A Forever Christmas

A Forever Christmas
Missy Tippens

Sarah Radcliffe's quiet Christmas back in her hometown will be lost if she agrees to direct the church's Christmas pageant.But when she meets two little boys determined to gain their father's attention, Sarah agrees to help. Then she discovers that the dad in question is Gregory Jones, the man she loved and lost.The single dad is working himself to the bone to give his boys the Christmas of their dreams, when all they want is some family time. Time that includes a new mommy. If Sarah can learn to open her heart, she may receive the most wonderful present of all–a family of her own.

An old, familiar ache tried to work its way into Sarah’s chest.

She sure wished she could make Gregory see what his job was doing to his son, Hunter. Surely if he saw the effect, he would quit. Why waste time working for gifts that would mean nothing to the boy after the first five minutes? What was truly important was time with family. Because it could be taken away at any moment.

She looked at her calendar and counted dated blocks. Twelve days until Christmas Eve and their pageant.

Twelve days…An idea began to blossom.

She took a deep breath as she envisioned those empty blocks on her calendar and began to brainstorm ideas. But could she pull it off? It would take a lot of strength to spend that kind of time around Gregory.

Strength she might not have right now.

Gregory’s son’s sad, angry face flashed through her mind.

Yes, she had to do it. For Hunter.

MISSY TIPPENS

Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy met her very own hero when she headed off to grad school in Atlanta, Georgia. She promptly fell in love and hasn’t left Georgia since. She and her pastor husband have been married twenty-plus years now, and have been blessed with three wonderful children and an assortment of pets. Nowadays, in addition to her writing, she teaches as an adjunct instructor at a local technical college.

Missy is thankful to God that she’s been called to write stories of love and faith. After ten years of pursuing her dream of being published, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened!

Missy would love to hear from readers through her Web site, www.missytippens.com, or by e-mail at missytippens@aol.com. For those with no Internet access, you can reach her c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.

A Forever Christmas

Missy Tippens

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so

great is His love for those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

— Psalms 103:11–12

To my sister, Mindy Conley Winningham,

for forgiving all the mean big-sister things I did throughout our childhood and for being

my friend anyway.

To God, for giving me the stories and for allowing me

a career doing something I love so much.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Michael House, Robyn Fogarty and Debra Marvin for research assistance.

I’m grateful to Margaret Daley and Camy Tang for your help and support.

A big thank-you to the members of the Faith, Hope, and Love Chapter for sharing your knowledge when I have questions.

I love and appreciate my sisters in Christ from the F.A.I.T.H. blog and the Seekerville blog. You make me look forward to getting online each and every day.

Maureen Hardegree, grammar queen, thank you for always answering your phone!

A special thank-you to Emily Rodmell for always going above and beyond in helping me make the book the best it can be.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Questions for Discussion

Chapter One

S arah Radcliffe forced one foot in front of the other, up the front steps of her parents’ church—her childhood church home—with her insides churning. She’d come as a favor for her friend, Donna Rae Durante. And though it wasn’t time for a worship service, she really didn’t want to go inside. She’d been angry with God for weeks. Hadn’t been able to bring herself to even enter a church building.