Hot Chocolate

By Steve Soderquist

Do you believe in miracles?

Cara and Lane lost their parents on Christmas Eve five years ago to a boating accident off the Gulf of Mexico. Every year since, they've continued the tradition of buying hot chocolate from Jimmy's Donut Shop and taken them to the pier, their pier, to say a prayer and leave the two cups for their parents to come down from Heaven and collect.

When two strangers showed up and the cups of hot chocolate left on the railing went missing, further investigating led the girls to a discovery they couldn't have imagined in their wildest dreams...

Miracles at Christmas can and do happen.

Bonus Story from Laura Ranger!

How do old people perceive the world around them when they near the end?

Mrs. O’Malley was a miserable old woman. She lived in a nursing home. Although much of her family lived nearby, no one ever visited. With the passing years, she became unbearable. Even the staff only did what was necessary to properly maintain her.

Abbey was an eighteen-year-old girl in mourning. She ended up doing chores in a nursing home away from any interaction with the residents.

After the two worlds collide, what happens will shock the staff and change Abbey’s life forever.

Read this inspirational, feel-good story, “The Crumpled Old Woman” today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Foundations Books Publishing Company
• Release date: Dec 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005940812

Steve Soderquist

Steve Soderquist is the Operations Director, Chief Editor, and Acquisitions Editor of Foundations Publishing Company. He has written and published five novels, one novella and a children's short story of his own. He has edited, formatted, and worked with some of the best-selling authors of today and still insists he has the best job in the world—helping others reach their dream of being a published author.He will freely admit to his rather unorthodox style of teaching 'All-Things-English,' but the results from those he has taught in seminars, webinars, and workshops speaks for itself. He lives in Brandon, Mississippi with his beautiful fiancé, fellow author and editor/illustrator and owner of Foundations Books Publishing Company, Laura Ranger.For more information, visit FoundationsBooks.net or stevesoderquist.com

Book preview

Foundations Book Publishing

Brandon, MS 39047

www.FoundationsBooks.net

Hot Chocolate

By Steve Soderquist

The Crumpled Old Woman

By Laura Ranger

Cover by Dawné Dominique Copyright © 2020

Copyright 2020© Steve Soderquist and Laura Ranger

Published in the United States of America

Worldwide Electronic & Digital Rights

Worldwide English Language Print Rights

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Forward

Dear Reader, In 2017, when I wrote this short story, Hot Chocolate, I thought it would be published in an anthology. Instead, almost four years later, I find myself with the ability and resources to give this short, but inspirational, tale to whomever wishes to read it.

Over a decade ago, Laura Ranger had written The Crumpled Old Woman. In 2017, she was going to put her story in the same anthology as mine. When that book fell through, she held onto it. I am grateful, as her words are a gift. She gladly agreed to share them with the world as a bonus to Hot Chocolate. That’s two uplifting stories we hope will warm your heart.

We happily offer these in eBook format at .99 cents. Any profits made on the ebook or paperback will be donated to our local Batson’s Children’s Hospital. It is our sincerest hope you are encouraged by these stories in these troubling days.

From our hearts to yours, we wish you all the best.

Steve Soderquist - Laura Ranger

Table of Contents

Hot Chocolate

Cara and Lane

Church and Contests

A Surprise on the Pier

The Miracle Contained With

New Beginnings

The Crumpled Old Woman

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

About the Authors

More from These Authors

Hot Chocolate

By Steve Soderquist

Cara and Lane

I don’t want to be here.

Cara sighed. This isn’t about you, Lane. It’s about what mom and dad wanted us to do.

Lane looked at her sister and sniffed. What mom and dad wanted them to do five years ago wasn’t important to her eleven-year-old mind, and they certainly didn’t ask for this