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Back On the First Day of Christmas Save as PDF
Chapters (33)
  1. Cover
  2. ALSO BY FAITH HOGAN
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. Contents
  7. Prologue
  8. 1
  9. 2
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. 5
  13. 6
  14. 7
  15. 8
  16. 9
  17. 10
  18. 11
  19. 12
  20. 13
  21. 14
  22. 15
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. Author’s Note
  31. Acknowledgements
  32. About the Author
  33. An Invitation from the Publisher

‘You know what they say about shooting stars.’ Rachel’s voice was heavy now, dragged down by drugs and weariness. Every time you see one it’s another soul walking into heaven. ‘Always think of me, like this, promise?’ She waited a beat, because they knew what she meant. ‘Remember when we’ve been happy, not…’ She closed her eyes, falling into a light sleep and for once, Liv was glad because she bit her lip and scrunched her eyes closed tight and willed herself so hard not to cry. She held her breath while her belly burned with unexploded grief and so much love it could only just be contained.

‘Okay?’ Pete whispered to her and he rummaged beneath the blanket with his free hand and caught hers and it felt like a lifeline, something she could hold on to in the worst of storms, and it would always bring her home.

1

L‌iv sat in the coffee shop. It was a treat she normally didn’t allow herself, but it was her last break of the day and it had been a very long day. In the grip of Christmas holiday madness, everyone was emptying out of the hospital now, patients and staff getting home as quickly as they could make their escape. She could feel the hospital almost growing larger around her, as if it was echoing, looming; the attempt at cheery seasonal spirit falling short when everyone would far prefer to be somewhere else.

For the next three days, it would operate on a skeleton shift. For the most part, unlucky rostered doctors, nurses, porters and catering staff. You could spot a mile off the few who actually volunteered to work Christmas for their own reasons, and they would do their best to pretend that they actually wanted to be here. Not everyone loves Christmas, one of the older nurses had told Liv when she started out, and Liv had shivered, knowing too well that for some, it was the loneliest time of the year.

Of course, Christmas in Ballycove, with her family, her mum and dad and Maya – well, it felt like a million miles away from the sterile, whispery atmosphere of the hospital at this time of year. Yes, it was probably traditional, maybe even boring as far as some people might be concerned: there’d be midnight mass, turkey and Christmas carols; if they had the energy, after dinner, a walk about the farm and maybe a game of charades to finish off the day.