A Promise Kept: Christmas Past, Present & Future Novellas, #3

By Dawn M. Turner

Contemporary Christian Romance

Christmas is a Time for Fulfilling Promises

In the wake of losing his father, 9-year-old Riley Harrison receives a very unusual promise, though he doesn't recognize it as such at first. Time passes. Life changes in ways he never expected, or thought he wanted. Still, the dream remains. When will God keep His promise?

After the deaths of her parents, Paige Gallagher finds herself alone. Until she receives a teddy bear. The words on a note she finds with him bring hope and assurance during a dark time, but that's only the beginning....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dawn M. Turner
• Release date: Dec 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215150559

Dawn M. Turner

Dawn lives in the high desert of Southern Arizona with her husband of over 20 years and a variety of furry and feathered critters. She enjoys photography, crochet, scrapbooking, spinning her own yarn from wool and alpaca, beading and jewelry-making, and lots of reading. When not doing those things, she writes romance, romantic-suspense, women's fiction under the name Dawn M. Turner, and medieval and urban fantasy with a Christian worldview under the name D.M. Turner. She took first place in the Contemporary Romance category, as well as winning the Grand Prize, in the 2011 Writers on the Storm Category Five Writing Contest.

Book preview

- 1999 -

Saturday, November 27, 1999

Tucson, Arizona

Nine-year-old Riley Harrison sat on the bench seat and stared out the window of his bedroom. Only a few clouds dotted the sunny, blue sky. Cheerful. Totally opposite of his mood.

The year had started good then turned horrible. Dad had died in August. Riley’s grades had dropped since then, but he didn’t care. He’d quit soccer, though his mom and coach had tried to talk him out of it. No one seemed to understand how hard it was to play when Dad’s favorite seat on the sideline was empty or used by some stranger.

He needs time, he’d heard Nana Joyce tell Mom at Thanksgiving dinner two days ago.

Time won’t fix it, unless it brings Dad back.

Riley, aren’t you going to help with these gifts? Mom called from the next room.

He grimaced. Do I hafta?

It’d be nice. Her voice came from inside his room. I’d like to have it done before we go to church in the morning.

Riley glanced toward the doorway. She looks tired. Then again, she’d looked that way for weeks. Months even. Why bother? That was Dad’s thing, and God took him away forever. His chest hurt. Tears blurred his vision, and he slapped them away.

Ah, baby. Mom sat next to him and hugged him. You know how much the gift program meant to your father. I think we should continue it in his honor. Don’t you?

Why? God took Dad. Someone bought our house. We have to sell a lot of stuff and move. He glanced up to meet his mom’s gaze. We’re losing everything.

Not everything. She cupped his cheek and smiled. "We still have each other. That’s more than some people have. These gifts are for children who are worse off than us. They’re orphans who’ve lost both of their parents."

"Their dads and moms?"

Mom nodded.

He leaned his head against her. It would’ve been even more horrible if he’d lost Dad and her. Riley sighed. Mom? Do you think God lets Dad look down on us from Heaven?

She softly cleared her throat. Maybe. Even if He doesn’t, maybe He tells him how we’re doing.

That would matter even more to Dad than getting a good report from my teachers, huh?

A lot more.

He frowned. Will Dad be happy or sad if God told him I quit soccer? What about my grades?

School’s important, Dad had said more than once. Learn what you need to, so you can do whatever God calls you to do.

He wouldn’t be happy about my grades. Or about soccer. We both loved soccer, and he really liked watching me play. Mom, I think I need to get back on the team.

Are you sure?

Riley nodded. Dad wouldn’t be happy I quit. He shrugged. Besides, he might be able to watch from Heaven.

We’ll talk to your coach on Monday. Mom squeezed him lightly. So, what do you say? Help me with the gifts? I’m supposed to take them to church in the morning.

One of the last things Dad had asked him to do was to take care of Mom and help around the house. Okay.

Riley followed his mom into the kitchen. Unwrapped gifts were scattered on the table.

Remember to pray over each one as you put it into the box.

Okay, Mom. He picked up a teddy bear dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a bright pink t-shirt decorated on the front with a giant red heart. The jeans had working pockets in the back. Good place to stick something small. He bowed his head and considered the words he’d heard Dad pray over toys in years past.

God, someone needs this little bear right now. Please make sure it gets to her. He went to set the bear in the red gift box that had been provided for a girl gift but hesitated. It wasn’t complete yet.

Something wrong, baby?

It needs a note. He frowned. Yeah, that’s definitely what it needs. A note in one of the little pockets.

She pointed to a stack of paper on the other side of the table. There’s construction paper and cards.

Riley dropped the bear on the table and ran to his room to get a blue colored pencil from his backpack. Then he found a piece of cream-colored construction paper, cut a small piece off the sheet, and sat down. What should I write? What would Dad do?

He stared at a picture on the wall. Us. Before God took Dad away. Riley glanced at Mom. If God had taken her, too, he’d be all alone.

I will never leave you nor forsake you. Pastor Wyatt had told the kids Jesus said those words.

I don’t know what forsake means, but… the rest meant if someone had God, they were never alone. Ever. Riley nodded.

~ ~ ~

Wednesday, December 15, 1999

Eight-year-old Paige Gallagher huddled in the window seat, arms wrapped around drawn-up knees, staring through the glass at scattered clouds. Movement in the room made her turn her head.

This is for you. The house-mom, as the other kids called her, held out a red box wrapped with a silver ribbon tied in a bow.

Paige lowered her feet to dangle over the edge of the seat and slowly took the box. What is it?

Open it, and find out. The woman smiled. It’s a Christmas gift just for you.

But… it’s not Christmas yet. Weren’t Christmas gifts only supposed to be opened Christmas Day? Mom had always made her wait.

It’s okay. You can open it now.

She laid the box in her lap and stared at it. Who had given her a Christmas gift? Mommy and Daddy were gone. A drunk driver had killed them on Thanksgiving Day. At least, that’s what a policeman and a social worker had said. She’d been with them, going home after dinner at her grandparents’ house, but she couldn’t remember anything about the accident, except being really afraid.

Grandma and Grandpa couldn’t take her, the social worker had said. Unfit guardians. Whatever that meant.

We might not find any other family who’ll take her. We often don’t, she’d overheard the social worker tell the house-mom.

Paige had ended up in a group home surrounded by strangers. The boys were okay. Mostly. A couple of the girls were mean though. The house-mom seemed nice. She didn’t yell or hit them or anything bad. Some of the kids told stories about people like that.

Paige? Aren’t you going to open it?

She untied the ribbon and lifted the lid off the box. A light-brown teddy bear smiled at her, dressed in blue jeans and a pink shirt. A big red heart was on the front of the shirt. Paige glanced down at her own jeans and t-shirt. Same colors.

Isn’t he cute? The house-mom knelt then smiled at Paige. He’s even dressed like you. I guess he really was meant for you. He’ll need a name, don’t you think?

Paige nodded and removed the bear from the box. His fur and body were very soft. She hugged him. He seemed to hug back. He’s really mine?

"Yep. All yours." House-Mom got up and walked away.

Mine. Paige studied the bear. His jeans even had pockets. She poked into them then frowned, pulling a small, folded piece of pale yellow construction paper from one. The same kind they used in art class at school. Hugging the bear close with one arm, she unfolded the paper. Blue writing on it said,

You’re not alone. God is always there. When you need Him, hug the bear.

She carefully folded the paper, returned it to the pocket, and hugged her new friend tightly. I’m not alone anymore.

House-Mom had said he needed a name. Paige set him away to study him again, thinking about the note. A song Mommy and Daddy used to sing sometimes came to mind. That’ll work. Andy.

~ ~ ~

Monday, December 24, 1999

Christmas Eve Day

Paige?

She glanced up from the book she’d been reading out loud to Andy.

The woman who walked toward her had a weird smile on her face, and her eyes looked watery.

Is she gonna cry? Why?

A man followed the woman into the room but stopped inside the door. He didn’t look happy, but not mad either. Kind of worried. Like Daddy when he had to get onto Paige about something bad she’d done.

Am I in trouble? Paige hugged the bear more tightly, pressing her chin into the top of his head.

Do you remember me? the woman asked, kneeling in front of the chair.

Paige studied her then shook her head.

I’m your Mommy’s sister, Peggy Bates. Did she ever mention me?

She considered it. Aunt Peggy?

Yes. The woman’s smile widened, and she pointed to the man. That’s your Uncle Phillip. We haven’t seen you since you were really little.

Mommy talked to you on the phone. She said you live in… Florida?

"That’s right. We live in Jacksonville, Florida. Your mommy and I used to