A Christmas to Remember – for the characters and you!

Have you read the beginning yet?

Now, read part two of A Christmas to Remember, and then comment here for prizes!!!

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Dumbfounded, Garth slipped the safety back into place on his handgun and lowered it.

“Meredith?” he said, shocked at seeing the blue-eyed beauty. She’d grown older now, but she was still as beautiful. Her long brown curls cascaded over her shoulders, and poked out from underneath a pink hat keeping her head warm on this cold night. Her eyes narrowed, taking in every inch of him, and he nervously ran his fingers through his dirty blonde hair. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she said, a glimmer of a smile gracing her lips.

“No one is supposed to be here.”

“We got wind of someone new moving in. Guess that was wrong information.”

“Guess so,” he said.

The kids watched him and Meredith, their glances running over his handgun and taking in his haggard appearance.

“When did you get back?” she asked.

“Meredith, now isn’t the time.”

“Would you quit pushing me away? You always do this!” Her voice was low and tight, but not quiet enough. Every kid heard, and a couple of the girls now had grins on their faces and elbowed each other.”

Garth took a step back into the house. She was right—he always pushed her away when she tried to get close to him. He couldn’t have her knowing the truth about him. He didn’t even want to face that truth, what he’d been part of.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, wishing he didn’t sound like a scared four-year-old.

She shook her head and said, “Come on, kids. We’ve got some more houses to sing at.”

With one more glance in his direction, she ushered the young carolers down the sidewalk to a blue van, clearly marked with the name of their church—the church he hadn’t set foot in since he was twenty.

At the van door, Meredith looked back at him and said, “Merry Christmas, Garth.”

With a weary smile, he wished her a Merry Christmas as well. She entered the van and drove away with the kids, stopping at the next farmhouse nearly a quarter mile down the road. He stood on the porch, listening to their voices carrying on the freezing air, until his thoughts about terrorists watching his every movement from the dark shadows of night drove him back inside.

He sat on the worn sofa, careful not to make a sound as he strained his ear to hear the faint songs of the children in the distance. Too soon, van doors slammed, an engine started, and all sound faded away.

Meredith. He’d thought of her every day he was in war. She had been the constant in his uncertain life during his tours overseas. Why did she have to show up now? He didn’t need this distraction. Yet, those blue eyes burned in his mind. She was certainly beautiful. He still remembered the taste of her strawberry lip-gloss after their first kiss—right after her fast-pitch softball team won the regional championship. She’d struck out the last batter in three pitches. That memory—and the smell of her shampoo lingering from the front porch—brought a flood of memories and the emotions.

Garth shook his head. Focus on the mission. He carried the blankets back to the bedroom and dumped them on the bed. Yet Meredith’s look of surprise stayed in his mind as he lay on the cold mattress and stared into the dark.

***

For the next parts visit:

1. Bonnie Blythe
2. Anita K Greene
3. Marian Merritt
4. Rich Bullock

Also, join Dawn Turner  as she discusses her favorite Christmas songs!

 

Don’t forget to comment here and leave me your email address, telling me your favorite Christmas movie, song, or memory, and you’ll be entered in to win $100 Amazon gift card AND an autographed copy of BOTH of my books along with some bookmarks!  However, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter here for your chance at the $100 gift card!  And join the other blogs for more individual prizes!!

 

 

 

 

Piercing Through the Darkness

It’s on the edge of her memory like a word on the tip of her tongue, but Kandi can’t remember what it is to save her life.

Despite being a cop, Jimmy can’t protect Kandi from the one thing that haunts her. She’s in danger and doesn’t even know it. After it happened, her brain repressed her memories of the accident, and now, she’s taking a Biology class under a man who wants to see her dead. The memories have started coming back, and it feels like she’s miles away from him. How can he protect her when she doesn’t even know she needs protecting?

Can these characters pierce their way through the darkness?

 

Read Me Dead

Alexia Wheaton’s problems go beyond picking a dress and a date for homecoming.

For seven years, Alex has lived with a painful memory – her parents’ horrific murder. As the sole witness, she has kept quiet to protect herself, but when the local newspaper reveals her secret, Alex is plagued with fear that her parents’ murderer will soon find her – and silence her forever.

Alex is catapulted into a race against time to save her own life and bring her parents’ murderer to justice.