Come Back to Me at Christmas

By Patty MacFarlane

His Stetson still sat on the table next to his keys by the back door and his boots, brushed clean and polished, stood next to hers. Some things never change.

Patty misses her husband dearly and dreams of him coming home for Christmas. When she shares her dream with her children, they become increasingly worried as their mother's present day life and her cherished memories begin to blur.

Her children gather to decide how to help her handle her disappointment and comfort her when he doesn't show up—after all, it was only a dream.

 
Convinced she was losing her grip on reality and shouldn't live alone any longer, they decide to wait until after the holidays before making any major changes in her life.

But Christmas Day brings a shocking surprise—to everyone but Patty. This is a funny, heartwarming, and touching story that will have you believing in miracles.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashlin Abbey Publishing
• Release date: Dec 8, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540117540

Book preview

A Love Story from the Heart

Come Back To Me At Christmas

Patty MacFarlane

His Stetson still sat on the table next to his keys by the back door and his boots, brushed clean and polished, stood next to hers. Some things never change.

Patty misses her husband dearly and dreams of him coming home for Christmas. When she shares her dream with her children, they become increasingly worried as their mother’s present day life and her cherished memories begin to blur.

Her children gather to decide how to help her handle her disappointment and comfort her when he doesn't show up—after all, it was only a dream.

Convinced she was losing her grip on reality and shouldn't live alone any longer, they decide to wait until after the holidays before making any major changes in her life.

But Christmas Day brings a shocking surprise—to everyone but Patty. This is a funny, heartwarming, and touching story that will have you believing in miracles.

Come Back To Me At Christmas was originally published as an as told to short story. Revised and twice as long, the reader can enjoy more of the memories and funny stories held dear in the heart of the author.

Reviews: 5 Star read: GREAT STORY! I could not put this book down. Superb, heartwarming, so touching – loved the entire true love story. I loved Patty and Michael…the love and devotion. Never wanted it to end. Kudos to this marvelous author – waiting for more.

5 Stars: Oh my goodness! This is a new to me author, and what a storyteller she is! Ms. MacFarlane weaves a heart wrenching tale of love through a forever happy ever after. I love Patty and Mike and how this story ended. I confess to tears because it hit home personally. I highly recommend this read!

5 Stars: Wonderfully written story full of love, laughter and a little bit of sadness. Loved the ending!

5 Stars: Funny, sweet and unexpected; looking forward to more from this author!

4 Stars: I have never read anything by Patty MacFarlane before and I am really glad I did. Come Back to me at Christmas is such a sweet romantic love story that shows the struggles, heartache that a couple experience throughout their life. All their struggles make their love so strong and bring them even closer together. I really enjoyed Patty MacFarlane’s telling of this heartwarming love story. Patty and Mike were definitely meant to be together forever and ever. It shows you that true love never dies and miracles are possible if you truly believe.

Dedication

Dedicated to the love of my life, Michael,

and to our wonderful family.

Copyright

Come Back To Me At Christmas ~ Revised 2019 Patty MacFarlane & Ashlin Abbey Publishing, LLC

Cover Design by Patty MacFarlane

Cover Font by Daniela - https://www.deviantart.com/dani-owergoor

Photographic Credits: Stevie MacFarlane & Patty MacFarlane. The photos used to create this cover are copyright protected and may not be used without permission.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any format, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author and the publishing company, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Chapter One

SNOW HAD BEEN FALLING for several days and some of the drifts were knee deep. It didn’t seem to hinder the progress of the elderly woman as she and her trusted German shepherd headed back to the heavily forested area of her seven-acre farm. Carrying her cross cut saw, this was a trek she made each mid-December—to cut down a fresh tree for Christmas.

It had been easier when she was younger, when she went with Michael. They had cut down bigger trees back then as there were two of them to drag it home. But, even as she aged, she kept up her strength and continued the custom. Each year it seemed to take longer to cut down the tree and she would tire, but once it hit the ground she had enough stamina to drag it back to the house, and this year was no exception.

She was careful to cut a smaller tree but once inside the house, it was bigger than it seemed in the open where there were no walls. Still, she was happy with it; bushy six foot trees had become her trademark. The corner where it always stood had been cleared and it wasn’t difficult to get the trunk into the cement tree stand Michael had purchased more years ago than she could recall. She filled the base with water and almost immediately the house was filled with the wonderful smell of Christmas.

Although she’d headed out after lunch, the last hint of sunlight disappeared from the front windows and a chill began to fall over the room. Wrapping her hunter green shawl around her, she struck a match to the kindling in the fireplace and soon the logs were crackling and hissing as the flames danced over them. She sat in the old rocker, closed her eyes, and thought back over the years. Memories flooded her mind and brought a smile to her face.

Patty met Michael not long after she moved to North Seattle. They both worked in the same restaurant and it was close enough for Patty to walk to work. She only drove when it was pouring rain, and even then she parked her old bright purple beater around back by the dumpster. It would definitely send the wrong message to new patrons as to the type of place it was, which was quite remarkable.

Upon entering, guests passed a ceiling to floor rainfall over gold trees enclosed in glass. To the left was the bar, beautiful dark wood and highly polished brass. Several rows of backgammon tables with colorful leaded glass tops were occupied nightly. Two steps down from that area was the pool. Not an actual pool but a large open room filled with quality pool tables.

To the right of the entryway was the restaurant area. The lounge was down a couple of steps and the terrace at the far end of the room was elevated. Live and lush green plants hung from the ceiling and watering them was no small task.

Patty was hired as a waitress and soon advanced to floor manager for all the wait staff and Michael was the head bartender. They both worked nights, closing usually by 2 a.m., and even though Patty’s home was a little less than a mile away, Michael insisted on driving her home. It turned out to be a longer drive when the landlord sold the house Patty was living in with her three children and she had to move farther away. It was when Patty’s old car finally bit the dust that Michael started picking her up as well as driving her home even though it was well out of his way.

Before the year was out, the sister restaurant at SeaTac was in trouble. It drew a larger and much younger crowd and was staffed by younger people. The manager thought it needed some maturity and he arranged for Patty and Michael to be transferred.

Trust me, Shar, Patty told the old dog that was lying at her feet in front of the fire. The staff there was not happy at all when the two of us showed up to manage areas of the restaurant, jobs that the current staff thought should have been promoted from within. Mike was constantly correcting waitresses on their call orders and telling them which eye to look into. Like me, when I first met him, I was constantly turning to look over my shoulder to wherever his left eye was wandering.

Shar lowered her head and put a paw over one eye.

You understand, don’t you girl?

The dog whimpered softly.

"When Michael got out of the Army, he became a Merchant Marine and went to work with his father. On weekends if he was off duty, he drank and partied with his friends. Mostly, those were good times, but you know whenever alcohol is involved…well, for reasons I don’t think anyone will ever understand, he got into a fight with one of his best friends. The fight ended when a pool cue hit him in the back of the head and he lost his sight in his left eye. Back then, and maybe even now, there was nothing anyone could do to repair the damage. He would be sighted in one eye for the rest of his life.

You know, the guy really was one of his best friends and he never forgave himself for causing Mike to lose his sight in that eye. He couldn’t apologize enough and he went into a depression for a long time. Mike forgave him without a second thought and worked hard to bring him out of his depression. It cost him his job with the Merchant Marines, and because he lost his depth perception, he could no longer work as a mason. But that was my Michael—slow to anger and quick to forgive.

Shar stood up and rested her head on Patty’s lap for a good scratch behind the ears.

Good girl. You’ve been a very good dog since he rescued you as a puppy, and you’re a good listener, too.

Satisfied with the attention, Shar settled back down by Patty’s feet in front of the warmth of the fire.

That’s when he went into the restaurant business. He worked his way up from bartender, to managing the bar, and then to management. He worked several restaurants before we came here. His employees loved working with him and one of the things I admired most about him was that he never hesitated to hire people with disabilities. He could also fill in and work the kitchen whenever he was short staffed, and he was an excellent cook.

Hearing that, the dog barked.

Yes, you know very well how good he was. You’ve snatched food off the grill more than a time or two.

Another soft whimper of apology came from the dog.

Oh, think nothing of it. What you don’t know is that he always prepared an extra burger, hot dog, or small piece of steak just for you and left it where you could easily snatch it and run without getting burned. And, you always got a nice piece of turkey on the holidays. I’m sure there will be some for you this year, too.

Shar stood up and stretched and so did Patty. With the fire now down to glowing embers, it was time for bed. C’mon old girl, we’ve got a busy day tomorrow and we better get some sleep.

Patty took off her boots and stood them in the closet next to Michael’s. Slipping out of her jeans and the soft flannel shirt he’d given her one Christmas, she pulled her nightgown over her head and got under the covers. The blue and white floral quilt, a handmade wedding gift from Audrey, would