Chapter 17
He'd told her that he needed to get some bits from the flat for the next few days so that he didn't need to leave over Christmas. As he approached the ED he smiled towards Cal who had his back to the hospital walls.
"Rita got you in pulling extra?" Jacob smiled "Nah, just came to speak to someone… Don't suppose you know your way around other wards here?" Cal looked across at him with a questioning look without saying anything.
There was a knock at his office door as he shoved the donut box to one side. Swallowing his mouthful he looked down at himself brushing the crumbs from his chest before answering. "Who's there?" Jacob pushed the door open just enough to show himself. "Ah, it's Jacob isn't it? Come in."
He wandered into the office and looked about before sitting down. Elliot smiled at the other man but was unsure as to why he was here. "I don't want to sound rude, but why are you here?" He smiled moving forwards to the edge of his chair.
"I know that you probably know Connie better than anyone else and I know she spoke to you about Grace the other day." Elliot nodded as he sat back down in his chair. "She mentioned what had happened with her not being home, yes." Jacob nodded before standing up and wandering back and forth across the office.
"You know Grace?" Elliot smiled "Of course, imitation of her mother." He looked above his glasses as Jacob laughed briefly. "I need to ask a favour…"
Connie's phone rang while she sat on the bed. "Hello-" "Mum! I can't wait to see you I miss you. I'm sorry I upset you with Christmas." Connie sighed before speaking up. "Oh baby don't worry about it, I just want you to be happy. Are you looking forward to Christmas with your Dad?"
It was getting difficult for Connie to hear what her daughter was saying. "Baby where are you, it's hard to hear you." Grace stuttered for a while "Urmm, I'm just at home… I've got to go Dad needs me, I'll speak to you later Mum I love you." Before Connie even had a chance to answer her daughter was gone.
Jacob sat opposite Elliot. "Please?" The other man finally gave in and with a small nod Jacob smiled again. "Thank you. So I'll see you at about 11 tomorrow?" Elliot nodded as Jacob stood up and wandered towards the door. "I hope she appreciates this. She's lucky to have someone who cares about her so much, I've watched too many people walk away from her either by choice or her force."
Walking back to his flat he was happy with himself for arranging something for Connie. He grabbed a few things from his flat and shoved them into a bag. He sat back when he picked up a small black box from the top of his table.
He ran his hands across the top of it before flicking the lid up to show the small silver ring which his mother had left for him. So many thoughts ran through his head when he looked at it. Should he give it to her or should he ask her to marry him. All he knew was that she was the woman it belonged to but the way he did would mean everything.
It had only been a few months but in reality they'd been getting closer ever since his first steps in the hospital. Really it had been close to a year but he knew she'd still think it was quick. But she'd told him she loved him and he knew how much that would have taken for her to admit.
He closed the lid deciding to see how things happened tomorrow before deciding. Of course he wanted to, but he had promised to himself to put her before anything else. She meant everything to him and he wasn't about to lose her for pushing it too far.
The walk back to Connie's was slow but he was happy for the time to think. Tomorrow would be focused on her and everything he had done was in an attempt to give her something to remember. If anyone deserved a happy Christmas it was Connie.