Trading Christmas - Debbie Macomber [1]
—Bookreporter.com on When Christmas Comes
“Once again author Debbie Macomber is back to offer readers a delightful seasonal story of friendship and love. Macomber is a master storyteller and this small volume is a testament to her lively skills…A warm and loving novel that is destined to quickly become a Christmas favorite.”
—Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas, on The Christmas Basket
“Debbie Macomber’s familiar setting of Blossom Street in Seattle will make her many fans feel right at home, and the Christmassy atmosphere makes readers feel that they have just had a refreshing holiday vacation from real life.”
—Bookreporter.com on Christmas Letters
“A fast, frothy fantasy for those looking to add some romance to their holidays.”
—Publishers Weekly on The Snow Bride
“Where Angels Go…should definitely get anyone in the mood for holiday cheer and warmth.”
—FreshFiction.com
“What would Christmas be without our traditional Christmas story from our favorite author?”
—Writers Unlimited
CONTENTS
TRADING CHRISTMAS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
EPILOGUE
THE FORGETFUL BRIDE
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
EPILOGUE
TRADING CHRISTMAS
For my cousin Paula Bearson, with gratitude.
And special thanks to writer and friend Ann DeFee.
ONE
“What do you mean you won’t be home for Christmas?” Emily Springer was sure she couldn’t have heard correctly. She pressed the telephone receiver harder against her ear, as though that would clarify her daughter’s words.
“Mom, I know you’re disappointed….”
That didn’t even begin to cover it. Emily had scraped and sacrificed in order to save airfare home for her only daughter, a student at Harvard. They always spent the holidays together, and now Heather was telling her she wouldn’t be back for Christmas.
“What could possibly be more important than Christmas with your family?” Emily asked, struggling to hide her distress.
Her daughter hesitated. “It’s just that I’ve got so much going on during those two weeks. I’d love to be home with you, I really would, but…I can’t.”
Emily swallowed past the lump in her throat. Heather was twenty-one; Emily realized her daughter was becoming an independent adult, but for the last eleven years it had been just the two of them. The thought of being separated from her only child over Christmas brought tears to her eyes.
“You’ve got all the neighbor kids to spoil,” Heather continued.
Yes, the six Kennedy children would be more than happy to gobble up Emily’s homemade cookies, candies and other traditional holiday treats. But it wouldn’t be the same.
“I was home a few months ago,” Heather reminded her next.
Emily opened her mouth to argue. True, her daughter had spent the summer in Leavenworth, but she’d been busy working and saving money for school. If she wasn’t at her library job, she was with her friends. Emily knew that Heather had her own life now, her own friends, her own priorities and plans. That was to be expected and natural, and Emily told herself she should be proud. But spending Christmas on opposite sides of the country was simply too hard—especially for the two of them, who’d once been so close.
“What about the money I saved for your airfare?” Emily asked lamely,