Christmas At Home

By Leanne Burroughs

World War II left the world in turmoil. And not just in Europe. Many were sent home with injuries. Would their lives ever be the same again? Ryan Burgess didn't think so.

A fist closed around Allison Monroe’s heart. She was doing the best she could, but it never felt as if it were enough. She’d do anything to protect her daughter from the realities forced on them by the war. From the void her husband's death left them.

Over the store's counter, Ryan's eyes met hers and Allison's world shifted. What eyes! Azure blue like Lake Michigan on a summer day, they mesmerized her. Held her in sway. Only her daughter tugging at her coat sleeve drew her back to the present.

Can Ryan and Allison put the horrible memories of the past behind them? Can she teach him to 'live' again after the injuries he's sustained in the war? More importantly, can Christmas work another miracle and teach them how to love again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Highland Press Publishing
• Release date: Sep 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301730896

Leanne Burroughs

Leanne enjoys reading, writing, and traveling. Most recently she traveled to Norway to do research for an upcoming Viking epic. The year before, she traveled to Ireland, where she fell in love with the beautiful countryside and its Viking history. She’s also traveled to England, Spain, France, and Hawaii in search of stories waiting to be told! Her absolute favorite place to visit, however, is the lovely country of Scotland. Its beauty is beyond words, and the friendliness of its people is incomparable. In Florida, she can often be found at Disney World with her grandchildren (although everyone knows they are merely an excuse for her to visit). While doing genealogy research for her husband, she fell in love with Scottish history. That led to the novel HIGHLAND WISHES, a historical novel about Scotland’s War for Independence. Its sequel is HER HIGHLAND ROGUE. She currently has several other novels in progress. She's currently adapting her two award-winning Scottish books for the Christian market as well. HIGHLAND MIRACLE is currently available. KEEPER OF MY HEART, a novel about the Battle of Culloden and its aftermath is her current work in progress. THE POWER AND THE PASSION is the Viking epic. The third story in the Scottish War for Independence trilogy is also being worked on. In addition, Leanne has participated in several anthologies.

Book preview

Christmas at Home

An Inspirational Story

Leanne Burroughs

Published by Highland Press Publishing at Smashwords

Copyright © Updated Version 2013 Leanne Burroughs

Cover Copyright ©2011 Leanne Burroughs

~1~

1943

Mommy, stop. Please stop!

Allison stopped walking as her five-year-old daughter, Becca, tugged on her well-worn and frazzled coat sleeve.

What is it, sweetheart? We have to hurry or the general store will close before we get there. Allison brought her purse closer to her chest and patted a hand against it. They didn’t have many ration coupons left, but this was a special occasion.

Becca had entwined her fingers with hers, doing her best to keep Allison from moving forward without seeing the prize in the window. But, Mommy, look at the music box. It looks just like the RCA Victor Victrola you said my daddy bought you. And look at that dolly, Mommy. Oh, please, please can I have her?

Becca tore her eyes away from the window and her gaze locked with Allison’s. See, Mommy. Isn’t she beautiful? But she looks sooooo lonely sitting in that little red rocking chair. She needs a home. She bit her lip, scuffed the toe of her boot into the snow, then finally gazed intently at the doll again. M-maybe she lost her daddy in the war, too.

Allison’s heart thumped hard in her chest as she peered into the window. Yes, the music box was a miniature version of the one Albert had bought her for a wedding present. He’d known how very much she loved music. Pain gripped her heart seeing the doll resembled Becca—cornflower blue eyes and blonde hair that refused to stay neatly combed. More each day, her daughter reminded her of Albert.

How could she explain—again—that she had no money for things like dollies and toys? Since Albert had joined the RAF, and not the home troops, she received no widow’s pension from good old Uncle Sam. Sometimes they barely had enough for food. Sadly, Becca was too young to understand.

She was especially too young to understand why ‘Daddy’ didn’t come home at night anymore. And that he never would again. He lived with Jesus now.

While that thought was the only thing to comfort Allison on days like today—when life seemed to throw her more curves than she could bear—even she found herself often asking ‘Why?’

Many argued our men shouldn’t even have been involved in the war. But the attack at Pearl Harbor on December seventh two years earlier had taken care of that. We had to go to war then. Or so too many people thought as they rushed pell-mell to sign up. If Albert hadn’t left early and joined the RAF, Allison had no doubt he would have enlisted when the Japanese attacked the unprepared base. Allison cared about none of that, though, and thought our men and women needed to come home safe and sound to our shores. But that sort of thinking didn’t solve any problems. It didn’t keep Hitler from pulling Jewish people from the only homes they ever knew and dragging them away to places where they were never seen again. It didn’t keep our men safe, sound, and whole while in combat—and certainly didn’t put food on anyone’s tables.

Allison drew a deep breath and exhaled, her breath forming a puffy white cloud in the air. No, now she needed to focus. Becca was still waiting for her answer.

Not today, sweetheart. But don’t forget…I’ve saved our ration coupons to get sugar for your birthday cake. Gently putting her arm around her daughter’s tiny shoulders, Allison urged her away from the tempting window. Bracing against the cold wind, they hurried down the street and through the door to the general store.

Inside, radiant heat from the cast iron stove enveloped those who entered.

Becca rubbed her hands up and down her upper arms. It’s warm in here, Mommy. Not like our ‘partment.

Her daughter’s innocent observation weighed on Allison’s heart. Heating was another thing they had to ration.

Becca carelessly pulled off her mittens and Allison quickly gathered them. She knelt in front of her daughter and safely tucked one mitten in each coat pocket. There’d be no money to replace them if they were lost.

Stepping briskly through the grocery aisles, so as not to be tempted to buy something she couldn’t afford, Allison placed only necessary items in her hand basket. With few ration coupons left and far more