I pulled it out and it was weird—it seemed like old paper, a little browned at the edges, like something that had been written a long, long time ago.
But when I opened it, I could see it was definitely to me.
Noelle,
Enjoy your trip to Italy. I think you will find that you made exactly the right choice. Have a wonderful time, dear.
Especially on the flight.
With Love, Charlie
The man was about to sit down when he stopped, pulled off his coat and hoodie, and shoved them—somehow—into the overhead compartment as well.
That’s when I recognized him.
It was him.
Here he was again, entering my life unexpectedly, when I was finally taking the road not taken. At least my own road not taken. I’d seen it over and over again with Charlie.
He sat down next to me and smiled. “Looks like we might have a free seat on our row.”
I nodded, breathless, speechless at the sight of him.
He must have picked up on it, because he looked at me and cocked his head. “Do I know you?”
“I think…” I cleared my throat. “No, not really, but … I think we might have gone to high school together…”
Also by Beth Harbison
One Less Problem Without You
If I Could Turn Back Time
Driving with the Top Down
Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger
When in Doubt, Add Butter
Always Something There to Remind Me
Thin, Rich, Pretty
Hope in a Jar
Shoe Addicts Anonymous
Secrets of a Shoe Addict
About the Author
BETH HARBISON is the New York Times bestselling author of One Less Problem Without You; If I Could Turn Back Time; Driving with the Top Down; Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger; When in Doubt, Add Butter; Always Something There to Remind Me; Thin, Rich, Pretty; Hope in a Jar; Secrets of a Shoe Addict; and Shoe Addicts Anonymous. She grew up in Potomac, Maryland, outside Washington, D.C., and now divides her time between that suburb, New York City, and a quiet home on the Eastern Shore. Visit www.bethharbison.com. Or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Also by Beth Harbison
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
A SHOE ADDICT’S CHRISTMAS. Copyright © 2016 by Beth Harbison. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Olga Grlic
Cover photographs: shoes © Africa Studio / Shutterstock; ribbons © stacy2010ua / Shutterstock; branch © Elnur / Shutterstock
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Harbison, Elizabeth M., author.
Title: A shoe addict’s Christmas / Beth Harbison.
Description: First edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2016.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016024800 | ISBN 9781250087218 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781250087232 (e-book)
Subjects: LCSH: Christmas stories. | BISAC: FICTION / Contemporary Women. | GSAFD: Ghost stories.
Classification: LCC PS3558.A564 S58 2016 | DDC 813/ .54—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016024800
e-ISBN 9781250087232
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2016
A Shoe Addict's Christmas Page 9