by Nancy Naigle
Mac led her to the front of the sign. Just below the relief-carved letters that spelled out The Book Bea was a new addition. A wooden plank, with the word family carved in script.
Sydney’s eyes clouded over with happy tears of joy. She was happier than she had hoped for, but then Hopewell had a way of doing that.
“It’s beautiful,” Sydney said.
RayAnne clicked off a picture, then handed her camera to a stranger standing nearby.
All four of them stood next to the sign and smiled. “I’m going to frame that picture and keep it right next to the register,” Sydney said.
Mac leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, and RayAnne and Seth bumped shoulders and then did a quiet little fist bump.
The mood was uplifting, and there were moments throughout the day as she helped customers that Sydney could have sworn she smelled Bea’s perfume—well, the fragrance of peppermint Life Savers and sugar cookies, really.
Bea would forever be part of this place. And it truly was a Christmas more wonderful than Sydney ever could have hoped for.
Seth and RayAnne walked up to the counter as Sydney closed out the books for the day, just like Bea had always done.
“Mom?”
“Yeah, kiddo?”
Seth stepped up. “You know how my dad loves tradition?”
Sydney stopped counting money. “I do. I like tradition, too.”
“We were wondering—” RayAnne started.
Seth jumped in to finish her thought. “If we could plan to do the Christmas tree decorating every year here at The Book Bea. I hope you’ll let us.”
“We sure can, and I can’t wait to make lots more traditions with y’all,” Sydney said.
Mac stepped up behind the kids and draped his arms around their shoulders. “I like the sound of that. There’s always hope at Christmas.”
Also by
Nancy Naigle
Christmas Joy
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE delivers small-town love stories filled with hope, joy, and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired from a career in finance, she devotes her time to writing novels and antiquing. A Virginia girl at heart, Nancy now calls North Carolina home. You can sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
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
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Also by Nancy Naigle
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.
HOPE AT CHRISTMAS. Copyright © 2017 by Nancy Lee Naigle. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover photographs: Christmas tree © Angela Wyant/Getty Images; snow © Muskoka Stock Photos/Shutterstock.com
The Library of Congress has cataloged the print edition as follows:
Names: Naigle, Nancy, author.
Title: Hope at Christmas / Nancy Naigle.
Description: First edition. | New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2017.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017028158 | ISBN 9781250108678 (softcover) | ISBN 9781250108685 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Divorced women—Fiction. | Single parents—Fiction. | Christmas stories. | Domestic fiction. | GSAFD: Love stories.
Classification: LCC PS3614.A545 H67 2017 | DDC 813/.6—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017028158
eISBN 9781250108685
Our ebooks 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 email at [email protected].
First Edition: October 2017