The Special Guest

By Dara Girard

When her nephew fails to show up for a special holiday dinner, Miranda Simmonds has to act fast to save face in front of her neighbors.

So she asks a stranger to pose in his place.

A decision that comes with unexpected consequences.

A holiday tale with a dash of magic.

Dara Girard is the author of more than thirty novels and many short stories including "A Fortunate Mistake" and "The Perfect Christmas"

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ilori Press Books
• Release date: Jan 6, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524212292

Dara Girard

Dara Girard fell in love with storytelling at an early age. Her romance writing career happened by chance when she discovered the power of a happy ending. She is an award-winning author whose novels are known for their sense of humor, interesting plot twists, and witty dialogue. Dara loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at [e-mail] or P.O Box 10345, Silver Spring, MD 20914.

Book preview

The Special Guest

Dara Girard

Published by ILORI PRESS BOOKS LLC

www.iloripressbooks.com

Chapter One

She’s daft, she is, Mary Marshall said as she set the dining room table for four.

Mum, keep your voice down, her daughter Eva replied as she placed an elegantly designed napkin on the table.

Why? She can’t hear me, with her banging on in the kitchen like that. Acting as if she were expecting the bleeding queen, Mary said with a careless shrug, her words thick with a northern English accent she hadn’t been able to drop after living nearly thirty years in the United States. Although, not much else about her had changed from the twenty-two year old new bride who’d settled with her husband in Hamsford, Maryland. Her figure had thickened after three children and only her hairdresser knew she was now completely grey. She dyed her shoulder-length hair a light brown to complement her soft cocoa colored skin.

Mum, shh, Eva said with warning. She only called her mother ‘mum’ when she was annoyed with her. At twenty-five, she was slender and lovely, with skin that matched her mother’s, and flashing brown eyes.

You know we’re no better egging her on this way.

We’re her friends.

Aren’t friends ‘pose to tell each other the truth? We know that no good nephew of hers won’t show up no matter how much she wants him to. Your father had the sense to stay away, and we’re likely as daft as she is.

John said he would come, Eva said, straightening a fork.

Her mother sniffed. And you believe that?

It was more likely that Father Christmas would come to visit than John, but Eva didn’t want to admit it for her friend’s sake. It’s not what we believe, it’s what she does.

Maybe the no good bastard might do us a favor and do the decent thing. That’d be a miracle, wouldn’t it? Poor woman could use one.

Fortunately, Miranda Simmonds, the topic of their conversation, couldn’t hear what the two women were saying. Her heart was too full of joy. Her dear nephew, John Washer, said he’d come and spend time with her over the holidays. He was the only family she had left who bothered to take any notice of her. Her sister had married for a fourth time, and lived in Trinidad, her nieces had little use for her, but John was different. For five years she’d cared for him, while her older sister got her life together after a cancer diagnosis and an addiction to pain pills.

Miranda had provided John with a stable home that his parents hadn’t been able to provide. With the help of her father, she’d helped care for John from the ages of six to eleven. She’d worked with her father at the hardware store he’d started. More often than not, she’d had to get between grandfather and grandson because they were both strong-willed men, but she hadn’t minded. Family was important to her.

But after her sister improved, and John went back to live with her, they’d lost touch. He’d been a rambunctious