Yes. This is St. Joe’s General Hospital, and I am Dr. Legend, your physician on duty.”

  He smiled, and before he uttered the words, she knew what was coming. “And a mighty fine looking physician, I might add.”

  Pam wondered why young men felt the need to hit on professional women? Did they all wear an invisible, single, available and easy sign plastered on their foreheads?

  “It appears a man doesn’t need an identity to spout inappropriate advances to his doctor,” Pam said. “I suppose if I attempt to listen to your heart, it will flutter unnecessarily and not give me an accurate reading.”

  “Might be a problem, Doc. You’d be in pretty close proximity, and who knows what rhythm the old ticker will be playing.”

  Pam cast him an expression of reproach, and he backed off. She laid the cold stethoscope on his chest, not attempting to warm it up, and could not hold back the smile that played at the corner of her lips in hearing his slight gasp.

  “I believe the tune is Silent Night – slow and steady. Perhaps you should rest from your ordeal, Mr. Doe. I’ll return later when I have more information to pass along.” As Pam opened the curtain, she turned back and spoke. “The lab will be here shortly to take blood samples.”

  “No way! I don’t do blood, Doc.”

  “Are you frightened?” Pam asked. Her patient’s sudden anxiety suggested his fears were genuine.

  “Nope. Just want to keep mine to myself.”

  “A blood sample will reveal a lot about your health,” she said. “Besides, if every donor thought like you, this hospital would be in quite a fix when we required blood for surgery.”

  “Not the donor type.” He appeared resolute in his decision.

  “Perhaps it is a religious conviction? But then how would you know that when you don’t even know who you are?”

  John Doe shook his head. “Guess I had a bad scare once and fear is ingrained deep into my self-preservation mode.”

  “Possibly. I still need a full blood work report on you so I can diagnose your condition properly. Your objection is duly noted, but changes nothing – unless, of course, you have no interest in full recovery?” Pam cast him a challenging smile, hoping to calm his nerves. “A nurse will be in shortly. John, she is good at her job. You won’t feel a thing.”

  The concern never left his face, and a cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Pam went to the cupboard and withdrew a heated blanket and covered him. “Too late to claim shock now, sir. Suck it up and let’s proceed with the tests to clear you and get you on your way.”

  “But… where would I go?”

  “I suppose that will be a problem.” Pam turned to leave. “Let me see what I can do. You can definitely spend one night here in the ER. By morning we shoul
d have some insight as to any conditions you may suffer because of the accident.”

  “Besides amnesia? Isn’t that enough?”

  “It is, and we will continue to run tests.”

  “Will you be here all night? I hate too many new faces.”

  Really? The man was a flirt – a prime candidate for tailing anyone in a skirt. Somehow her first impressions did not picture him as a recluse or social delinquent.

  “I will be here, Mr. Doe. Just starting my second twelve-hour shift,” Pam said.

  “Second? You need to sleep, woman.”

  “Tell the person who schedules my life. Rest now. I will return later.”

  Pam busied herself with patients, forms, prescriptions, and releases for the next hour. She was at the end of the hall consulting with Janet when she heard the scream and started running. What could be happening in the cardiac ward now?

  “Mr. Doe!” The name suited him at this moment for his eyes resembled those of a deer caught in the headlights of a car – wild and scared.

  “He won’t stay still and let me do my job,” the lab technician protested.

  Pam moved to the other side of the hospital bed and drew his eye. “John, I have the results of your ex-rays. I hope we are not disturbing you.” That statement was redundant, for his distress oozed out like poison.

  “You – never - but can’t say the same for the vampire here. It disturbs me that she wants to suck my blood into those tubes? Five of them! I’ll have no blood left.”

  Pam held back a grin and chanced to wink at the woman who stood ready to try again. “Look at me, sir, while I talk.” She grabbed his clipboard again and attempted to stretch the report out to allow the technician time for a sneak approach. “You, John Doe, have the heart of an athlete. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “No, but I’m not a lazy slouch – least I think I’m not.”