Saying Goodbye: The Christmas Gift

By Linda L Barton

Sometimes life doesn't go in the direction we've planned for ourselves. Away in Medical School, Molly believed her life was on track. That was until she returned home for Christmas and learned her life was nothing she had always believed. As this surprising journey unfolds, Molly not only learns how to put aside the pain of her past but she finally learns how to say goodbye.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda L Barton
• Release date: Mar 31, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370404957

Linda L Barton

Linda L Barton is a Multi-Genre Author. Publishing her first book in 2011, Linda started out by writing Dark Thrillers. Since then she has branched out by writing YA Fantasy, Women’s Romantic Fiction, and even Children’s Books under the name Nana Barton. One of the high points of Linda’s writing career was when Next Move, You're Dead: The Trilogy Bundle was chosen as 1 of 100 pre-loaded Kindle Fire ebooks given away in the 2013 Emmy Awards VIP Swag Bags to over 600 of those in attendance at the awards that evening. Linda is also the Founder of Deadly Reads, Deadly Reads Author Services, and Host of the Deadly Reads Radio Podcast on Youtube. Linda is also blessed to be married to a wonderful man, Bob for more than 30 years. Bob is her writing muse and has created several of the plots for her books. Together they have a daughter and son, as well as 5 beautiful grandchildren; all of whom are the joy of their lives. Linda never thought she would become a published author, but now she cannot imagine doing anything else.

Book preview

Saying Goodbye

The Christmas Gift

Linda L Barton

Copyright 2016©Linda L Barton

All rights reserved by the author. 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 consent of the publisher, except where permitted by law.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Dedication and Acknowledgments

I dedicate this book to my husband, Bob. You have taught me how to never give up and strive to be the best person I can be. We have shared so many happy memories, and you have given me a life full of love and laughter.

I look forward to our eternity together.

Editing, formatting, and cover design by

Deadly Reads Author Services

Images courtesy of

pixabay.com

Table of Contents

Title Page, Copyright,

Dedication and Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3,

Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6,

Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9,

Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12,

Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15

A Message from the Author

Introduction

Have you ever had someone come into your life, and instantly you knew everything you’ve ever believed about yourself and your life was going to change forever? Well, that happened to me. When I thought I had my life all figured out, the unexpected happened and changed the course of my life forever.

Hello, my name is Molly. I’m going to share with you the story of my favorite Christmas when I was 23-years-old and in my third year of Med School. Now, before you wonder how that’s possible, let me clarify a few things. I was raised to believe you should push yourself and not settle for anything less than your best. So, because of that, I graduated from High School at the age of seventeen; mid-term of my senior year, and it only took me three and a half years to get my bachelor's degree before being accepted into Med School.

Regardless of the pressure put on me to succeed, I guess you can say I’m a bit spoiled and stuck in my ways; however, growing up with the parents I had, it’s no surprise. I’m an only child. I was the pride and joy of my father and the young lady in training for my overly strict and domineering mother.

Yeah, I know there are several stories out there about children growing up in homes with parents like that, but I’m not here to whine about how it screwed up my life. You see, this is a different story. This is how I learned a lesson my parents or teachers had never taught me. This is the story of how I finally learned how to say goodbye, and from someone you’d least expect.

Chapter 1

Come on, Molly, don’t leave yet. The party’s just getting started.

I need to get going. Shit, I’ve already had enough to drink anyway. I knew Cheryl didn’t want me to leave, but if I stayed any longer, they’d be peeling me off the floor.

Come on, you can’t leave. Who’s gonna save me from me? You know how I get when I’m drinking.

Well, it’s time for you to realize just because a gorgeous guy wants to go home with you, doesn’t mean that you have to take him. It’s time you learn how to say NO.

I had liked Cheryl from the moment we met. She had a bright, beautiful smile and a heart of gold. We met in high school and had become the best of friends. Cheryl had grown up in an overly religious home, so I guess she felt the need to break free of the bonds her parents had put on her in high school by sleeping with nearly every guy she met. I had tried to convince her she was better than that, but I guess those are her demons, and she’ll have to battle them on her own.

I’m sorry, but I really need to get home. Mother’s expecting me to help put up the Christmas tree tomorrow evening, and I’d rather not do it with a massive hangover.

Cheryl was about to protest again, but the look of disappointment on her face quickly disappeared when a tall, well-muscled guy walked up to her.

Hello, I’ve been watching you, and I thought it was the time I introduced myself. My name is Chad.

Oh, my God, please don’t tell me she’s gonna fall for that line, but no sooner had the thought entered my mind, I knew better.

Hi, Chad, I know you’ve been watching me. I’ve been watching you, too. My name is Cheryl.

As I watched this little dance of flirtation between them play out, I realized my departure would go unnoticed, and Cheryl would have another notch to add to her bedpost. So, I grabbed my drink and chugged the rest of it down in one swallow; however, when I stood, I realized that was a mistake. I guess I should have known better. Hell, it had been an exhausting day, so I had decided instead of having my usual Amaretto Sour I’d gone for something a bit stronger – a Kamikaze. The only problem was I didn’t have just one. The one I had just slammed down was my fourth, and it had just knocked the world out from underneath me.

Oh, crap. I quickly reached for my purse and then did my best to stand upright without landing on my butt. I glanced over at Cheryl for a little help, but she was lost in the world of Chad and his dark, penetrating eyes.

Oh, well, I guess I’m on my own. Feeling the fool for allowing myself to get in this condition, I decided it was best to call a cab. Hell, Cheryl was my ride, and she was occupied."

To be honest, I was glad to take a cab for the drive home. Cheryl had picked me up from the airport and had insisted on me joining her for a drink in celebration of my being home for the Christmas holiday. I, of course, had jumped at the opportunity to delay facing my Mom a little longer. Besides, I figured I could just get my luggage from Cheryl later.

My head was spinning with crazy thoughts, so it was nice just to lay my head back, close my eyes, and try to clear my mind. The problem was there was no escaping my thoughts. You see, there was a reason I had decided to go out with Cheryl. True, I must admit that I like to let my hair down as much as the next person, but what I really wanted to do was to escape from reality for a while. While it was true my mother needed help putting up the Christmas tree, I hated the day she had chosen to do it on.

It was a beautiful, sun-filled day when my life changed forever. I was glad to be home from college for the Christmas break and out of the cold weather of the Northeast. After my father had retired from the Air Force, we had settled in Southeast Texas. I must admit that I was surprised when my father announced he had bought a house, and we were moving there, but I also should confess that I enjoyed having the remainder of my high school years living in one place. Dad had grown up in the area, so he wanted to return to a place that held special memories for him.

Having a father in the military wasn’t the best if you wanted to live in the same place for long. It seemed that I would just get settled in and would have some friends when he’d come home and announce we were moving again. I know most people would get angry at being uprooted all the time, but that’s all I had known. That is until Dad retired, and we settled down in one place the summer before my sophomore year in high school.

At first, I had kept my distance from the other students, but over time, I