A Family for Christmas Read online

  A

  Family

  for

  Christmas

  Ornamental Match Maker Series: Book 23

  By

  Marlene Bierworth

  Copyright © 2019 Marlene Bierworth

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without written permission of the author, Marlene Bierworth, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Disclaimer

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, character and events are the product of the author’s imagination. While the author has tried to be historically correct, her goals in this book are great characters and storytelling. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals, is purely coincidental.

  About the Series

  Mrs. Claus is all about spreading Christmas cheer — especially to the many lonely-hearts seeking friendship, love, healing, second chances, and that special someone of their own.

  To help each lovely heroine and dashing hero find their perfect match, Mrs. Claus sends them a magical holiday ornament. From a carousel horse that matches the exact horse a hero will be found riding to an iced angel just like the cookies a dreamy chef bakes, each ornament has a real-world counterpart that, if followed, will lead to true love. These books are designed to be a fun quick read with a touch of magic and romance.

  From historical to contemporary, from heartfelt to humorous, from magical to inspirational; each of these sweet romance stories ends in a festive happily ever after that will leave you wanting more — so be sure to check out all the titles by multiple authors in our Ornamental Match Maker visiting

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/712109532498752/

  From the Author

  This is my seventh contribution to the series. If you love clean romance and a happy-ever-after story, then this book is for you.

  We are back at Heritage Inn & Resort in this book. Second relationships that lead to marriage, especially mid-life, have a unique set of problems, and many flounder, no matter how much they love their new partner. The main characters in A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS, Sandra and Robert, are among this number of second chance lonely hearts.

  May the Spirit of Christmas rein in your life all year round, and may readers the world over, continue to enjoy tales of romance everyday! Love reigns!

  You can find 7 titles in this series at the author’s Amazon page:

  https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00J9RM116

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 A North Pole Delivery

  Chapter 2 The Wedding Planner

  Chapter 3 The Work Begins

  Chapter 4 The Date

  Chapter 5 Santa’s Helper

  Chapter 6 A Fight for Love

  Chapter 7 Christmas Cave

  Chapter 8 The Confrontation

  Chapter 9 Lost Hope

  Chapter 10The Wedding

  Chapter 11Family

  Chapter 12Life Ever After

  Sandra and her soon to be daughter-in-law, tittered like two schoolgirls as they left the dining hall and headed for Angie’s office. They burst through the door, eager to tackle today’s replies for the upcoming wedding. Their excitement faded upon viewing the mountain of green envelopes piled on the cluttered desk. They regarded one another and groaned.

  “I can handle it, Angie. I know your work is falling behind,” said Sandra.

  “Oh, will you? Trevor will be here tomorrow and I want to spend every spare minute with him. I miss your son so much when he’s on the road.”

  “This is his last tour for the year and he cut next years in half. Personally, I suspect he’d like an invitation to join the ranks here at the Inn – but don’t tell him I told you so.”

  “Trevor is more than welcome to stay home after we’re married. I’d welcome relief from running this place alone. Charles does what he can, but I refuse to burden him with any additional work load knowing his wife wants him to slow down. That leaves me to make management decisions and do the bulk of the office work.”

  “Might be something to discuss when he arrives for the wedding,” said Sandra.

  “I avoided the subject of his changing careers because I figured he loved traveling the country with his tour business.”

  “Appears to be growing tired of it. All he talks about is you when he calls.”

  “Thank you. I will definitely bring up the subject.”

  Angie plunked the stack of envelopes on a small table close by. “If you feel overwhelmed, just call out. I’ll tackle the bookkeeping. Business has been excellent this last quarter. Probably see a good enough profit to bring that son of yours on board if he chooses.”

  Sandra settled back in the swivel chair and opened the binder where the names of the wedding guests waited the big check-mark in the proper column – attending or declining. She formed three neat piles to avoid them from capsizing. That’s when she noticed other mail on the bottom.

  “Oh, dear. There’s some of your mail here.” Sandra stood and brought it to the owner of Heritage Resort. Angie moaned as the pile exchanged hands. “Sorry,” Sandra said as she returned to her task on the other side of the room.

  Within a few minutes, she heard a chuckle. Glancing up, she saw Angie waving a small square box in the air. “Mrs. Claus seems to have taken a special interest in your family?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The return address on this package is Santa Ville, North Pole.”

  Sandra peered at the brown paper wrapping and then grinned. “Something for my son again? But Trevor found his match – you – what could she possibly want with him now? He is not alone or looking for Miss Right anymore.”

  Angie laughed. “It’s not for him. Mrs. Sandra Dristoll seems to be the target this time.”

  Sandra hurried back to Angie’s desk and plucked the package from her hand. “Trevor’s owl ornament was delivered in an envelope, which led him here to the location of the famous barn owls – and you. He needed a mate. I don’t.”

  “You can’t argue with the matchmaker from the North Pole.”

  Sandra sat down and peeled the outer layer off and fixed her gaze on a perfectly wrapped Christmas box. “Well, I’ll be,” she muttered. “It’s wrapped like a present. I should put it under the tree. Probably no room in Santa’s sleigh so she sent it on ahead.”

  “Are you listening to yourself?” asked Angie.

  “Like you said, you can’t argue with Mrs. Claus. Last time we thought it a lark, but you and Trevor getting together is proof there is merit in packages sent from the North Pole.”

  “Well, I don’t think she wants you to wait until Christmas morning. How will you identify the clues that lead to her hand-picked lonely heart?”

  “Oh, fiddle-e-dee. I was never good at waiting anyway.” Sandra pulled the yellow ribbon while she rattled on. “My parents ran out of places to hide gifts. I always found the stash, unwrapped everything with my name on the tag, played a while, and then carefully re-wrapped it. Got away with it for years.” She ripped the shiny red paper impatiently, lifted the box lid and peeked inside. Nestled inside a cozy bed of protective bubble wrap sat a ball-shaped ornament. She withdrew it and gasped. “I’ve been to this place.”

  Angie stood over her shoulder. “It’s gorgeous!”

  “Years ago, my husband and I stopped at this shop. Maybe Mrs. Claus merely meant it as a memory gift for my second Christmas without Braxton. This was our favorite season for many years.”

  “Read the tag,” said Angie.

  Hanging from the top of the ornament
was a red strip of paper. She read it aloud. “Where the past finds the future.”

  “A clue!” said Angie. “Perhaps Mrs. Claus wants you to go to the store again to find your lonely heart.”

  “Well, I have other plans. My son is getting married at the resort in two weeks so I’m not going anywhere, especially to hunt down a man. But I will cherish it as a nice memory with hopes I am not doomed to stay alone forever.”

  “My season of mourning has ended. It’s been an interesting year and memories of my family are sweet, not bitter,” said Angie.

  “Agreed. Mourning ushers us into the next stage, and when it happens, I’ll be ready, but I will not push the issue,” said Sandra.

  “We are all living in a healthy place,” said Angie.

  “Enough of this distraction. The focus is on the bride and groom this month and I’ll not be stealing your thunder, Angie Parkinson.”

  Sandra couldn’t resist one last glance at the gift. “Trevor will enjoy seeing the ornament. He was a toddler when we visited the Christmas store but he’ll remember it. Called it a magical cave the way the rear of the store disappeared into a snowy forest.”

  Angie looked closer. “You’re right. You can only see the entrance. The rest hides behind a blanket of trees and the icy, snow cover creates a winter wonderland. It’s a remarkable structure.”

  Sandra positioned the ornament back inside the bubble-protected box and pushed it off to the side. “Back to work, Angie. Your day waits for no one.”

  At lunch, the two women sat at a table close to the window that faced the front of the Inn. They’d be the first to spot Trevor arrive, and it was hard to determine who was more excited – the bride or the mother.

  “How many responses today, Sandra?” asked Angie.

  “Thirty-eight said yes and four had to decline. Baby coming to the Mercer family and old Nellie is on death’s door so the family can’t leave her.”

  “I’m surprised anyone can come, it being the Christmas season.”

  “Are you kidding? Where else would someone want to be but Heritage Inn at Christmas?”

  Angie smiled. “I know what you mean. I like to imagine this place is magical, like that store you visited years ago.”

  “Between the owls in residence and Mrs. Claus drawing you two together, I’m convinced the Miracle Maker has touched and blessed this resort.”

  Angie squealed and jumped to her feet. “Trevor is here.”

  The love-struck girl bolted for the door and Sandra forced herself to remain seated. Although her heart pounded with joy to observe her son in love with Angie, her expression revealed torn emotions as the pair raced toward each other and embraced. A mother’s heart, full to overflowing, and breaking at the same time. Sandra loved Angie and knew she was the perfect match for Trevor. But she wondered who’d eat the cookies she baked or who would fill her mind as she waited with eagerness for someone to return home.

  In another week, Heritage Inn would be Trevor’s home and her house in Nashville would become a lonely place without him.

  Angie and Trevor had disappeared from sight, when a man, who commanded the room by his mere presence, walked into the foyer of Heritage Inn. Charles appeared preoccupied, settling an in-house dispute, so Sandra walked over to greet the stranger.

  “Good evening,” she said as she held out a welcoming hand. The man’s smile lit up his face and his fingers lingered on hers slightly longer than necessary.

  “Hello. My name is Robert Fredricks.”

  “The wedding planner?” asked Sandra, taken by surprise. The man didn’t look the part; far too casual and unstuffy, but then all she had for comparison were actors from chick flicks. She knew Angie had hired a man, but surely a middle-aged mind would not be in tune with the expectations of young hearts on their special day.

  “You’re surprised? Expecting someone younger?”

  Sandra bit her lip to hold back the grin. “Possibly.”

  “Then I shall have to work extra hard to meet your standards.” His eyes twinkled with humor. “And who might you be?”

  “Sandra Dristoll, mother of the groom.”

  “At least you’re not the mother of the bride. They’re much harder to please.”

  “Angie’s mother is deceased. Suppose I’m all she has now.”

  “Aha – so you’re double my trouble.”

  Sandra saw the smile behind his eyes. “You won’t have any problem with me, Mr. Fredricks. Trevor and Angie have minds of their own and will work with you. It is their wedding, not mine.”

  “And are you married, Sandra Dristoll?” he asked as he chanced a glance at her naked ring finger.

  “Widowed,” she said. Noticing the suitcase on the floor beside him she changed the subject. “Let me show you to your room so you can get a good night’s sleep. You’ve an important wedding to plan tomorrow.”

  She opened the door to his room and nodded for him to enter. “The accommodations at the Inn are excellent. You will sleep well.”

  He looked back. “What if I’m not tired?”

  “I’m sorry,” said Sandra. “I should have asked if you’d eaten?”

  “I haven’t. Any recommendations for a diner in small-town Pineville?”

  “You can stay here. I know the chef and he will not mind me raiding his refrigerator for leftovers – if that’s suitable.”

  “If you join me, it will be perfect.”

  “I’ve eaten, but I will splurge on another slice of lemon meringue pie and a cup of coffee.” Sandra turned to leave. “Come to the kitchen after you’ve settled.”

  Robert hurried out the door and closed it behind him. “I can settle in later. Let me help you invade the cook’s kitchen. It all sounds so deliciously naughty.”

  Sandra laughed. “A man after my own heart.” After the words escaped her lips, she wished she could bite them back. What a rude thing to say to a stranger.

  “So where is the happy couple?” Robert asked.

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Sandra said. “Probably hiding out. Trevor just arrived and they are making up for lost time. These young folks with careers that separate them for long periods. Hope that changes after the wedding.”

  “I have two daughters who are taking over the family business. I leave them to it most times and indulge in my secret passion – planning weddings.”

  “So, this is a relatively new business for you?” Sandra asked as she pushed open the kitchen door.

  “Five years,” he said. “My wife died, and I took to roaming the countryside. Made the passing easier.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss,” Sandra said. “Mine died one year ago. Trevor is my only son and looking after him has kept me busy enough. But soon Angie will take over that job. Perhaps I’ll take to roaming the countryside as well.”

  “Don’t bother. The escape was good at first, but now it’s just lonely. Watching all these happy couples cross the bridge of matrimony makes me jealous. I loved being married.”

  Sandra looked at Robert as a familiar shadow marred his happy-go-lucky features. She’d managed the facade for a year. Sandra took a plate and went into the cooler and filled it with leftovers. When she brought it out, she waved it under his nose. “Cook makes a wonderful lasagne. I added some veggies on the side and now we’ll let the always-on-duty micro wave heat it up for you.” After setting the timer and pushing start, she re-entered the walk-in refrigerator and returned with a bowl of Cesar salad and a bottle of house dressing. She started to fill a tray. From the shelf she grabbed two large cups and smiled. “Always a pot of coffee simmering in the dining room – decaffeinated for those of us who need our sleep.”

  Robert stood and watched the woman move about the kitchen as if it were her own. “You stay at the Inn often?” he asked.

  “Since July, I’ve been here three times. Mostly when my son drops by to nurture his new-found love. Once I stayed away. A mother can meddle too much. He keeps reminding me he is a grown man and capable of running his o
wn life. But breaking the habit is hard. Did you find it difficult?”

  “I think it’s more of a woman problem. My girls are in their late twenties – one married and the other divorced. Two children each, but they still manage to keep the family business afloat. I bowed out gracefully, but drop in on them occasionally to help or just to see my grandchildren. Youngsters tend to wear me out these days.”

  Sandra laughed. “Grandchildren are my dream. Trevor is taking his sweet time walking the aisle. I hope babies will not take as long.” She placed the hot plate of food on the tray and passed it to him. “Go find a seat. I’m right behind you with the drinks and dessert. Hope you like apple crisp? Doesn’t seem to be anything else left.”

  “Heated with a scoop of vanilla ice cream,” said Robert.

  “That’s the plan. You get started on the main course. I’ll be right out.”

  Sandra hummed as she heated the crumbly dessert and topped it with the cook’s secret stash of homemade ice cream. She put it on a second tray and carried it into the dining room. At the refreshment center, she filled the cups with hot coffee and threw creamers and packaged sugars on the tray.

  At the table she grinned at his near empty plate. “You must have been half starved.”

  “Suppose I was,” he said looking up as he plopped the last piece mouthful of garlic bread into his mouth. “Besides, I wanted to eat the sweet treat with you and didn’t relish the cold ice cream melting together with the apple crisp. Creates a warm, soupy mush.”

  “Which I love,” Sandra said.

  His gazed lingered on the coffee. “Now that is what I’ve been waiting for.”

  Sandra passed him a cup and a bowl of dessert before she sat across from him. She turned her focus out the window. The sun had already set and a display of stars exploded in the heavens, their twinkling night lights reaching across the lake to where they sat. “It’s beautiful here. You will love planning a wedding on these grounds.”