O THER F ICTION T ITLES
BY
K ATHI M ACIAS “QUILT”
SERIES
The Moses Quilt The Doctor’s Christmas Quilt The Singing Quilt “FREEDOM”
SERIES
Deliver Me from Evil Special Delivery The Deliverer “E XTREME D EVOTION ”
SERIES
More Than Conquerors No Greater Love Red Ink The People of the Book C HRISTMAS
BOOKS
A Christmas Gift A Christmas Journey Home: Miracle in the Manger Unexpected Christmas Hero
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
New Hope® Publishers PO Box 12065 Birmingham, AL 35202-2065 NewHopePublishers.com New Hope Publishers is a division of WMU®. © 2015 by Kathi Macias All rights reserved. First printing 2015. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means— electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written permission of the publisher. New Hope Publishers serves its authors as they express their views, which may not express the views of the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Macias, Kathi, 1948Return to Christmas : a novel / Kathi Macias. pages cm ISBN 978-1-59669-442-2 (sc) 1. Christmas stories. 2. Christian fiction. I. Title. PS3563.I42319R48 2015 813'.54--dc23 2015021196
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
ISBN-10: 1-59669-442-4 ISBN-13: 978-1-59669-442-2 N154120 • 1015 • 2.5M1
PROLOGUE
S
and. Why did there have to be so much sand? At times Chet Mason suspected it was in his food; other times he was certain of it. He glanced at his friend and fellow Marine, Todd Bishop, who stood less than fifty feet away. Their guard duty would end in less than an hour. Chet knew Todd would make a beeline for some chow; the guy was always hungry. After considering the very real possibility of sand in their food, however, Chet wasn’t so sure it was worth it. Besides, the lure of sleep was stronger. He’d been up for nearly thirty-six hours, and all he wanted now was some serious shut-eye. Todd must have felt Chet’s gaze, as he turned his head and offered a smile. “Hey, Sarge,” he teased, “don’t tell me we’ve been here so long that I’m starting to look good to you.” Chet chuckled. “Never happen, Bishop. Your ugly mug’s the reason they call us Jarheads.” Todd scarcely had time to shake his head and grin before a white-hot explosion rocked their world. The next thing Chet knew, he was facedown in the dirt, wondering if his ears had been blown off. He couldn’t hear a thing.
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he early fall morning was cool and damp, but Chet didn’t mind. Weather had become nearly irrelevant to him over the last few years. Besides, when you lived in Southern California, who could complain about a little fog or rain? Ninety percent of the time the weather allowed for almost any outdoor activity imaginable. The only negative aspect of today’s damp forecast for him was that it made it that much easier to slip deeper into the dark mood that seemed to take a bigger bite out of him every day. Chet almost smiled as he watched his three-yearold plow his toy truck through the sand. Kevin hadn’t lived nearly long enough to know that sand wasn’t always a welcome playground—and Chet hoped it would stay that way. He wanted more than anything for his own combat experiences to pay the price to help secure a safe and productive future for Kevin, one where the now innocent child wouldn’t have to learn how to kill people. Sadly, Chet doubted that would be the case. “Daddy! Come and play with me.” Chet refocused and realized his son was watching him with wide blue eyes and an expectant smile. A sandbox was the last place Chet wanted to hang out, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do to spend bonding time with Kevin. He’d missed out on far too much of his child’s first three years of life, and he was going to do everything possible to make it up to him now. He rose from the hard, cold metal bench and crossed the short distance to the spot where Kevin waited. The little boy’s smile expanded, and his eyes danced with anticipation as he watched his father approach.
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This, Chet thought, is what it’s all about. It’s why I survived two deployments to the Middle East. To keep him safe. All of it…to keep him safe.
=' J ENEEN PRAYED she hadn’t made a mistake. She’d tried so hard to hold out, to find another way. But the bills were overdue, including the house payment, and there seemed little promise that Chet would land a permanent job anytime soon. They couldn’t afford to wait any longer. “Good morning, Mr. Johnson.” She smiled at the customer who’d become familiar in the short two weeks she’d worked at the bank. “What can I help you with today?” The elderly man with bushy eyebrows slid his transaction from his side of the counter to hers as he began a lengthy explanation of why he needed to withdraw forty dollars. Jeneen knew he’d been in just a few days earlier to make a similar withdrawal; she also knew he could easily make the withdrawal at the ATM outside. But the man was obviously lonely and enjoyed having someone to talk to, even if it was a bank teller he scarcely knew. As Jeneen took care of the transaction, breaking the cash into fives and ones as he requested, Mr. Johnson droned on about his need to go to the grocery store to pick up fresh fruit. She counted out his withdrawal and asked if there was anything else she could do for him. The rheumy eyes stared at her for a moment, and he looked as if he were about to ask for something. She waited, but then he shook his head. “No, nothing else,” he said, his smile fading as he spoke. “Thank you.” “And thank you, Mr. Johnson. Have a nice day.” He nodded and stepped away from the counter to allow the next customer in line to take his place. Even as Jeneen prepared to greet the young woman with two toddlers sleeping in a double stroller, she watched
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the hunched shoulders and shuffling steps of a man she sensed must be lonely beyond imagining. I was lonely both times Chet was gone for all those long months at a time, but I had hope that he’d return. And at least I had Kevin to keep me company. She sighed, wondering if Mr. Johnson had anyone to help ease the loneliness in his life. She pulled her attention back to her current customer, who wanted to make a small deposit into her checking account and also to get change for a couple of twenties. By the time Jeneen finished both transactions, the two little ones in the stroller were waking up and beginning to fuss. “Almost lunchtime for them,” the woman said, her face weary and even apologetic as the children’s level of fussing grew louder. “Guess I’d better get them home and feed them before they really cut loose and drive everyone crazy.” Jeneen smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I have a threeyear-old.” “Only one?” Jeneen nodded, wondering why she suddenly felt the need to apologize for not having more. “You’re smart,” the woman said. “Lucky, too. We only wanted one, at least for now, but we got twins.” She sighed. “Two of them and not enough of me.” She put her change and deposit slip into her wallet then stuffed the wallet into the diaper bag that hung from the stroller handle. Jeneen wished her a good day, and the young mother steered the stroller toward the front doors. At least you’re with them, Jeneen had wanted to say. You’re not at work while someone else takes care of your child. But of course she didn’t say that. She felt guilty for even thinking it. But the fact was that Jeneen hated leaving Kevin at daycare, even though he seemed to be adjusting. At least he’s with Chet today, she thought, locking her cash box to take her scheduled break. She placed the “next window” sign on the counter in front of her and wondered if she should call Chet while she had a few spare moments.
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She wanted to know everything was all right at home and maybe even have a chance to hear Kevin’s voice, but she knew Chet sometimes took offense at her calls during the day. “Don’t you think I can take care of my own son?” he’d challenged the last time she’d called when Kevin was with Chet for the day. “You don’t have to micro-manage every minute of my life, you know.” The words had cut to her heart. Why was he so defensive? She’d noticed a little of that the first time he’d come home from deployment, but this time it seemed worse. Was it because he’d opted not to re-enlist? They’d decided together that four years was enough and it was time for him to re-enter civilian life so he could be home with his family. But the re-entry wasn’t going as planned. Jeneen entered the break room and poured herself a cup of stale coffee before taking a seat at one of the three small round tables spaced out around the room. She was pleased to have the break room to herself as she kicked off her shoes and massaged her right foot. I don’t mind working again, but I do mind having to put Kevin in daycare. I wanted so much to stay home with him for a couple more years. She sighed and took a sip of coffee. It tasted every bit as awful as she’d expected. No doubt hours old by now. I wonder what they’re doing. Chet said he might take Kevin to the park. I hope he remembered his jacket. I wouldn’t want Kevin to get sick. Fighting tears she pulled her cellphone from her purse and hit the speed dial. Chet might get upset, but she needed to be sure her baby was OK.
=' C HET ’ S CELLPHONE rang, and he pulled it from his pocket to confirm it was Jeneen. When he’d checked the screen, he shoved the phone back in his pocket and let the call go to voicemail. He loved his wife and was truly glad to be home CHAPTER 1
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with her again, but at least in Afghanistan he had something to do each day. Since he’d left the Marine Corps a few months earlier, the only work he’d found was with a construction company who called him now and then when they needed an extra hand. The money was good when he worked, but it was never steady and had no benefits. How many applications do I have to fill out? And how many humiliating interviews do I have to endure before I find a real job? He shook his head. He’d been to the VA and availed himself of a counselor who was supposed to help him find employment, but so far that was another dead end. When Jeneen told him she was going back to work, it had been the last straw. He knew his wife wanted to stay home and take care of Kevin, and it’s what he wanted for her too. But apparently she was much better at finding a job than he was because within a few days of filling out her first applications, she’d been hired. He looked at his son, whose head was bent down as he filled the back of his truck with sand. His blond curls lay in unruly ringlets as he concentrated on his task. In all honesty he couldn’t fault Jeneen for taking the job. She and Kevin needed health care, and his military benefits covered only himself. But once she’d landed a job, they’d had no choice but to enroll Kevin in daycare since they never knew when the construction company would call Chet to a job for a few days. At least he was able to take care of Kevin on the days he wasn’t working, though he suspected his wife was more comfortable with their son being cared for by professionals than by his own father. “Daddy?” Chet pulled his attention back to his child and forced a smile. “What is it, buddy?” The boy looked very serious. “Are you sad, Daddy?” Chet caught his breath. That’s all he needed—to have his son feeling sorry for him. He shook his head and widened his smile. “No, son. Daddy’s not sad. Just a little tired, that’s all.”
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The child’s face brightened. “We could go home and take a nap.” Chet’s heart melted. How could he possibly resent anything that allowed him to spend time with his son? All those long months away when he’d wondered how Kevin was doing and wished they could be together… “Tell you what,” he said. “Let’s go home and make some sandwiches first, and then after lunch we’ll take a nap together.” “Peanut butter?” Chet laughed. “Yeah, sure. Peanut butter.” Kevin clapped his chubby hands, and Chet lifted the boy from the sand and carried him to the bench to brush off his pants and empty his shoes. It wouldn’t do for Jeneen to come home after working all day and find sand everywhere.
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