Christmas in Garland

By LoRee Peery

Pepper Rainwater is thriving in newfound faith, blooming love, and her own Christmas house. But the appearance of her mother brings back all the ugliness of growing up in a storage unit. Can she face family issues from a new perspective and forgive her parents for the past?

The discovery of Foxx Haven' s true beginnings shatter his sense of security. For the first time, he questions his father' s love and deals with getting to know his birth mother. Did God really plan this mess for his life? He' s such a wreck inside, how can he be the man of faith Pepper deserves?

Their mothers bring challenges and time constraints on Pepper and Foxx. He longs to show his love, she yearns to bask in his attention. How will they help their widowed mothers, make life easier for one another, heal appropriately, and look toward a brighter future?

• Language: English
• Publisher: White Rose Publishing
• Release date: Nov 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9781522304388

Book preview

Christmas in Garland

LoRee Peery

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

Christmas in Garland

COPYRIGHT 2023 by LoRee Peery

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or Pelican Ventures, LLC except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. eBook editions are licensed for your personal enjoyment only. eBooks may not be re-sold, copied or given to other people. If you would like to share an eBook edition, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. Contact Information: [e-mail]

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version(R), NIV(R), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations, marked KJV are taken from the King James translation, public domain. Scripture quotations marked DR, are taken from the Douay Rheims translation, public domain.

Scripture texts marked NAB are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition Copyright 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Cover Art by Nicola Martinez

White Rose Publishing, a division of Pelican Ventures, LLC

www.pelicanbookgroup.com PO Box 1738 *Aztec, NM * 87410

White Rose Publishing Circle and Rosebud logo is a trademark of Pelican Ventures, LLC

Publishing History

First White Rose Edition, 2023

Electronic Edition ISBN 978-1-5223-0438-8

Published in the United States of America

Dedication

To my youngest granddaughter, Alaina. I am so proud to be your grandma. And you were so proud, at seven, when you told me you read every word of A Cup of Christmas Kindness. May you keep your imagination bright with fairy creatures, but always know the reality of Jesus in your heart and the angels who watch over you.

What People are Saying

About Christmas House:

If you can read only ONE Christmas book this season, make it this one! Stunningly beautiful. I plan to take this one out and read it every Christmas. ~~ Erin Stevenson

I absolutely loved this quote from the book: I’ve concluded that we choose what to do with tragedy, trauma, and trials. We can let the awfulness control us. Or we empower the experience to make us stronger. ~~ Carol James

What a lovely story. This is a page turner and keeps you reading and wanting more. ~~ Clare Revell

I read this story in one sitting, I couldn't put it down! ~~ Mary Marelli

Star characters with delicious names… Dark back stories that work wonderfully. I love immersing myself in Ms. Peery’s Nebraska-set books. ~~ Tanya Hanson

The author creates a lovely setting, even including a corral of friendly donkeys. This is truly a redemptive romance that uplifts and inspires. ~~ Regina Andrews

Prologue

Thanksgiving night

The scent of herb infused, oven baked turkey tickled Pepper Rainwater’s every breath. Thanksgiving Day hosted in her own home. This little house represented a longing and a dream fulfilled. What a turn her life had taken.

Those years growing up in a storage unit, unschooled and hidden from the world, would not mar the joy of today.

Love filled her heart. For God, who had reached out to her. For Foxx, her boyfriend. For the forgiveness that infused her heart toward her mother. God was helping her wipe the slate clean.

Her home looked more like Christmas than Thanksgiving. Her family had never celebrated in the storage unit. Ever since Pepper first heard about Christmas and saw the lights and decorations, that child she’d been had sworn to celebrate all year. However, she had yet to purchase a tree to finish decking out her Christmas house.

Her phone lit up on the countertop. She smiled at Foxx’s text.

I’d like to escape and help if you could use a hand.

Yes, please.

Be right there. And I have something to tell you.

Pepper’s thumbs flew against her phone. I also need to tell you something.

Three short minutes later, Foxx rumbled up in that giant charcoal SUV and pulled close to the garage.

Pepper stood at the door to greet him.

Happy Thanksgiving. They chimed at the same time.

She held open the door, and he brought in fresh air as he went to the fridge and balanced the vegetable tray on top of other covered dishes. You can put your jacket on my bed. I’m looking for just the right row of coat hooks for the basement hallway but haven’t found what I want yet.

He slid his arm around her and tipped up her chin. You are talking to a carpenter. I think Dad stored what you need under the workbench. Let’s plan on your approval, and you can select the right board to mount them on.

Could a person sink into the depths of another’s eyes? Soon.

It’s a date. He kissed her so quick and soft that it took her by surprise. We need to do that exact thing.

What?

Date. You know, go to a movie or out to dinner. You look positively lovely, by the way.

Thank you. Crushed green velvet isn’t over the top for Thanksgiving?

Not on you. You look temptingly touchable.

~*~

Later in the evening, Foxx thanked God for blessing him with this day and their families. The Thanksgiving feast couldn’t have tasted better. Healing hearts had gathered, finding their way to peace.

Thankfulness had truly been spoken at the table. They’d shared the differences between Denver, Iowa, and Nebraska. They’d commended Foxx’s care of Dad as he’d suffered and later died from mesothelioma. They’d bumped into one another as they’d cleared dishes, washed and dried them, and divvied up spare food. Then they’d played board games on the separated card tables.

Pepper’s sister, Pink, had found their mother, Doris, homeless in Denver. Foxx’s biological mother, Lois, had also been found, and spent this day with them. Both women were blessed with expressive eyes, often glistening with tears and wide smiles. It was clear to any onlooker that they were proud to be with their adult children. A second glance hinted at the woes of life hidden behind the bright countenances of this day.

Pink’s appearance surprised him. The sisters didn’t resemble one another except for their voices. Pink was outgoing and almost brash, an asset for retail sales, compared to Pepper’s soft-spoken gentleness. Pink was blonde and probably burned easily in the sun while Pepper had freckles and a lingering summer tan.

And the grand joke of the day? Kitt, Foxx’s sister, and Pink had brought mistletoe for Pepper’s house. One hung just inside the kitchen entrance over the basement door. She blushed like crazy when their friend and neighbor, Fred, suggested hanging the other over her bedroom door. They’d settled on the front door where hardly anyone passed through.

After they left, Pepper brought in two cups of hot chocolate loaded with mini-marshmallows, and set them on the coffee table. She plopped on the couch beside him.

Today was a blessing all the way around. He turned Pepper’s face so he could look into her eyes. Though we’ve only known one another a couple months, I can’t imagine life without you in it. I want to be a part of your life if you’ll have me. I love you. Will you marry me?

Tingles of awareness trailed all the way down his spine.

She leaned forward and reached out to smooth her fingers through his hair. I have surrounded myself with Christmas. But I’ve learned that these decorations are nothing without your love. Even if all of it was made of diamonds and gold. Pepper waved a hand around the room, took his hand, and drew him to his feet. Which mistletoe shall we try out?

Both, my love, both of those mistletoe sprigs.

1

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

~ Ephesians 4:29

Did Thanksgiving kisses under two mistletoe sprigs make the beginning of a meaningful relationship? Not just any kiss. Foxx Haven’s kisses. Pepper had never seriously thought of having a man in her life until she met Foxx. She traced the outline of her lips with a finger. Her first kiss, and more, in her third decade of life. More kisses had followed. Two under the first mistletoe sprig. Then under the second