As a fierce Pacific Northwest winter storm hits the small coastal town of Inlet Beach, a mysterious visitor triggers a silent alarm. The police expect a burglar, but what they find instead is a scared kid searching for something he had left behind years before.
Of course the residents gather to help, because that’s what they do at Inlet Beach, but two days before the Christmas Lights Festival, he betrays their trust and destroys a beloved tradition. As a blustery coastal Christmas draws near, can the town find the power to forgive him? Can the boy with a shattered life find a home in time for Christmas?
A Light In The Window is a heartwarming tale of friends, family and second chances.
Read an excerpt:
Tyra climbed the wooden steps from the alley to her apartment, her head buzzing from driving too much and from lack of sleep. She wondered how to tell Gordon that they might have custody of a fourteen-year-old boy, and how to tell Zachary that his mother left him.
After trudging to the top of the stairs, she blinked. Mounted on the front door was a softly lit wreath, tied with a wide gold ribbon and dotted with glittery red balls. Because she and Gordon spent Christmases with her family at the beach house across town, they never bothered to deco-rate their apartment. She didn’t think they even owned decorations.
Slipping the key into the lock, she opened the door. Inside the air smelled of warm garlic bread and spicy chili simmering on the stovetop.
In the corner of their apartment near the tall windows was a tree, fully decorated and dripping with threads of silver tinsel. The table, usually a dump- ing place for newspapers, mail, and project notes, had been cleared and spread with a bright red cloth. In the center was a basket of evergreen branches and cinnamon-scented pinecones.
From the kitchen came a soft thread of Christmas music playing on the radio and the sound of a pot lid clattering against a pot, sounds not usually heard in her house. Tossing her keys in the basket and stuffing her coat in the closet, she went to investigate.
Appearing extraordinarily pleased with himself, Gordon stood before the stove wearing a green apron outlined in red garland and printed with flying reindeer. The kitchen was clean, bread was warming in the oven and a giant pot of chili simmered on the stove.
Tyra stood in the doorway, absolutely stunned. “Did you cook?”
Gordon waved his wooden Gordon waved his wooden spoon in dismissal. “Of course not. Marjorie sent rosemary bread over from the bakery — cinnamon rolls too, for tomorrow. Declan made the chili.” With his wooden spoon, he gestured toward a box lying on the countertop. “We’ve got Christmas cookies, Tyra — lots of them.”
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Heidi Hostetter lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family, and they visit the beach every chance they get.
A Light In The Window is a Christmas novella from the Inlet Beach Novels, stories centered around a quirky small town off the Oregon coast.
Connect with her on www.HeidiHostetter.com or find her on Facebook.
I read Christmas stories all year long, and just added this one to my TBR list. Happy Holidays!
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