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Living In The Christmas Tree

by Kristen James

Living In The Christmas Tree – a Christmas short story about family

Copyright Kristen James, all rights reserved.

 

We used to worry about finding Libby a heart, but now we only think of the best way to let her go. The understanding doctors let us bring a small Christmas tree into her hospital room and decorate it.

“Move it closer,” she asked, “Please. I like looking up into the branches.”

“Let’s see what we can do.” I had the two-and-a-half foot Noble Fir on an end stand, and I pushed it as close as I dare. Who knew what would happen if I disturbed all of her machines. “Can you see better?”

Slightly turning her head, she smiled as she looked at it. We’ve always had Noble Firs for our Christmas tree because their branches are spaced, leaving room for ornaments to hang. The kids especially like hanging tinsel.

“I used to wish I could live in those little worlds.” Libby said, looking between the branches at the scenes made by our figurine ornaments. I remembered her then, every year, lying under the tree, watching the lights and ornaments. Gazing into the tree’s branches now, Libby smiled. There haven’t been many smiles in the last few months as her condition deteriorated. Finally, the doctors said there weren’t any available hearts, and she would need one right away to change things. Dr. Lane’s eyes had filled with tears when he said, “We’ll make it as comfortable as possible . . . we’ll do our best to make it a great holiday.”

Losing my daughter is the worst Christmas present I can think of, for anyone, but I turned my thinking around and promised to make this her Christmas.

Andrew, Libby’s younger brother, and Joanna, her older sister, were hanging ornaments, asking Libby each time, “Where do you want this one?”

Libby has been so brave through all this. Joanna and Andrew, too, have been strong and haven’t cried in front of Libby. I haven’t done so well in that category.

“Leave room for the presents!” Andrew sternly told Joanna, as always trying to be a leader.

Joanna gasp, suddenly remembering something. “Libby, wait till you see what we got you!”

Libby’s eyelids flickered. She looked terribly tired but whispered hoarsely, “Why did you do that? You know I don’t need anything. You’ll just have to get it back in a few days.”

I turned away quickly and dug in my purse for something, anything, and tried not to hear the awful silence behind me. When I had my eyes under control, I went to the Christmas box and pulled out one of the small, shiny ornaments to hang, forcing a smile for the kids.

Libby sighed such a quiet little sigh that I barely heard it. “Sorry…you can get me something if you want.”

I’ve agonized in the stores already, searching for something for her. Her and I both know she can’t keep it, but still… it’s the last chance I will ever have to buy my baby a present. When people talk about having a difficult time finding a present, they don’t know. They really don’t know.

I glanced down at her and followed Libby’s gaze into the tree. I found myself wishing we could all go there, and be together as hanging figurines, forever. I took her hand, overwhelmed once again by the helplessness.

The door popped open with a harsh click and swoosh, followed by an animated Dr. Lane. Three nurses rushed in with him. I felt my own heart try to stop. Not now. I wasn’t ready. By habit, I looked at her monitors but they didn’t look any different.

“We have a heart! We have a heart!”

They grabbed wires faster than I could think, moving quickly, doing things I didn’t understand. I only saw Libby’s bewildered look.

“Don’t be afraid,” I said because she looks scared. Her grip on my hand tightens.

“We have to get her in right now.” Dr. Lane grabbed my other hand. “Merry Christmas.”

I looked at my daughter but couldn’t see through my tears. Someone out there . . . who isn’t there anymore . . . gave us this gift. I hope they felt ready, unlike my Libby, and I hope they went home for Christmas.

The doctor and nurses began rolling Libby out of the room. She looked exhausted still, but managed a smile, and told Joanna, “Wait for me to open presents, okay?”

 

Free Christmas story, Christmas author, Christmas tree, the meaning of Christmas, family, holidays, heart transplant, saving your child

 

 

The Fairy and her Giant – A Fantasy Romance

by Kristen James

Sometimes size does matter…

Stephen couldn’t walk by the old pirate, outnumbered and losing a fight. Of course he had to help. He didn’t expect a ‘thank you’ for saving the Captain’s life, and he sure didn’t expect a gift, especially a gift like this! How could it be fairies are real, and yet he had no idea?

She is so beautiful… and so tiny. There’s no reason to stick together, except that Trisha might need his help, at least for the time being to stay safe. Besides, she insists she can help him find his brother. But when they track him down, a secret comes out. The pirates want their fairy back and his brother is mixed up in the mess of it.

Everyone wants to find that special one, but “Phen” and Trisha both know they’re dreaming. How can they make a love like this work? And that’s a question for when they’re lives aren’t in danger.

 

Get it for your Kindle or Kindle Fire here!

New for your Kindle and Kindle Fire – The Fairy and her Giant. A bargain Kindle romance.

 

November News

by Kristen James

It’s November, my birthday month, and I have some fun things going on to share. First, I’m hosting a November Giveaway on my Facebook page to celebrate this wonderful time of year and my upcoming release.

5 winners get to choose one of my ebooks, and one of these winners also gets a $20 Amazon gift card. The books are listed in my previous post, and you can easily enter by liking me on Facebook, following me on Twitter or tweeting about the giveaway. Go Enter – Good Luck!

You can read sneak peaks from A Cowboy For Christmas and More Than Memories in my earlier posts too.

More fun….

Here’s a post on The Revolving Book about my novel, The Enemy’s Son. It’s romantic suspense and published through a Canadian publisher, Lachesis Publishing. The post includes a sneak peak!

Here’s the first Chapter of A Cowboy For Christmas on Indies Unlimited. Great site to check out!

Here’s a link to my guest blog on 1000+ Books to Read about my life as an author and freelancer/ghostwriter. It’s on the home page right now, but it will probably be moved to the “Guest Blogs” tab on the right side soon.

And here’s a fun author interview with Melissa on There For You.

So the last news is about my upcoming release, The Fairy and her Giant, due for release later this month.

The Fairy and her Giant – sometimes size does matter! Of course, it’s probably a bit of bad luck to think of love with pirates chasing you.

You can get updates on new releases by subscribing to my blog or following me on Facebook or Twitter. You can do these to enter the November Giveaway too – just use the link above. You might even win a cool prize for it!

As always, thanks for your support. 🙂

November Giveaway!

by Kristen James

This giveaway is to celebrate the upcoming holidays, my soon-to-be released novella The Fairy and her Giant, and several literary events I’m joining in the blogospere! (Links coming soon.) It’s quick and easy to enter here.

A Cowboy For Christmas ~

When her estranged brother passes, Missy is suddenly an unwanted co-owner to Ocean View Stables by Florence, Oregon. Missy wants to start over somewhere new after her old boss burned her. She’s jobless and has a wrongly ruined reputation, so this works out perfectly . . . until she meets the cowboy running the place. Brent built his dream with determination and his two hands; he’s responsible for everything that happens there. Secretly, he feels responsible that his former partner died. He also doesn’t hide his belief that Missy won’t stick around. Women tend to take off on him so why would she be any different?

They both have a past that can ruin their future. Can he trust her to stay? Can she trust him with her heart?
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More Than Memories ~

Can she love him if she can’t remember him? Molly Anderson returns “home” to a town she doesn’t remember, hoping it will spark a memory. She runs into Trent Williams, an off duty police officer, and something else definitely sparks.He wants to know why she left town, with her parents, but without a word to anyone. She doesn’t remember that life. She can only tell him she knew her parents briefly before they died . . . or were murdered, she’s not sure. She hopes regaining her memory will help answer that question.
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Trent has his own secrets, but they have a mystery to solve. As they work together and Molly meets their old friends, she realizes their relationship went deeper than memories. In fact, she grew up in Ridge City, even though her parents had said they lived there just a few years. How could she have forgotten her lifelong friend and love? Can she love him again if she doesn’t remember him? There’s also the possibility that she did something awful — and maybe that’s why she’s afraid to remember her old life. Molly knows she wants him now, but the truth might destroy their love.

Embers of Hope, Flickers of Passion ~
Savanna dreaded telling her family and friends about her failed marriage so much that she hid it while living in another state. But she can’t stay away when her best friend Cassie loses her husband, who dies on duty as a firefighter. Savanna quickly returns home to help, longing to find herself again and make a home for her daughter. She meets Mike’s best friend, Jason, the man who talked him into staying with the department just before the fatal fire. He’s also the man who once saved Savanna’s life. Though hurting herself, something deep inside her won’t let her walk away. Jason needs her but she’s off limits on so many levels. She’s falling for this handsome firefighter but he confuses her to no end, and she could lose her best friend over him.

The River People ~ 

River-Song’s father, Chief Sits-and-Thinks, is growing old and sick, but he trusts in her to lead their people. Her best friend has become her rival as they compete to marry the big chief’s son. But as River-Song proves herself to him, she begins to see he isn’t the man she thought. Then she must use her gift of words when a wandering band of braves seek a new home with them. They speak her mother’s language so she can understand them. River-Song feels pulled to their leader but confused about her place in the tribe. Can this young girl hold her tribe together as the new braves join them, and again when hostile warriors attack their valley?
Come visit the River People in the Pacific Northwest before fur traders or missionaries arrived. River-Song lives in a valley of meandering streams that give them salmon and trout to eat. Oak trees abound in the valley, and a forest of cedar and fir surround them, making a canopy and giving them planks for their long houses, canoes, and totem poles.

A Miraculous Fate ~
Matthew can’t believe what the doctor is telling him. What about his wife? His two young children? How will he tell them how sick he is?The news brings back a long-forgotten memory. As a young, naive teenager, Matthew declared his feelings to his first love only to learn she was dying from cancer. Heartbroken, he laid his hand on her and wished to take her sickness on himself. Maybe it worked…

His wife Victoria is an exec at a billion dollar company. As a person who has blazed her own path in life, she won’t accept this lying down. She quickly finds herself traveling down a dark road of morality.


What did Matthew do for love? How far will people go now, in the name of love?

Sneak peak from More Than Memories

by Kristen James

More Than Memories – can she love him if she can’t remember him?

Trent turned his horse and watched his Molly as he led them through the forest, still blown away that she was back alive and healthy… and happy for the moment. Yet, so many questions and doubts stood between them. Why did she disappear? And why did she come back now? He wanted the truth, and he wanted Molly to get her memory back. If she remembered their time together from childhood, maybe all those moments would mean something. Right now they were just pictures in his head.

He watched her sway with the horse and throw him a smile. Yeah, she was having fun, and they were making a new picture, a memory that both of them knew about. Still, the unknowns haunted him, even in the quiet, misty woods.

He wanted everyone in the town to believe in him again, and Molly could do that for him if she knew what happened. A few people were still suspicious and blamed Trent for the Andersons’ disappearance. Things that big don’t happen in small towns and people needed someone to blame.

She glanced his way and smiled. “I’m so glad we came out here.” She spoke softly, her eyes glowing with pleasure. “Yeah,” he agreed. “It’s real nice riding with you again.” It felt right. It almost felt like they hadn’t lost the last four years. For a minute, he tried to pretend they hadn’t. But maybe he wouldn’t appreciate this so much then. As things stood, he had her back, in a way. A big way, but he needed to get to the bottom of this too.

Get it or sample the first on Kindle here.

“Highly Recommended!” 5 stars from The Fictional Bookshelf

5 stars from Big Al’s Books and Pals – read the review here.