Wishes and Promises

By Charlotte Holley

Steven Carmichael is missing in action in Afghanistan, and it's almost Christmas. How can his wife Janie tell their five-year-old daughter Kaitlin that her daddy is presumed dead? Both she and Kaity have been having dreams about Steve for a few weeks, but whose dreams are real? Kaity "dream-visits" her dad in his hospital bed and he promises her he'll be home Christmas Day, so little Kaity is convinced Steve is alive. Janie's dreams, however, have convinced her Steve has to be dead, though she can't admit it even to herself. What will happen Christmas Day when Steve doesn't keep his promise to Kaitlin?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Oct 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781619501157

Charlotte Holley

Charlotte Holley has an inborn love of all mysteries and the supernatural, and has been reading and writing about the paranormal for more than forty years. A mass communications major, she has written and published newsletters, magazine and newspaper articles, as well as poems and short stories since receiving her bachelor's degree in 1980. As a beaded jewelry designer, she has also self-published twenty-two pattern collections on CD and in eBook form and has produced almost 400 individual original patterns. Having spent several years as a professional psychic, she has had extensive experience with the spirit world and has observed supernatural dramas that defy all rational explanation. Charlotte uses her expertise and story-telling ability to weave a powerful tale of mystery and horror, of love and deceit and of the overpowering desire of the human nature to make things right.

Book preview

Contents

Copyright Page

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 5

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

About the Author

Wishes and Promises

by

Charlotte Holley

All rights reserved

Copyright © September 1, 2012, Charlotte Holley

Cover Art Copyright © 2012, Charlotte Holley

Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Lockhart, TX

www.gypsyshadow.com

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher.

No part of this book may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Gypsy Shadow Publishing, LLC.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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ISBN: 978-1-61950-115-7

Published in the United States of America

First eBook Edition: October 25, 2012

Dedication

To all the military personnel serving their countries, and to all their wives and children, who love them and wait at home for their return. Waiting is never easy, even when it isn’t Christmas. Thank you for everything you do to keep us safe, who wait at home.

Prologue

I want my daddy! Kaitlin Carmichael cried. Mommy, go get him. Now!

Kaity, honey, I told you before; I can’t do that. Daddy is far away, and he can’t come home right now, Kaitlin’s mom Janie explained, brushing the wild auburn tangles of hair back from the eyes of her five-year-old.

Kaity sobbed inconsolably. I—need—him, Mommy. He promised he’d come back soon, and I need him—now!

Janie Carmichael held her daughter in her lap and rocked her, while Kaity clung to her with a strength Janie had never realized such a small child could possess. What’s wrong? Did you have a bad dream? You can tell Mommy about it. Daddy left me in charge, and that means I can chase those scary nightmares away, just like he always does.

Kaitlin looked at her mother like the woman had suddenly sprouted big green, hairy warts and pulled away from her, scrambling to the floor shaking her head. It’s not the same. You aren’t the same as Daddy. Only Daddy can chase these monsters away!

Janie tried to stay calm. She knew in so many ways she wasn’t an adequate substitute for her handsome, muscular husband. Even Kaitlin knew Janie was weak and scared; how could she possibly be brave and strong enough to chase away her daughter’s bad dreams? Worse still, how could she ever hope to tell little Kaity the truth? Steven Carmichael wasn’t coming back. Not now. Not ever. Daddy was missing in action in Afghanistan, and though Janie