A Grandma for Christmas tells of the blessings that happen along when we least expect them. It's a captivating story that will restore your belief in new loves, old faith and the magic that makes dreams come true
A normal family life with love, marriage and children is what Madison Millhouse has always wanted. Unfortunately she made some poor choices, the worst of which was falling in love with the wrong man. For twelve years he promised marriage but that was never his intent; now Madison is ready to call it quits.
It's Christmas Eve and she needs a quiet place to think. What she doesn't need is the blizzard coming at her as she drives through the mountains of Pennsylvania. What she doesn't expect is that her life will change the moment she encounters a frightened little girl who's been abandoned.
Excerpt
excerpt from chapter two.
It was unusually dim inside the diner and a man stood at the cash register at the end of the counter nearest the door. "Well, about time you got here!Do you know it's Christmas Eve, for God's sake? Where the hell have you been?"
Madison stood rooted to the floor. She stared at the young man who slammed the drawer back into the cash register, glowered at her and reached for a jacket hanging behind him. She opened her mouth to speak when a small bundle of pink and blue rant to her, shouting, "Grandma you came. I knew you'd come. Mommy said so." Madison felt small arms clutch her legs and looked down into a tiny hopeful face surrounded by dark curls. She looked from the tiny hopeful face to the young man still behind the counter.
"Pretty dammed mean to leave the kid waitin' here all that time, is what I think. Waitin' for you. She was good. Not a peep. Kept telling me her grandma was comin' to get her. I kept givin' her milk and cookies. Have three kids myself. But it's Christmas Eve lady. I gotta get home. Should' been home an hour or more ago." He rattled his car keeys. "Let's go."
"Wait," Madison stuttered. "I'm…I'm not this little girl's grandmother. I don't know who she is. I just stopped because I saw your lights and wanted a cup of tea."
"No tea, no coffee, no nothin'. No siree. I'm leaving, lady, and you're taking the kid." He moved from behind the counter.
"I don't know this little girl," she said, bending down to look into wide blue eyes. "Who's your Mommy, honey? Who's your grandma?" Madison looked back at the young man. "How did she het here? Did someone just drop her off?"
"Look, lady. All I know is it was real crowded around two o'clock today. All the regulars celebratin' a little early. When the crowd left, there she was in a booth. All alone. Snowsuit, backpack and no one around. She keeps tellin' me she's waitin' for her grandma. You walk in. She yells "Grandma" and we're outta here. Let's get going. The snow is really comin' down now."
He stared into Madison's eyes. "I'm leavin'" he said nudging Madison towards the door, the little girl still holding onto the hem of Madison's jacket. "Get her backpack," he added, pointing to a purple denim backpack on the table in the first booth. "Let's go. I'm lockin' up."
"How can you be so cruel? Did you call the police? Someone has abandoned this child," Madison said, pulling the zipper on the child's jacket up under her tiny chin.
"She said she was waitin' for you." He stood by the door, his keyes in his hand.
"Well she isn't waiting for me. I have no grandchildren. No children. You can't just abandon her here like this."
"I ain't abandonin' her. You're takin' her with you, Grandma, and I'm goin' home. Come on."
Madison turned her back to the surly young man and stooped down. She put her arm around the child. "Can you tell me who your mommy is, honey? What's her name?"
The chld bobbed her head up and down. "Her name is Mommy."
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Reviews for "A Grandma for Christmas"
Reviewed by Bette Crosby
1/26/2008
I am a big fan of Serafino and love all of her books but this is her best yet. I loved it from start to finish and the voice of Bitsy, the little girl is so sweet and charming it absolutely makes your heart melt.Serafino had a wonderful way of blending mystery and suspense with heart-warming drame. Kudos Sunny, keep them coming. BLC
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