Cheryl Wolverton - The Best Christmas Ever

Cover Page

Excerpt What was it about Sarah that was different from all the others? She brought out a surge of protectiveness and tenderness, true. He wanted to hold her, protect her. But why? Why her? His feelings were disconcerting. Justin shook his head, feeling an emotion churning in his gut. Loneliness. He had to admit he was lonely. He loved his daughter. But he missed having someone closer around to share his experiences with. Someone to talk with in the evening when he got home from work, someone to laugh with over a joke or share those little secret smiles when Mickie did something really adorable. Someone to hold when he felt overwhelmed. Someone to love with all his heart. But Sarah? No. Anyone but her…

About the Author CHERYL WOLVERTON Growing up in a small military town in Oklahoma, where she used to make up stories with her next-door neighbor, Cheryl says she’s always written, but never dreamed of having anything published. But after years of writing her own Sunday school material in the different churches where she’s taught young children, and wanting to see more happy endings, she decided to give it a try, and found herself unable to stop. Seeing so many people hurting, afraid to reach out and accept God’s forgiveness, she felt inspired to begin writing stories about God’s love and forgiveness in romances, because, she says, “We can’t truly have happily ever after, if we don’t have that happily-ever-after relationship with God, too.” Cheryl now lives in a small Louisiana town and has been happily married for fifteen years. She has two wonderful children who think it’s cool to have a “writing mama.” Cheryl would love to hear from her readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 207, Slaughter, LA 70777.

Title Page The Best Christmas Ever Cheryl Wolverton www.millsandboon.co.uk

Epigraph For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake His faithful ones. They will be protected forever… — Psalms 37:28

Dedication To Janet Abbott for always listening. Thanks to Anne Canadeo, the greatest editor in the world, and Jean Price, the greatest agent! And I can’t forget Dee Pace—who went above and beyond for this book! Thanks! And three other very special ladies: Denise Gray, Donna Blacklock and Cheryl Crews. With love to my husband who is so patient and thoughtful when I’m going crazy over computer problems, and my kids, Christina and Jeremiah. You guys are the love of my life.

Prologue Prologue Dear Santa: All I want this year for Christmas is a mommy. I know it’s sorta early still to ask, but it is almost cold out, and I miss Mommy, and so does Daddy. He doesn’t exactly say he misses her, but he stares at Mommy’s picture a lot. I heard my baby-sitter on the phone telling someone Daddy needed to get married again. Well, that’d mean I’d get a new mommy. And if I had a new mommy, then I wouldn’t have to play Go Fish with Daddy’s secretary anymore when he couldn’t find a baby-sitter. And I wouldn’t have to take store-bought cookies on party day at school. I could have a real mommy to bake chocolate chip cookies—and make me peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches as much as I wanted. But most of all, Santa, I would have a mommy to hug me the way the other kids do when we get out of school. It would be just too cool to have that. So, Santa, that’s what I’ve decided I want for Christmas. I told Jesus so He can look around for the right mommy, then tell you which one to bring me on Christmas Eve. I know this is going to be the best Christmas present ever. Thank you, Santa. Signed, Mickie Warner

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

Dear Reader

Copyright

She brought out a surge of protectiveness and tenderness, true. He wanted to hold her, protect her. But why? Why her? His feelings were disconcerting.

Justin shook his head, feeling an emotion churning in his gut.

Loneliness.

He had to admit he was lonely. He loved his daughter. But he missed having someone closer around to share his experiences with. Someone to talk with in the evening when he got home from work, someone to laugh with over a joke or share those little secret smiles when Mickie did something really adorable. Someone to hold when he felt overwhelmed. Someone to love with all his heart.

But Sarah?

No. Anyone but her…

Growing up in a small military town in Oklahoma, where she used to make up stories with her next-door neighbor, Cheryl says she’s always written, but never dreamed of having anything published. But after years of writing her own Sunday school material in the different churches where she’s taught young children, and wanting to see more happy endings, she decided to give it a try, and found herself unable to stop.

Seeing so many people hurting, afraid to reach out and accept God’s forgiveness, she felt inspired to begin writing stories about God’s love and forgiveness in romances, because, she says, “We can’t truly have happily ever after, if we don’t have that happily-ever-after relationship with God, too.”

Cheryl now lives in a small Louisiana town and has been happily married for fifteen years. She has two wonderful children who think it’s cool to have a “writing mama.” Cheryl would love to hear from her readers. You can write to her at P.O. Box 207, Slaughter, LA 70777.

www.millsandboon.co.uk

For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake

His faithful ones.

They will be protected forever…

— Psalms 37:28

To Janet Abbott for always listening. Thanks to Anne Canadeo, the greatest editor in the world, and Jean Price, the greatest agent!

And I can’t forget Dee Pace—who went above and beyond for this book! Thanks! And three other very special ladies: Denise Gray, Donna Blacklock and Cheryl Crews.

With love to my husband who is so patient and thoughtful when I’m going crazy over computer problems, and my kids, Christina and Jeremiah. You guys are the love of my life.

Dear Santa:

All I want this year for Christmas is a mommy. I know it’s sorta early still to ask, but it is almost cold out, and I miss Mommy, and so does Daddy. He doesn’t exactly say he misses her, but he stares at Mommy’s picture a lot. I heard my baby-sitter on the phone telling someone Daddy needed to get married again. Well, that’d mean I’d get a new mommy. And if I had a new mommy, then I wouldn’t have to play Go Fish with Daddy’s secretary anymore when he couldn’t find a baby-sitter. And I wouldn’t have to take store-bought cookies on party day at school. I could have a real mommy to bake chocolate chip cookies—and make me peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches as much as I wanted. But most of all, Santa, I would have a mommy to hug me the way the other kids do when we get out of school. It would be just too cool to have that. So, Santa, that’s what I’ve decided I want for Christmas. I told Jesus so He can look around for the right mommy, then tell you which one to bring me on Christmas Eve. I know this is going to be the best Christmas present ever.