I’m happy to turn the blog over to my friend and fellow author Lucie Ulrich for this Christmas Eve-Eve post. I know you’ll enjoy getting to know Lucie and learning about her Christmas romance, The Starlight Inn.
The First Christmas
No, not that Christmas. I’m talking about the first Christmas my family and I will be alone. In forty years of marriage, I can only think of a few times when one set of parents or the other wasn’t with us; or us with them. Hard as it was, I knew we’d see them again. This year is a different story. We lost my father, the final survivor, in June, ending a Christmas tradition.
Somehow, I managed to get through Thanksgiving without any emotional breakdowns. It helped that our neighbors of 25 years joined us for food, fun, and games. We toasted to Dad’s memory and enjoyed the day. Two days later, I pulled out the Christmas decorations and set about decking the halls.
All was well until the day my husband and I went tree-hunting. My heart wasn’t in it, which is completely out of character for me. We came home without a tree. Our second attempt happened on my husband’s birthday. I figured this was the day. We were the only people in the tent and the salesman was very helpful. I felt upbeat…and then I didn’t. I quickly agreed to the tree my husband chose, glad to be done. It wasn’t until I paid for our purchase that it hit me. Dad wouldn’t see the decorated tree, wouldn’t struggle with what to buy the kids, and wouldn’t join us for our Christmas feast. Unexpected tears filled my eyes as reality settled in my heart.
My father and I had a complicated relationship. We fought to find love, but we did find it. The man who often frustrated me was also the man who not only read my books, but prided himself on getting his neighbors to buy them. He was funny that way. With each new book I write, I’ll miss his commentary and questions, but mostly I’ll miss him.
Cherish your family—especially the ones who are hard to love. The struggle is real, but the rewards are endless.
And now…here’s an excerpt from Lucie’s newest release, The Starlight Inn. Enjoy!
Nick spotted Ella entering the room with a large tray of whatever Fran had cooked up for people to nibble on. She wore dark jeans and a white sweater with a large, loose collar that draped in front of her. A shiny red and green necklace with matching dangling earrings had her looking like the prettiest Christmas present he’d ever seen.
With a nod, Ella acknowledged him from across the room. She made small talk and interacted with each person she came into contact with. By the time she reached his side, her tray was empty. “I hope you’re not hungry.”
Her smile had his stomach doing funny things. How it was possible, having known her less than eight hours, he didn’t know. Nor did he care. “Thanks, Ella, but I can’t think about eating right now. There’s way too much to take care of.”
“In that case, I’d better get back to work.” She spun around to leave then turned back. “By the way, the two guys you have on staff are fantastic.”
“I’m not surprised. They’re temps I hired for the holidays, and the only two who showed up early knowing they might get stuck here.”
“That’s impressive. Maybe they should be more than temps.”
“I’d like nothing more, but they’re college kids, and only home during summer and breaks. They lost their dad about ten years ago. My father used to give them odd jobs when they were kids, and I give them as many hours as I can when they’re in town.”
“Wait. They’re home from college and will likely miss Christmas with their mother? That’s awful.”
He tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re going to miss Christmas with your family, yet you’re here helping out. Brad and John are good people, just like you.”
Ella’s eyes misted, which only enhanced the sparkle in her eyes when she smiled. “It’s easy to be nice to nice people.” She cleared her throat. “I really need to get back to work and so do you.”
True, but Nick couldn’t find it in him to move until Ella had disappeared from sight.
“You look like a man in love.” Tillie appeared by his side, dressed in silver sparkles.
Hoping his nervous chuckle didn’t give him away, Nick quickly changed the subject. “Wow, Tillie. You look fabulous. That’s the best gown to date. Makes you look like a glittering angel.”
Laughter, like music, rang out. “Silly boy, if I were an angel, I’d have wings.” She took his arm and tugged him toward the tree. “I have something for you.” Tillie held out a small square giftwrapped box.
Nick waggled a finger. “It’s not Christmas yet, Tillie. You know the rules.” “That’s right, so I want you to be prepared.”
“Prepared?” Nick expelled a breath. This sounded like one of Tillie’s long-winded stories, and all he could think of was the need to mingle with his guests and make sure things were on track for dinner.
Tillie patted his arm. “Not to worry, dear boy. I know your time is spread thin, so I won’t keep you.” She placed the box in his hands. “It’s for Ella. I want her to have something to open tomorrow, and I want it to come from you.”
Nick chuckled. “If you give me a present for her, it’s not exactly coming from me, now is it?”
“I’m not giving it to you. I’m selling it to you.”
“Tillie . . . ”
“Oh, stop fretting. I know you’re busy. Open your wallet.”
He could have argued, but that would have prolonged the conversation. Instead, Nick reached for his wallet and pulled out the bills in it. Sadly, they totaled a whopping twenty-seven dollars.
Tillie reached for the five-dollar bill and handed back the rest. “Perfect.”
The exchange was beyond crazy. Nick hadn’t considered a gift for Ella, but the thought of surprising her pleased him. Then again, he’d likely be just as surprised, having no idea what was in the box. Asking Tillie crossed his mind, but once again, time was an issue.
Reaching for the box, Tillie took it from him. “Go take care of business. I’ll hold on to this until tomorrow.” She rose on her toes and kissed his cheek. “Don’t let her get away, Nick.”
“I’ve only known her a few hours.” He might as well have been speaking to the wind. Tillie had already joined a family of five on the other side of the room.
You can find The Starlight Inn for 99cents wherever e-books are sold, including:
You can learn more about Lucie Ulrich and her other books by visiting her last guest post on Inspy Romance. You can also find her online at https://www.facebook.com/inspywriter, https://twitter.com/LucieUlrich, or http://lucieulrich.com/.
Two participants will be randomly selected to each receive one e-book copy of The Starlight Inn for Kindle or Nook (winner’s choice). The giveaway closes at midnight tonight (the 23rd). To enter, comment below with an answer to this question:
What is the most unexpected Christmas gift you’ve ever received?
Heather Gray loves coffee, God, her family, and laughter – not necessarily in that order! She writes approachable characters who, through the highs and lows of life, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her. And, yeah, her books almost always have someone who's a coffee addict. Some things just can't be helped. Despite their different lives and situations, Heather’s characters have something in common. They're all flawed...but loved anyway.
Praying for you and your family this Christmas, Lucie! May your day be filled with happiness and joy as you create new memories! I know how hard the holidays can be when we miss our loved ones so much. I finally started reading The Starlight Inn, and I absolutely love it! I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
My prayers and sympathy are with you Lucie. Lucie we have a lot in common. I have been married over 40 years. I lost my father, the sole survivor in 2014. I had a complicated relationship with by mother, who passed in 2007. This Christmas I have been thinking about them a lot. My mom loved Christmas. Our local funeral home every year in December does a remembrance service for those who passed. One brings an ornament to put on the home’s Christmas tree. So for Christmas 2014, I gave each of my children and my brother a picture ornament with my parent’s picture on it and their dates of birth and passing. Besides our memories, we now have a visual remembrance that my parents are with us this holiday season.
An unexpected Christmas present in 2007 was the birth of our grandson Logan. That was a tough year since my mom passed and suddenly I was responsible for my dad’s care. I was a full time English teacher and still had a high schooler living at home. In December my dad was hospitalized and while putting a stent in almost died. He pulled through and we enjoyed him for another 7 years. Logan, who is now 9, brought joy to my heart and soul.
Looking forward reading The Starlight Inn. Always enjoy being snowed in for the holidays. Today is our family Christmas, next week is time for reading. Merry Christmas and thank you to all the wonderful authors we meet on Inspy Romances.
My sympathies to you and your family.
The most unexpected gift I’ve ever received was when my husband bought an entire new comforter set – pillows and all. I had just mentioned it months before and he had it delivered away from home. I was so surprised. My favorite though was when we found out we were pregnant on Christmas day 8 years ago. :)
Welcome, Lucie. I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your father. I’m blessed that both of my parents are still living. Honestly, I can’t imagine my world without them, but I know that’s impossible. I pray that you’ll find peace this holiday season and remember all of the special memories.
Thank you for sharing the excerpt, I really enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you so much for stopping by today! Enjoy The Starlight Inn and have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas!
Thank you for stopping by today Renate! We have a tradition in our family where each year we pick the most significant event in our lives from that year, and we buy a Christmas ornament that represents that event. Some years the ornaments are joyous, and some years they’re sad, but every single year they help remind us of how God provided, how He saw us through, and how tenderly He holds us in His hands. Hugs to you and yours this Christmas season.
A new comforter set and a child… You get to snuggle down into one, and the other one snuggles up to you. Both sound like great gifts, but I’m pretty sure pregnancy would win out in the “favorites” department every single time! ^_^
Thanks for stopping by today Jill! I’m glad you enjoyed Lucie’s excerpt. Best of luck to you on the giveaway! :)
I think my biggest surprise was when I was about ten years old and I got my first 10-speed bike. It was wonderful.
What a fun gift Michele! Thank you for stopping by today and sharing that with us!
Thank you, Rachelle. My husband and two children will keep me occupied, and we will build new memories. So glad you’re enjoying The Starlight Inn. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you so much, Renate. We truly do have a lot in common. I love the picture ornament idea. My daughter is very crafty and had created picture boxes with special memories. I treasure those very much.
Enjoy your family Christmas and your time for reading. Today my family and I head to St. Augustine (the oldest city in America) to enjoy food, fun, and lots and lots of Christmas lights.
I get where you’re coming from, Lucie. My parents are both gone to glory, my dad in 1998 and my mom in 2010, and Christmas certainly shifted both times. My husband’s parents live nearby. Although we always see them during the holidays, this year we’ll actually spend Christmas Day with them as none of our kids/grandkids will be here. (We’ll see them the next day.)
Loved your excerpt! Sounds like Tillie is definitely up to something.
Thank you, Angela. Dad went peacefully and without pain. I couldn’t have asked for more than that.
What a sweet thing for your husband to take note of what you liked/wanted. I can think of nothing more special than finding out you were going to be parents. You are truly blessed.
Thank you, Jill. My children enjoyed spending time with both sets of grandparents for many years. Thought each has passed, the memories remain.
I’m glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Your comment made me chuckle, Michele. It brought me back to when I got my first new bike (one speed). I was thrilled and terrified since I had no clue how to ride. On my first run, I crashed into the only other kid (on a bike) on the street, and on the way back, I crashed into a ditch. My Dad took away the bike and only let me use an old one until I figured out how to steer and stop. Lol!
So glad you enjoyed the excerpt, Valerie. Tillie is always up to something. :)
Enjoy your day with your in-laws, and your time with your kids and grandkids. Merry Christmas.
I enjoyed the excerpt, Lucie. You reminded me of my own son who is home for Christmas from college. He gets six weeks off and is doing temp work too. :) Merry Christmas!
The most unexpected Christmas gift I’ve ever received was a small duffle bag my two older sister and I each got from our parents when I was about 9 years old. I didn’t particularly like it and wasn’t impressed that mine was green while my sister closest to me in age had a purple one. It wasn’t until years later when I mentioned the bag to my mom that I found out how unexpected it was. My dad had actually come across those bags and insisted we each needed one. He was adamant about which color each of us got and wouldn’t change his mind about it even though none of us really needed a duffel bag. That’s the only gift my dad ever chose for us on his own when we were kids. He was a hard working dad who showed his love in many ways, but was completely hands off in things such as gifts, traditions, and celebrations. He left all of it to my mom, except for that one gift of duffle bags. Now that he’s retired he’s much more involved with these things, but every year I think about that green duffle bag and how my dad wanted to give them to us.
Thanks so much, Kimberly. I’m so happy you have your son home from college. Merry Christmas! Enjoy your family.
What a special memory, Melynda. My dad was that way as well, though he could wrap a gift better than anybody I know!
Several years ago, Dad gave me a heart-shaped necklace with roses on it. It was not my taste at all, but there was an inscription on the back that touched me deeply. It wasn’t something he made up on his own, it was one of those “buy this and show your daughter how much you love her” type of things. Dad often had a hard time expressing himself, but he wanted to so badly, and this was one of the special ways he did.
Hugs, Lucie. Prayers for you and your family to be blessed by sharing happy memories of your Dad this Christmas.
And I loved the excerpt!
Our mom always made sure we had at least one unexpected gift… sometimes a wanted one or even just fun… it was always exciting!
About 4 years ago, she, my sisters & hubby went in together & got me my very 1st iPad which was unexpected & a thrill! :)
The next year, we were able to surprise Mom with her own iPad!! :D
I understand in a small way how you are feeling. We’ve already lost my dad and my MIL. My husband’s dad is 93 and under Hospice care. My mother is 82 and has diabetic neuropathy. She falls a lot and most always hits her head. She’s spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us for 35 years now, ever since my dad died. Very independent and still insists on living alone. We never know when our last Christmas may be with our loved ones. This year we lost my stepdaughter at age 41 and six months later, my step granddaughter at age 26.
I try to cherish each year and each memory.
To answer your question, My biggest Christmas surprise was the year my husband bought me a car and hid it in the garage!
Thank you, Autumn. It will be a different Christmas, but we’ll make it a good one. So glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
I love that your mother made things exciting for you at Christmas. I love surprises. I still don’t have an iPad, though we did buy a mini for our daughter this year. She is going to be super-surprised. :)
Your situation sounds a little like mine as our parents left us one by one. My mother was under Hospice care for a few years before having to go into a nursing home. Your mother is a lot like my dad. He remained in independent living until a month before his death. He was to move into assisted living, but it never happened. I’m so sorry for your losses this year. You’re right to cherish every moment. Hugs!
Thanks for sharing. My parents and my in-laws are all in heaven, but we still have my 91 year old aunt living next door!
I thought of two Christmas surprise gifts. One was years ago when my mom wrapped up a garter belt for me! I opened it in front of my male cousins and was super embarrassed :-) More recently, my husband made a special trip to a bookstore to buy me a biography of Dietrich Bonhoffer that I’d been drooling over, but thought was too expensive.
I realized this year that our time with our son is counting down. It won’t be much longer before he’ll be heading off to college and the next stage of his own life. It’s made me a tad weepy this year. I hope you enjoy this time with your son home!! :)
We are, Heather.:)
How special Melynda! Have you ever asked your dad why he chose those colors or what prompted that gift those years? How fascinating, and how special that he wanted to take part that year in a special way. :)
Thank you for stopping by today Autumn! :)
Thank you for stopping by today Valerie! :)
How fun Becky! Something unexpected and surprising is always a blast – maybe even more so for the giver than the receiver. ^_^
I’ve been struggling with the realization that this could be the last Christmas we get with my mom. It’s been tough. So hugs to you.
I loved the Starlight Inn — it’s a delightful story.
I’m really sad to hear about your father. Thank you for sharing such a personal and deep part of yourself. I still remember the first year without my grandma. She was (still is in many ways) a big part of my life. I’ve been told many times I’m the one that looks more like her. Christmas with grandpa and the rest of the family was never the same without her. It’s always like there’s something missing, we all know it, and no one says it. The first year was the hardest, but we managed. We also started going there less and less every year for Christmas, because it was really hard to take it. My uncle’s wife took over and it was never the same again. Mom always says that grandma was very difficult to please but even she misses her.
As for your question, last year I received a totally unexpected gift for Christmas: two dinner plates. Not a set, nothing unique about them, just two dinner plates. Here’s the story that goes with them: My dad’s family like to do secret santa (so you don’t have to buy gifts for everyone–and it’s quite a big family, so everyone is happy) and we had a set amount we were supposed to spend, which was not too much nor too little, everyone seemed to think it was fair (this was set about 2 months before Christmas, so we all had time to think). Everyone was super creative (well, except my uncle who went overboard having had to buy a gift to his wife) and all gifts were pretty nicely thought for the ones who received it… well, everyone except me. I still can’t wrap my head around having got two dinner plates. It was a puzzling gift (it took me a few minutes to process having got them). First I thought they were “special” plates. They looked old (I do like old china like my grandma used to collect), but they were actually not. Then I thought there might be something meaningful about them. Nothing there. My mom thought they might have been expensive/stylish, but we recognized a common brand. Now we look back and make jokes about them every time we want to mention something not well thought of and that we don’t have to spend a lot of time or money to get it (“just give them plates”). Anyone receiving it will be puzzled and they won’t know your true intentions, ever.
Thanks Heather and Lucie. Lucie, your book sounds so intriguing. It must go on my TBR list. My husband and I usually spend Christmas morning alone now, but our children usually pop in the night before or Christmas day. Sometimes they wait until a couple of days after, but they all live close enough now that we can see them sometime during the week of Christmas.
I can’t really think of a surprise gift I received, but the best one I received was an engagement ring from my husband. It wasn’t really a surprise, because we’d been planning to get married, but that made it official and we’ve been together for 48 years now. I’m so glad he’s put up with me so many years.
my strangest gift was a marriage proposal. I feel your pain in loss of your dad since mine died last year just before Christmas.
Margaret, I’m glad you still have your aunt so close by. Sorry, but I laughed about the garter belt. I probably would have crawled under the couch.:)
My heart goes out to you, Elizabeth. I had no idea that last Christmas would be the final one with Dad. Enjoy every minute.
Thank you, Priscilla. When Heather asked me to post, the Christmas tree incident was fresh on my mind. It was really good for me to put into words some of the things I’d been feeling. I’m not at all surprised by God’s timing. :)
I love the plate story.
Congratulations, Winnie! Forty-eight years is quite something. Marriage takes work, but sure is worth it–at least is has been for me.
Hugs to you, Shelia.
My cousin gave me a book one Christmas when we had not exchanged gifts for years. I was very surprised
Books are the best gifts ever! How lovely that your cousin thought of you, Brenda.
Lucie, I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your dad! I know holidays tend to be much harder without those loved ones around. I hope & pray you feel the Father’s loving arms surround you!
The one gift that surprised me years ago…my husband had someone hand sew a white silk heart-shaped pillow, surrounded by white lace & gold thread on the edges and embroidered with a big read O and a dove (our last initial & marriage symbol) and inside are words of his loving devotion to me. It brought tears to my eyes! I have it safely stored away, but I pull it out every once in a while just to admire it. Words can’t really describe what it looks like, it’s beautiful and reminds me of one of those pillows used to carry the wedding rings down the aisle. What a blessed reminder of someone very special to me :-)
Praying you have a blessed Merry Christmas & always keep those memories tucked in your heart!
Trixi, what a lovely gift! I can picture it in my mind quite well. <3
Thank you for your sweet words of comfort. I will, indeed, keep and cherish the memories. Merry Christmas to you!