by Laura Acton
Yvonne returned her gaze to Dan. “My beautiful son. You are such a blessing. May you reap as much joy in your life as you have given me today.”
William ambled into the cozy library with the fire slowly ebbing to embers. Best Christmas … full of family, fun, love, and new memories. He saw Daniel asleep in his mother’s lap—just like when he was a little boy. William choked up. My son is finally home. Truly home.
He sat on the arm of the couch and lay his hand on Yvonne’s shoulder. Speaking softly so as not to disturb Daniel’s slumber, he said, “Danny is home where he has always belonged whether he accepted it or not.”
Yvonne lay her hand over William’s as she peered up at him. “Yes. I don’t want to wake him. The sofa is comfortable, and he can sleep here tonight. Would you help me shift him?”
William noiselessly chuckled. “Sure. He’s grown quite a bit from the last time. I’m glad you didn’t ask me to carry him to bed. Don’t think I could.”
Yvonne quietly giggled when William moved to squat down and gently lifted their son’s upper body. She scooted out then placed throw pillows for Danny’s head. As William lowered him, Yvonne stood back and smiled. Once situated, she leaned down and gave Danny a feather-soft kiss on the cheek. “Sweet dreams, my boy. Never forget, we love you.”
William adjusted the blanket, covering Daniel and tucking him in. Reaching out, he lightly tousled Daniel’s hair. “Goodnight, son. Glad you’re home.”
He stood and draped his arm over Yvonne’s shoulders. They stood gazing down at Daniel for several minutes, both marveling at their blessing. Holding Yvonne’s hand as they exited the room, William switched off all lights except the tree.
General Broderick’s Home – Library – 11:45 pm
Blinking his eyes open, finding the room around him bathed in soft light of many hues. Dan stared at the banked fire, noting only orangish-red embers glowed now. He sighed feeling at peace for the first time in ages. A faint giggle pulled him from his reverie, and he turned his head to find the source of the familiar sound.
His eyes shot wide open, and he jerked to a sitting position. No, this can’t be. This isn’t possible. He blinked multiple times expecting the vision before him to disappear. Each time he opened his eyelids, the apparition remained there. Her long, golden ringlets nearly touched the floor as she sat cross-legged at the base of the Christmas tree. Her emerald eyes reflected the colorful lights as she smiled up at him.
“Merry Christmas, my Danny,” Sara said.
“How? No, you’re not here. I must be hallucinating.”
“Not hallu … whatever you said. You’re dreaming. This is my welcome home gift to you.” Sara patted the carpet next to her. “Sit by me.”
His legs too unsteady to rise, Dan dropped to his knees and crawled to his sister. “I’m dreaming?”
“Yes.”
“So this isn’t real.” Dan made it to the tree and sat in front of Sara. She appears exactly as she did the last time I … no, not then … she isn’t covered in blood. She is beautiful and glowing.
Sara reached out and touched his face. “It’s real, but you won’t remember when you wake. Becca liked the pony you gave her. Mommy and Daddy were happy you surprised them too.”
“Wish I had a gift for you.”
“This can be my gift.” She picked up a book and held it out to him. “Please read me Frosty.”
Real or not, Dan didn’t care. His face broke into a WOW smile as he grasped the book. “I’d love to read to you.”
Sara crawled into his lap and settled against him.
Dan noted somehow the blue and yellow afghan his mom made him appeared … magically from where he left it on the sofa … and Sara pulled the blanket over them as he began reading the story.
When Danny finished, Sara peered up at him. “I found a magic hat. You wanna go build a snowman?”
“Sure.”
In the blink of an eye, they were outside in bright daylight with tons of snow ready and waiting to be formed into Sara’s Frosty. After they completed the task, laughing the entire time, Dan asked, “So, where is the hat which contains magic?”
Sara beamed as she produced a black ballcap from behind her back. “This belongs to someone who has the best kind of magic in the world … love.” She placed the ballcap on their snowman, then Sara danced around and squealed with delight as Frosty came to life.
Dan stared at the three letters on the front of the enchanted hat … TRF.
A huge smile blossomed, and his eyes shone with the light of love. He had been gifted serenity, courage, and wisdom this year. This Christmas he had truly found a path home … to his many homes. One with his natural family. Another with his chosen families. And with patience, hopefully, a future one with his beauty of life, Lexa.
Keep reading for a sneak peek
at Laura Acton’s seventh novel
in the Beauty of Life series.
Sneak Peek:
Guardians
Mission to Rescue Innocence
Master Corporal Dan Broderick, a sniper and valiant soldier is one of a seven-man elite Guardian Unit.
A black ops mission takes a dark turn.
Will bonds forged in purgatory be enough to save Dan, or will he sacrifice his soul to rescue innocence?
.
December 25th
General Broderick’s Home – Library – 11:59 p.m.
Brody crouched before Dan who slept peacefully, dreaming with Sara. Dan’s parents left a while ago after General Broderick lifted him and his mother slipped a pillow under his son’s head. They bid him sweet dreams, goodnight, and told him they loved him after covering him with a blanket and kissing his cheek—a scene which warmed Brody’s heart.
“Merry Christmas, Danny. I’m happy you found your way home. Though, I wish your heart would heal completely. I’m begging you to forgive yourself for my death. It. Was. Not. Your. Fault.”
Tears slipped down Brody’s face as he lay his hand over his dog tags and Danny’s heart. A golden light began to glow. “Please heal, brother.”
Danny’s soul-deep remorse and guilt had not abated and remained palpable and almost as intense as the day he died. Brody worried he might never be able to allay Danny’s agony so his heart would become whole. Pieces were gone and nothing Brody did could replace what was missing—though he tried.
As his brother slept, Brody sank to the floor and stared at him. “I’m supposed to protect you. Lord knows I try. How do I safeguard you from yourself, from your own demons?”
A light glowed next to him and a wan smiled appeared regardless of the distress he felt. “Hello, Mom.”
“Merry Christmas, sweet boy.” Louise Hunter wrapped her arms and wings around her beloved son and held him. Softly she sang to ease his burdens. When she finished ‘Amazing Grace,’ she said, “Daniel will heal in time. Trust that his path must be what it is for the greater good.”
Brody wiped his eyes as he gazed upon his beautiful mother. “I understand. Doesn’t make it any easier to accept. Though, I’m glad I was chosen to be his guardian angel.” Turning back to Danny, a bittersweet memory filtered in.
Brody’s Memory – May 26
Kandahar – Terrorist Stronghold
Master Corporal Brody Hunter crouched down behind the low wall where Plouffe directed him to stay. A last-minute order he disagreed with, but kept his mouth shut because the major was a legendary pain in the ass if anyone so much as hinted at questioning his commands. This was a rotten position regardless of the major’s desire to ensure eyes on the primary target.
Major Plouffe’s tactical abilities were abysmal. He wished his CO had been there to countermand the idiot, but with a still mending ankle, Blaze was spotting for Danny and Watchdog today, and they had already moved into position. Brody blew out a breath and switched to the frequency Plouffe ordered so he could provide an ongoing sitrep to the damned major.
This isn’t the way I expected to spend my thirty-first birthday. Damn Plou
ffe for cutting our leave short for this mission. What the hell is Plouffe even doing leading this one? Glory Hog. Yeah, this is a big-time player and a feather in someone’s cap, but couldn’t he just send us and take credit after like always?
Brody hated this position. Too open, no cover. He scanned, hoping if he remained still none of the targets wouldn’t notice him. His eyes landed on the main target. Pletcher identified this cell as being involved in the ongoing arms thefts. A joint op with Blaze’s and Hammer’s units was hastily cobbled together when Pletcher received intel the cell would be moving. He insisted they must strike now or chance losing them to the wind again.
Staring at the man, Brody knew Dan wouldn’t miss his target. He’s the best sniper in the world. That thought brought to mind Plouffe’s dress down of Danny last night as they prepped for the mission. Major Plouffe laid into Broderick with gusto when Danny suggested a different sniper perch. One with better visibility.
I swear, the major has it out for Danny. If Blaze had been there, instead of the medical tent with Patch getting a brace for his ankle, Plouffe’s tirade wouldn’t have been as full of acid. Brody grinned. Papa Bear watches over Goldilocks.
Brody’s mind turned to the private conversations he and Baboon had over the past couple of months. Amazing what fresh eyes see. Nils has some logical opinions. We’ve all been so focused on the general screwing with Danny. He’s right … we’ve had blinders on. No way a man in his position could … well, yeah, General Broderick could, but it no longer jibes he would do these things to his only son. Could Plouffe be the one behind everything? If so why and how?
His thoughts were interrupted as Plouffe called out, “Hunter, sitrep.”
“No movement. Eyes still on the principal,” Brody reported. He scanned the area again and spotted someone unexpected. “Wait. Christ! What the hell is he doing here?”
Bonus Content: Fun with Names
Day 1: Partridge in a Pear Tree
Perdriz: Spanish for partridge.
Rebhuhn: German for partridge.
Day 2: Two Turtle Doves
Colom: Catalan for dove.
Tortuga: Catalan for turtle.
Tourterelle: French for turtledove.
Day 3: Three French Hens
Chef Orloff Faverolles = Chef Hen Hen: Orloff and Faverolles are breed of hens.
Oiseau ‘Birdie’ Ponceuses = Bird Sanders: Oiseau is French for bird.
Day 4: Four Calling Birds
Blackbird Industries: colly birds are blackbirds
Colly Brothers: Jay, Merlin, Robin, and Rhea are all types of birds. Rhea is a flightless bird. Colly the original verse of the song was four colly birds.
Darrius Hawks = Good Bird: Darrius means to possess good. Hawk is a type of bird.
Guntram: from the Germanic elements gund war and hramn raven.
Day 5: Five Gold Rings
Mallory Taper = Unlucky Loser: Mallory means unlucky, Taper is Norwegian for loser.
Officer Gredzeni = Officer Rings: Gredzeni is Latvian for rings.
Oro Bullion = Gold Bullion: Oro is Italian for gold. Bullion is bulk gold or silver.
Victor Gullringer = Winner Goldrings: Victor means winner. Gull is Norwegian for gold, and Ringer is rings.
Day 6: Six Geese a Laying
Alsatian: a small goose breed with shorter legs and wider bodies.
Faroese: probably the oldest form of tame goose in Europe.
Goswick: English surname derived from words meaning goose.
Hans: Dutch and German surname derived from words meaning goose and swan.
Toulouse: French breed of large domestic goose.
Day 7: Seven Swans a Swimming
Angsa: Indonesian for swan
Christiana Andersen: feminized version Hans Christian Andersen who wrote the Ugly Duckling.
Cygne: French for swan.
Settimio Bewick = Seventh Swan: Settimo is the Italian form of Roman Latin Septimus, meaning seventh. Bewick swan is the Eurasian form of the Tundra swan.
Day 8: Eight Maids a Milking
Ciar and Blanche Holstein = Black and White Cow: Ciar is Old Gaelic for black. Blanche is French for white. Holstein is a black and white breed of milking cow.
Vanche Puante: French for stinky cow.
Day 9: Nine Ladies Dancing
Achbor King = Mouse King: Achbor is the Anglicized form of Hebrew Akbowr, meaning mouse. The mouse king is an evil character in the Nutcracker.
Clara Preobrajenska: Clara is the name of the girl character in the Nutcracker. Preobrajenska is the surname of a ballerina who danced as the sugar plum fairy in the original production of the Nutcracker in 1892.
Stahlbaum: the name of the father character in the Nutcracker.
Day 10: Nine Lords a Leaping
Crothers: surname of the founder the Toronto Zoo.
Ounce: another name for snow leopard.
Saut: French for leaping.
Day 11: Eleven Pipers Piping
Blunt, 420, Mary Jane, Toke, and Blue: All terms for or around marijuana use.
Ima Dummkopf = I’m an idiot: Dummkopf is German for idiot. Sorry couldn’t resist.
Pìobaire: Scottish Gaelic for piper.
Cattus forti Venator: Latin translation for Mighty Cat Hunter.
Duo forti venatores catti: Latin translation for Two mighty cat hunters
Day 12: Twelve Drummers Drumming
Alban: Gaelic, from Alba, the Gaelic name for Scotland. Meaning rock.
Craig: Gaelic, from Gaelic word creag meaning rock.
Crudele: Italian surname derived from words meaning cruel.
Kettle: a hemispherical drum with a bowl-shaped body of metal or fiberglass.
Larkin: English surname derived from words meaning fierce and cruel.
Osmund Bodhran = Divine Protector of Drums: Osmund means divine protection. Bodhran is an Irish/Celtic frame drum.
Tabor: English surname derived from words meaning drum.
Other Names:
Befana: In Italian folklore, Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve in a similar way to Santa Claus.
Belsnickel: is a crotchety, fur-clad Christmas gift-bringer figure in the folklore of the Palatinate region of southwestern Germany.
Nicholas: Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, or simply Santa, is a legendary figure of Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of good children.
Bonus Content: Broderick Clan
Notes:
- Names are in alphabetical order by commonly used first name.
- Inclusive of family so far in the timeline, Dan’s maternal grandparents, and husbands/offspring of the female Broderick cousins. Those listed as Dan’s nieces/nephews are technically first cousins once removed but using honorary titles of aunt/uncle and niece/nephew for these relationships makes it easier to identify generations in the novel.
- (Age) or (D) = age given is their present age in this novel or D for deceased.
- (FT) or (IT) = Fraternal Twin or Identical Twin
Abigail Jones (13)
Relation to Dan: Niece
Parents: Tiffany Broderick-Jones and Anthony Jones
Siblings: David Jones
Adam Ryan Broderick, Captain (36 almost 37)
Relation to Dan: Cousin
Nicknames: Fire
Parents: Ryan Broderick and Connie Spencer-Broderick
Siblings: Zachary Broderick
Military Branch: Air Force
Alastair Loving (D)
Relation to Dan: Grandfather (maternal)
Spouse: Lady Rosemary Ferguson
Children: Lady Yvonne Loving (IT), Lady Ann Loving (IT), Graham Loving
Amelia Broderick-Pendgraft (24)
Relation to Dan: Cousin
Spouse: Lieutenant Christopher Pendgraft
Parents: Erik Arthur Broderick and Ann Loving Broderick
Siblings: Scott Erik Broderick, Victoria Broderick-McKnight, Kyle Erik Broder
ick
Ann Loving-Broderick (55) (IT)
Relation to Dan: Aunt
Spouse: Erik Arthur Broderick
Children: Scott Broderick, Victoria Broderick-McKnight, Amelia Broderick-Pendgraft, Kyle Broderick
Parents: Sir Alastair Loving and Lady Rosemary Ferguson-Loving
Siblings: Lady Yvonne Loving (IT), Graham Loving
Anthony Jones, Major (41)
Relation to Dan: Cousin by Marriage
Spouse: Tiffany Broderick
Children: David Jones, Abigail Jones
Military Branch: Army
Arthur Winchester Broderick, Brigadier General (D)
Relation to Dan: Grandfather (paternal)
Spouse: Gwyneth Fraser
Children: William Broderick, Mark Broderick, Erik Broderick, Ryan Broderick
Parents: Winchester Broderick and Kathleen Broderick
Military Branch: Army
Ashley Broderick-Banner (36)
Relation to Dan: Cousin
Spouse: Master Warrant Officer Landon Taylor
Children: Diana Taylor
Parents: Mark Arthur Broderick and Kimberly Brennan-Broderick
Siblings: Tiffany Broderick-Jones (FT), Pamela Broderick-Banner (FT), Jeffrey Broderick
‘Becca’ Rebecca Amber Broderick (23)
Relation to Dan: Sister
Nicknames: Becca
Parents: William Broderick and Lady Yvonne Loving-Broderick
Siblings: Daniel Broderick, Sara Broderick
Caleb McKnight (4) (FT)
Relation to Dan: Nephew
Parents: Victoria Broderick- McKnight and Derek McKnight
Siblings: Courtney McKnight (FT), Anthony ‘Tony’ McKnight
Carol Banner (15)
Relation to Dan: Niece
Parents: Pamela Broderick-Banner and Riley Banner
Siblings: Joss Banner, Wendy Banner
Christopher Pendgraft, Lieutenant (31)
Relation to Dan: Cousin by Marriage