The Heart of Christmas Read online

  The Heart of Christmas

  Belle Calhoune

  “It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. 'No, your beauty should come from within you – the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This beauty will never disappear, and it is worth very much to God.” 1 Peter 3:3

  Secrets of Savannah Series:

  Book One: Till the End of Time

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017L5ZPCE

  Book Two: A Moment in the Moonlight

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AARG24A

  Book Three: The Last Kiss

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C1WIPAG

  Book Four: For Love Alone (Morgan and Luke)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GEE5Q8G

  Book Five: Falling in Love (Charlotte and Marc)

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LYTVT4N

  Seven Brides, Seven Brothers Series:

  Book One: The Way Home

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KTCBXSC

  Book Two: Still the One

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M0EUU22

  Book Three: Until You Loved Me

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N15TPFC

  Book Four: Love Me Tender

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFAVB1I

  Book Five: If only in my dreams

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R6U2PZK

  Book Six: Baby It’s You

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VZ3FCB8

  Book Seven: When A Man Loves A Woman

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011J6ZTE0

  PREQUEL: WHEN YOU BELIEVE

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00T52CK1G

  Treasure Harbor Series:

  Some Kind of Wonderful

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GZHSZGW

  His Precious Jewel

  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01J0AX1O2

  Dedication: This book is dedicated to my parents, Anne and Fred, who always made sure we understood the true meaning of Christmas.

  Dear Reader: Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of the year. There’s a feeling of hope and excitement in the air. Peppermint hot chocolate is in full supply and baking holiday cookies is a fun way to spend an afternoon. Kids are making their lists and checking them twice. Stockings and presents are tucked under the Christmas tree. Joy is effusive!

  And the knowledge that Christ our savior was born on Christmas day fills our hearts with gratitude and joy. As a kid I would run downstairs with my four siblings to see what Santa had brought me this year. I used to sing every Christmas morning in the church choir. My favorite song was always “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and to this day it still is along with “Mary, did you know?”

  Eden Lassiter is living a bit of a sheltered life when her childhood friend, Brady Shepard comes back to the town of Celebration after a long absence. Although Christmas is mere weeks away, Eden doesn’t have the Christmas spirit due to a tragedy from her past. Brady, who is a veterinarian, has avoided his hometown due to his own tangled past. But when Brady’s presence in Celebration sparks something inside of Eden, it may just prove to be a very special Christmas for both of them.

  I hope you enjoy this inspirational holiday romance.

  Belle

  Table of Contents

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  EPILOGUE

  About the Author:

  Belle Calhoune is a bestselling author of Christian romance. She lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two beautiful girls. A huge lover of dogs, Belle has two of her own—a toy poodle and a chocolate lab. One of the major perks of being a writer is the ability to work in her pajamas. When she’s not creating love stories, Belle loves to travel, spend time in Cape Cod, read and watch classic films.

  Copyright 2016 by Belle Calhoune

  All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher and author, except where permitted by law.

  Prologue

  “Gran, how do you know which star is the right one to put on the top of the Christmas tree?” Six-year-old Eden Lassiter peered up at her grandmother as they trimmed the Christmas tree. She looked at the six stars sitting in boxes on the coffee table. They were all so pretty. Gold. Silver. White. Shimmery. In Eden’s opinion, they were all fabulous.

  “I go by instinct,” Gran said with a smile.

  “Insect?” Eden asked, wondering what bugs had to do with anything.

  Gran’s laughter lit up her beautiful face. Eden loved the tinkling sound of Gran’s laughter. “No, silly goose. Instinct. It means a hunch or a feeling that reaches all the way down to your gut. It helps me decide which star to put up top.”

  “Oh. So that’s how you do it,” Eden said, her voice full of awe. Everything Gran did at Christmas seemed so mysterious. It was like she had a special pipeline to God.

  “I know how much you love my stars,” Gran said. “So this year I decided to buy you one of your own.”

  Eden let out cry of disbelief. Her very own star? “Oh, Gran. Can I see it? Pretty please.”

  Gran leaned down and pressed a kiss on her forehead. “Of course you can, my sweet.” She pointed to a red box on her coffee table. “It’s in that red box.”

  Eden grinned and rushed toward the table. Gran’s voice called after her. “Take your time, Eden. Be gentle. It’s not going anywhere.”

  Eden slowed down her movements. She reached out for the box and gingerly took the top off, making sure not to shake the box or do anything that might result in a broken star.

  When the top came off, Eden let out a gasp. Nestled among a mound of tissue paper was a shiny gold star. Eden reached out and traced her finger over the cursive letters etched on the star. “Love,” she said out loud, reading the single word.

  “With love all things are possible. That’s how Mary and Joseph were able to bring baby Jesus into the world. Mary gave birth in a manger surrounded by love, most especially God’s love. They loved God so much they believed baby Jesus was the son of God.” Gran chuckled. “Not an easy feat by any means.”

  “I love God and I believe,” Eden said in a solemn voice. “And I love you, Gran. This big.” She opened her arms and spread them as wide as she could.

  “And I love you my little bitsy,” Gran said, reaching down and tweaking her nose. “I picked the star just for you, Eden, because no one loves harder than you do. You love people and animals and God. That makes you a very special young lady.”

  Eden pressed the star against her chest and hugged it. “I think it’s beautiful. Thank you, Gran, for giving me my own star.”

  “You’re welcome. When you grow up and have a family of your own, you can put this star on top of your own Christmas tree and remember that loving others is at the heart of Christmas.”

  “I can’t wait to grow up!” Eden said in an excited voice.

  Gran reached out and smoothed back Eden’s hair. “Don’t wish your life away, sweetheart. You have miles to go before you’re a grown woman. Just remember to be happy. And grateful for all your blessings. Never lose this feeling of wonder over Christmas. Promise?”

  “I promise, Nana. Can we put the star on now?”

  The sound of Gran’s laughter filled Eden’s ears. It was just as delightful as the holiday music she heard on the car radio. As Gran lifted Eden up on the step stool then raised her high in the air, she felt as if she was flying. She reached out and place
d Gran’s star firmly on the top of the tree, just the way Gran had instructed.

  Once she was standing on solid ground again Eden looked up in wonder at the Christmas tree. She felt as if someone was squeezing her heart. It was so full of hope and joy and love. She prayed she would always feel this way at Christmas.

  Chapter One

  The ice storm bearing down on Celebration, Texas might end up in the record books, Eden Lassiter thought as she wrapped her fingers around her mug of hot chocolate and savored the rich taste of the cocoa as it slid down her throat. She nestled herself under the burgundy throw then reached for the paperback she'd been dying to read for months now. It was a suspense book set on a holiday cruise. Eden wasn’t sure she should be reading the creepy book this late at night, but she couldn’t bear to put the riveting read down. Lola, her mini poodle, lay nestled at her side, looking as snug as could be, oblivious to the strange weather occurring outside.

  A quick glance out the window confirmed the storm was still in full effect. She could barely see a thing due to the snow and ice blanketing her bay window. The ice storm had been raging for hours now, pulling down wires and trees, making travel dangerous and causing a lot of outages in Celebration and neighboring towns in Western Texas. Thankfully, it was an uncommon occurrence in this part of the state. They were more likely to get dust storms blanketing the area than ice storms. The wintry mix had left her home without power, but a newly purchased generator had come to the rescue, allowing Eden to cook a meal, take care of her father's needs and have enough light to dig in to her novel.

  Things could be far worse, she reckoned. At least she wasn't by herself during the storm. It was a strange thought for someone who'd spent so many years seeking out solitude. Nevertheless, it was true. After her father's mild stroke, Clint Lassiter had been sent to a rehabilitation center for two months. Upon completion of the program she'd moved him into her house so she could keep an eye on him. The former sheriff of Celebration hadn't taken too kindly to his child bossing him around, but she'd gotten her way in the end. After everything her father had done for her over the course of her life, lending him a helping hand during his recovery was a cake walk.

  Now, with her father down the hall resting comfortably in the guest bedroom, she'd decided to take a break and enjoy some down time. There was something about watching Mother Nature in all her wintry glory that felt comforting to her, especially since she was snuggled inside where it was warm and bright. After all, seeing snow in Texas was a rare occurrence.

  At some point she needed to venture outside and get some firewood from the shed if she wanted to keep the fire going, she reminded herself. And she wanted to keep it going since there was nothing better in her opinion than sitting before a roaring fire. Even so, she kept putting it off, not wanting to leave her comfortable spot on the couch. Fifteen more minutes of reading and then she'd venture outside. She just wanted to read one more chapter.

  She turned toward the Christmas tree sitting in the corner of the room. She had purchased it at her father’s suggestion and out of a measure of nostalgia. The men who worked at the local tree stand had helped her bring it inside and set it up. Eden let out a sigh. Gran had adored decorating the tree. Putting the star on top had been Gran’s favorite part of trimming the tree. Those memories were seared on Eden’s heart for all time.

  Poor pine tree. She hadn’t done a single thing to decorate it. Not a single ornament. Not even one candy cane or garland. It was too painful of a road to journey down. With every ornament and keepsake, Eden knew memories of Gran would come crashing back to her, cracking her heart wide open in the process.

  No. It was far better to pretend as if it was normal to have a completely naked Christmas tree sitting in her living room.

  A loud knocking sound jolted her out of her thoughts, causing her to sit up as straight as a board. Had something crashed on to the house? A tree limb perhaps? With all the heavy ice sitting on the roof she'd been fearful all evening about something happening. She jumped as another loud thud echoed in the stillness of the house. Rodeo, her border collie, growled low in his throat, the hairs on his spine standing on end. Setting her mug down on the side table, Eden stood up and walked towards the foyer, her steps cautious and measured. She cocked her ear to the side. The noise was coming from the front door. Another thud echoed in the stillness. It caused her to practically jump out of her skin. Somebody was out there!

  Fear shot straight through her. She flattened herself against the wall, hoping whoever was outside couldn't see her through the frosted glass. Her breathing became ragged and her mind began to whirl with a dozen different scenarios. Was someone trying to break in? Her legs were shaking so badly she didn't think she would be able to make a run for it. Run for it? Who was she kidding? With her ailing father down the hall, there was no way she could ever run for safety and leave him behind. And where would she go anyway in this raging storm?

  “I got stuck in the storm on my way back to town. Can I please come in? I'm nearly frozen to the bone.” A male voice, slightly muffled, carried through the door. There was an urgent tone to it that made her heart beat a little faster. Frozen to the bone. Goodness! She hated to think of anyone suffering from the brutally cold temperature. She'd heard the local meteorologist earlier this afternoon saying it was eleven degrees outside.

  There was a man standing on her front stoop who wanted to be let in from the storm. The very idea of it caused panic to rise up in her throat. What if he was dangerous? What if she was opening the door to someone who could harm her? Letting a man into her home was unthinkable. In the four years since she'd lived alone there hadn't been a single, unaccompanied male in her home, except for her father and brother-in-law, Cleave. And she liked it that way. It was safe and uncomplicated. She didn't have to worry about what to do if someone invaded her personal space or wanted to kiss her on the cheek by way of a greeting. She didn't have to worry about being hurt. But now, that peace had been shattered by a knock on her door and a cry for help. The passage from Matthew crept into her thoughts. I was a stranger and you invited me in. Regardless of her fears, she wanted to harbor this type of kindness in her heart. It was the very thing she’d learned at Gran’s knee. What kind of person would she be if she didn't provide her fellow man with shelter from a storm?

  Filled with curiosity, she crept closer to the door. Rodeo stood behind her, his growl sounding way more ferocious than he was in actuality. Although he tried to act tough, Rodeo was a sweetheart right down to his wagging tail. Through the glass she was able to make out a tall, broad shouldered figure standing on her doorstep. This man appeared to be well over six feet! Her heart began to hammer a wild rhythm in her chest. After taking a deep breath for courage, she turned the lock with trembling fingers and slowly opened the door. She willed her hands to stop shaking as a cold blast of air hit her face. Don't believe the worst in people! It was something she struggled with every day of her life, this balance between keeping herself safe and wanting to believe in the goodness of others. She'd prayed about it, and now, there was nothing else to do than act on a leap of faith.

  **

  The moment the door creaked open, Brady Shepard offered up a prayer to the big guy upstairs for granting him mercy. He was frozen to the bone and covered with ice particles and slush. His car had broken down about a mile or so down the road and he'd been forced to walk here—the closest house on an isolated stretch of road—in the middle of a brutal ice storm. The freezing ice and hail had lashed against his face in punishing fury with every step he took.

  Merry Christmas. Bah Humbug. Brady had come to Celebration to enjoy the Christmas holiday with his grandparents after decades of staying away. So much for Mother Nature welcoming him back with open arms!

  When he had finally spotted the farmhouse just past the old Native American graveyard, he'd let up a shout of praise, thankful to be so near to shelter from the storm. At the moment he was experiencing a painful tingling in his feet. They were like two big
blocks of ice. He knew it wasn't a good sign. Hypothermia had probably set in. And all he could do was stand on the front stoop and gawk at the woman who'd opened her door to him. She was beautiful. So much so that he blinked just to make sure she was real.

  With long, wavy dark hair and high cheekbones, she had a stunning face most men wouldn't be able to look away from. Her hazel colored eyes were opened wide, and he couldn't help but feel he'd alarmed her by his presence. The door was only partially open and she'd positioned herself behind it. She frowned at him, her eyes quickly scanning him as if she was taking stock of him. A long ago memory tugged at him for an instant, until it all came tumbling back to him. He knew her! Or at least he'd known her back in the day when she had chubby cheeks and pigtails. Way back in the day if he was being honest with himself. Nearly two decades! It would be impossible to forget that face.

  “Eden Lassiter!” The words came bursting out of his mouth like a rushing river. Her eyes widened ever further.

  “Y-Yes, I'm Eden. Do I know you?” His teeth began to chatter, and even though he wanted to tell her who he was, he felt powerless to even speak. How he was managing to stand at the moment was a mystery to him.

  Eden made a tutting sound and opened the door wide. “I'm sorry. Please, come on in. It's brutal out there.”

  As Brady stepped forward over the threshold he mumbled words of thanks. The moment he was inside the house he let out a sigh as a warm blast of air hit him square in the face. A cheerily lit living room sat to the right of the foyer and a roaring fire blazed in the fireplace. A bare Christmas tree sat in the corner of the room. Two weeks before Christmas and it still wasn’t decorated.

  He stood still, not wanting to track ice and slush on to the beautiful hardwood floors. Eden didn't seem concerned in the slightest about the fate of her floors as she motioned him forward.

  “We need to get you warmed up,” she said briskly. She motioned him into her mud room, where she quickly began to take charge.