Читать онлайн «Lakeshore Christmas»
Автор Сьюзен Виггс
Praise for Susan Wiggs
“Susan Wiggs paints the details of human relationships with the finesse of a master. ”
—Jodi Picoult
“With the ease of a master, Wiggs introduces complicated, flesh-and-blood characters into her idyllic but identifiable small-town setting, sets in motion a refreshingly honest romance, resolves old issues and even finds room for a little mystery. ”
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“[A]n emotionally gripping tale centered on family. Wiggs is in top form. ”
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“Susan Wiggs writes with bright assurance, humor and compassion. ”
—Luanne Rice
“A lovely, moving novel with an engaging heroine. Wiggs’ talent is reflected in her thoroughly believable characters as well as the way she recognizes the importance of family by blood or other ties. Readers who like Nora Roberts and Susan Elizabeth Phillips will enjoy Wiggs’ latest.
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“Wiggs’ storytelling is heartwarming. ”
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“Susan Wiggs is a rare talent! Boisterous, passionate, exciting! The characters leap off the page and into your heart!”
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“A poignant, beautiful romance. ”
—Kristin Hannah on
HOME BEFORE DARK
THE OCEAN BETWEEN US
SUMMER BY THE SEA
TABLE FOR FIVE
LAKESIDE COTTAGE
JUST BREATHE
SUMMER AT WILLOW LAKE
THE WINTER LODGE
DOCKSIDE
SNOWFALL AT WILLOW LAKE
FIRESIDE
LAKESHORE CHRISTMAS
THE SUMMER HIDEAWAY
THE LIGHTKEEPER
THE DRIFTER
AT THE KING’S COMMAND
THE MAIDEN’S HAND
AT THE QUEEN’S SUMMONS
THE HOSTAGE
THE MISTRESS
THE FIREBRAND
THE CHARM SCHOOL
THE HORSEMASTER’S DAUGHTER
HALFWAY TO HEAVEN
ENCHANTED AFTERNOON
A SUMMER AFFAIR
SUSAN WIGGS
To the many librarians I know—
including John, Kristin, Nancy, Charlotte,
Wendy, Cindy, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Suzanne,
Melanie, Shelley, Stephani, Deborah, Cathie—
and to the many more I’ve never met…
You have no idea how much you enrich people’s lives.
Or maybe you do.
I hope you do.Contents
Part One
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Part Two
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Part Three
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Part Four
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Part Five
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Part Six
Chapter Twenty-Five
Epilogue
Appendix
Acknowledgments
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846—1916), American essayist
The boy came to the edge of town at twilight, at the close of a winter day. Although the snows had not yet begun, the air was brutally cold, having leached the life from the fields and forests, turning everything to shades of brown and buff.
The road narrowed to one lane and passed through a covered bridge on ancient river stone pilings. Through the years, the structure had weathered and been replaced, plank by plank, yet it never really changed. The tumbled rocks and sere vegetation along the riverbanks were rimed by a delicate breath of frost, and the trees in the surrounding orchards and woods had long since dropped their leaves. There was an air of frozen waiting, as though all was in readiness, as though the stage was set.
