Hurts So Good (Neil Melendez (The Good Doctor) x OC)

Santa Is Coming

*Kelsey's POV*

Kelsey was at the boutique displaying the new entries of the Christmas season when doctor Neil Melendez came in.

"Hi Kels," said the man who, Kelsey noticed shortly after, was holding a box full of Christmas decorations.

"Heeeey," Kelsey said, "What's that?"

"Jay asked me if I could bring this here, I believe it contains some Christmas decorations?"

"Oh, OH."

Kelsey had always been the distracted type, but since her engagement, everyone could tell she developed a sort of haze when she wasn't thinking about the wedding, or Tammy. Or Jade. Looking back at the box and taking a closer look at it, she recognized it for what it was: Sheila's Christmas box. Jade's mum's decorations. Kelsey took the box from Neil's arms and set it on the counter at the cash register, she took a little cutting knife and cut the tape at the sides and center of the box so that it would pop open. When the lids shot up, Neil got closer too and took a peek at what was inside.
Above the packaging paper, there was a note.

'Kels, I finally faced my fears and went through my mum's stuff. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I needed this time to figure things out on my own and live in my feelings. When I saw the box, her special box, I started crying, but I've come to realize that this had always been her favorite time of the year and there had never been space for tears or sadness. Not even when dad left us. I kept the most meaningful pieces at my place, but I want to gift you the others, so feel free to use them everywhere you want. Mum would have loved for you to have some of them. Love u.'

Kelsey's face was now wet with tears of her own, and when she finished reading the note she used her right shirt sleeve as a tissue to dry her eyes. Gosh, she missed Sheila so much, she was still grieving as well, because no matter how many walls she had built, Jade's mother had grown to be her mother as well in the years she took care of younger Kelsey.

"Is everything alright?" Neil asked, watching the girl take a deep breath.

"Yes, yeah. Nothing to worry about. Actually... Do you think you could stay here for a while? I may need some help."

*

*NEIL'S POV*

Neil ended up staying at the boutique well over two hours. His shift had finished at four that afternoon, but work seemed to follow him everywhere we went.

They took out all of the decorations and he helped Kelsey put them on the walls, in between the plants, on the plants, in the display window, they even put some outside, his favorite piece being the Christmas wreath hanging on the boutique door.

"And we're done. Oh my, I couldn't have done it this fast without your help, thanks Neil," said Kelsey while raising an arm to her forehead to dry a droplet of sweat. Outside might have been freezing, but inside the boutique there was a nice warmth, that turned into unbearable heat when working out.

"No problem, I'd stay to help you clean up the floor, but Jay is probably wondering where the hell I went."

"Oh, about her, do not tell her anything, okay? I want it to be a surprise. Do your best not to get caught, please?!" begged the girl.

*

And now, here he was, trying to find an answer to the most difficult question.

"Where have you been? You got out to deliver a box at 6pm and it's 8:25pm! Dinner has long since turned stone cold, Neil."

"Uhm, I... Did deliver the box, no worries about that, it's just that I... Saw Dr. Andrews on the way back and he asked if we could go grab a beer and... I said yes."