Photo by Jessica Fadel on Unsplash
Photo by Tetiana Bykovels on Unsplash
“Merry Christmas Eve to you. May your heart be filled with the magic of the season.”
Have you ever had big plans of good times on Christmas Eve and then you get a cold – dozens of sneezes, a box of tissues, a red nose miserable cold – to spoil everything. In this Christmas scene from Summer of Joy, my third Heart of Hollyhill book. Leigh has finally caught David’s eye, and for weeks she has been dreaming about spending Christmas Eve with him and his family at his house. Then she catches one of those colds. She can’t go and expose his family to her germs. So she’s feeling extra blue. Then she hears a knock on the door and is surprised to open the door and find David on her doorstep.
David has brought her presents – a poinsettia, chicken soup, a box of tissues, and a ring.
“David. I wasn’t expecting you.” She had to look horrible with her watery eyes, her hair barely combed after her shower, and her Rudolf nose, but at the same time just seeing him standing there made a smile run through her clear down to her toes.
“We had a date,” David said as he stepped inside.
“We did, but I told you I have a terrible cold. You might catch it.”
“I’ll take my chances.” He held up his sack. “I brought supper for the sick and a beautiful flower for a beautiful lady.” David pulled some cans out of the grocery sack. “Do you have a pan I can heat this up in?”
“Chicken soup. Perfect.” Leigh got him a pan and the can opener.
When it was hot, David carried their soup into the living room on a tray.
The lights on the Christmas tree gave the room a cheery glow. Leigh started to turn on a lamp, but David stopped her. He produced a candle from somewhere. He lit it and dripped enough wax onto a saucer to hold it up before he set it in the middle of the tray. He brought in the poinsettia and placed it beside the tray.
After they ate their soup, David carried their bowls to the kitchen and brought back grapes and two huge chocolate bars.
“Wow,” Leigh said. “My favorite diet breaker.”
“I promised you something special tonight, didn’t I?” David smiled, but didn’t sit back down on the couch cushion. He looked almost nervous as he said, “I’ll put on some music.”
“I probably don’t have anything you like.”
“I’m sure I’ll find something.” He carried the candle over to look through her records.
“You want me to help?” she asked when he started fumbling with the controls.
“I think I’ve about gotten it figured out.” The record clicked into place and Elvis started singing about loving tender and true.
Leigh’s heart was beating double fast even before David scooted his cushion closer to hers and sat back down. She was glad the light was dim so he couldn’t see how her cheeks were surely now as red as her nose.
He reached into his sack and pulled out a box of tissues. “For you, fair maiden.” His hand seemed to tremble as he handed it to her.
“You surely knew just what I needed.” Leigh laughed a little. The box was already open with a tissue sticking out. She pulled on the tissue and a little black ring box fell out in her lap. She was almost afraid to reach for it for fear it might disappear, that this all might be a dream and she was going to wake up and be alone. She held her breath while somewhere Elvis kept singing about love.
Beside her, David slid off the cushion to kneel beside her. She could feel his eyes on her as she picked up the ring box. She made herself breathe in and out as time seemed to stand still. She was acutely aware of the lights on her Christmas tree, of the flickering candle flame, of David’s breathing. She tipped open the top of the ring box and a diamond glittered up at her. Again she lost her breath.
David reached over and put his fingers under her chin to raise her face up to look into his eyes. “I love you, Leigh Jacobson. Will you marry me?”
She couldn’t help it. She began sobbing. She was that happy.
In spite of the book’s title, Christmas makes plenty of appearances in the story. I pulled out this one scene that took place on a Christmas Eve in the little town of Hollyhill in the 1960s. They do make it to summer before the story is through. I promise.
The giveaway for Love Comes Home ended today, but here I am with one more Christmas scene. So I guess I need to have yet another giveaway and this time the winner can pick their choice of my books that have Christmas scenes – Love Comes Home, These Healing Hills, or Summer of Joy. Same rules as before. Enter by commenting on this blog post or the one I will post on Wednesday and you get an entry. Two entries if you comment on both posts. Deadline to enter is December 22, 2024 at 12 o”clock noon EST. Another quick turnaround for this giveaway. You must be at least 18 years old to enter.
And now the Winner of the Love Comes Home giveaway:
That’s Shirley Hackman. I just sent you an email, Shirley. This is the first time that the random number generator picked the number one. That was the number assigned to Shirley’s first comment on the Love Comes Home post.
Have you ever received a present you loved so much or received news that was so wonderful that you ended up crying for joy?
Comments 22
I love all your books, but my favorite is still The Scent of Lilacs
Author
That’s fun to know, Peggy, and of course, Sumnmer of Joy is the third book about Jocie and family and friends who came to life in that first Hollyhill boook, Scent of Lilacs.
My grandma gave me a cookbook the last time I saw her, and I cried.
Author
That is a treasure too, Marti, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you sometimes feel a little teary even as you remember her with love when you open up that cookbook to try a recipe. Thank you for sharing those good tears with us.
When my oldest son gave me a manger scene he made because he knew I wanted one, I cried because it meant so much to me that he would do that.
Author
What a precious gift, Sharon. A treasure to keep forever, and I’m sure he knew they were happy tears. The best kind.
When I was 6 years old I received a White Wood French Provincial Vanity (Fancy Dresser with a lift up mirror)with a beautiful Blue padded stool for Christmas. It was a big surprise from my Grandmother and I was so Happy I burst into tears. My Granddaughter now uses it and she Loves it as much as I did. This is a beautiful story and I can’t wait to read the Book. Merry Christmas everyone!
Author
What a perfect present for a young girl, Pamela. I can see you peering into that mirror and combing your hair and watching yourself grow up.
Maybe you will be the fortunate winner for the book, but if you do decide to go to Hollyhill, there are three of the books – Scent of Lilacs, Orchard of Hope, and Summer of Joy. They can all be read as stand-alone stories, but it would be more fun to start at the beginning and go through one whole exciting year with Jocie, her dad, and all the people in Hollyhill. They are out there on the internet or your library might have them. If you like audio, I did the narration on those books.
I received a bike when I was eight years old. That bike is long gone now but I remember it like it was yesterday.
Author
That had to be so exciting, Deborah. I always wanted a bike, but that wasn’t on my parents’ list. We had an old bike that my older sister had somehow talked Dad into buying. Probably well used when he got it. By the time I was old enough to ride it, the tires wouldn’t stay pumped up. If I went past the barn, I had to pump up the tires again. Only way I could ride was by carrying the pump with me and that wasn’t easy. 🙂
I may have already told this story about my best Christmas gift ever, but like your story it’s worth sharing again.
In 2007 I went through a divorce and the approaching Christmas season had me bluer than Elvis’ tree. Both of my youngest sons and their wives were expecting first babies in the new year. But I guess God and those babies knew I needed a special gift. Both babies arrived a week early and were born on Christmas Eve, a few hours apart. Nothing better to make me count my blessings and be filled with joy again! 🙂
Author
You may have told it before, Lavon, but I love when you share stories here. I also love you saying you were bluer that Elvis’s tree. I didn’t love that you were blue but that you expressed it so well. And what a blessing. Two new grandbabies at Christmas. Hope you will enjoy celebrating those birthdays with them this year. Seven years old already.
I absolutely loved this book series! Reading your pist made me want to cry all over again with this wonderful proposal! Thank you Ann!!
Author
That is so fun to read, Pamela. David did the best he could but after so many years of doubting whether he could ever trust love again, he was a little rusty. 🙂
I have received Christmas cards from dear friends, and the messages inside have reduced me to tears. Friendship is beautiful. I’m to have wonderful friends.
Author
How wonderful is that, Elizabeth. The right words at the right time for the right people can be a treasure.
One of your books I haven’t read but would love to! Merry Christmas!
Author
Then maybe you will be the lucky winner, Dana. Not too many entries yet. But the book is available out there on the internet. It is actually the 3rd Hollyhill book and if you think you might want to read all three, it is fun to start at the beginning even though each book can be read as a stand alone story.
What a beautiful story!
Author
Thank you, Birdie. You letting me know that makes me smile and with Christmas barreling toward me and me with a zillion presents to wrap, I need that smile. 🙂 Hope you are smiling too.
I love that scene! It’s better than a Hallmark Christmas movie. 😬
Thank you for another opportunity to win one of your books. Merry Christmas, Ann!
Author
That scene was a fun one to write, Judi. Romantic but a little funny too as the scene goes on. Hope you have a great Christmas.