Sherryl Woods - A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

Also by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Sherryl Woods

HOME AT ROSE COTTAGE

HONEYSUCKLE SUMMER

SWEET TEA AT SUNRISE

HOME IN CAROLINA

HARBOR LIGHTS

FLOWERS ON MAIN

THE INN AT EAGLE POINT

WELCOME TO SERENITY

SEAVIEW INN

MENDING FENCES

FEELS LIKE FAMILY

A SLICE OF HEAVEN

STEALING HOME

WAKING UP IN CHARLESTON

FLIRTING WITH DISASTER

THE BACKUP PLAN

DESTINY UNLEASHED

FLAMINGO DINER

ALONG CAME TROUBLE

ASK ANYONE

ABOUT THAT MAN

ANGEL MINE

AFTER TEX

Look for Sherryl Woodss next original novel

DRIFTWOOD COTTAGE

available April 2011

New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author

SHERRYL WOODS

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas

Dear Reader,

As someone recently pointed out to me, Mick and Megan OBrien didnt seem to make much progress in their relationship during the couple of years that passed between the story lines in Flowers on Main and Harbor Lights. My response: These two have a lot of issues that need to be resolved. And what better time to take on those last pesky problems than the holidays? Thus we have A Chesapeake Shores Christmas.

As all of you whove kept up with the series know, Mick is the kind of man who takes matters into his own hands. Megans ready for an equal partnership if she decides to marry this stubborn Irishman for a second time. Add in the very strong objections of their younger son, Connor, and their path to the altar will be far from smooth.

I hope youll enjoy this very special OBrien story. It paves the way for a whole new trilogy from Chesapeake Shores, which launches in April 2011 with Connors story, Driftwood Cottage. That will be followed by Jesss unexpected romance in Moonlight Cove in May, and thenat long lastSusie and Mack will stop not dating in Junes Beach Lane, a touching story that proves the one-time playboy has truly matured into a man worth loving.

All good wishes for your own fabulous holidays!

Contents

It was only the second time in the more than twelve years since her divorce that Megan OBrien had been home in Chesapeake Shores during the holiday season.

Newly divorced and separated from her children, Megan had found the memories had been too bittersweet to leave New York and come back for Christmas. Shed tried to make up for her absence by sending a mountain of presents, each one carefully chosen to suit the interests of each child. Shed called on Christmas Day, but the conversations with the older children had been grudging and too brief. Her youngest, Jess, had refused to take her call at all.

The following year Megan had ventured back to town, hoping to spend time with the children on Christmas morning. Her ex-husband, Mick OBrien, had agreed to the visit. Shed anticipated seeing their eyes light up over the presents shed chosen. Shed even arranged for a special breakfast at Bradys, a family favorite, but the atmosphere had been so strained, the reaction to her gifts so dismissive, that shed driven everyone back home an hour later. Shed managed to hide her tears and disappointment until she was once again alone in her hotel room.

After that, shed made countless attempts to convince the children to come to New York for the holidays, but theyd stubbornly refused, and Mick had backed them up. She could have fought harder, but shed realized that to do so would only ruin Christmas for all of them. Teenagers who were where they didnt want to be could make everyones life miserable.

Now she parked her car at the end of Main and walked slowly along the block, taking it all in. Even though it was only days after Halloween, the town was all decked out. Every storefront along Main Street had been transformed with twinkling white lights and filled with enticing displays. The yellow chrysanthemums outside the doorways during the fall had given way to an abundance of bright red poinsettias.

Workers were stringing lights along the downtown streets and readying a towering fir on the town green for a tree-lighting ceremony that would be held in a few weeks. The only thing missing was snow, and since Chesapeake Shores hadnt had a white Christmas in years, no one was counting on that to set the scene. The town created its own festive atmosphere to charm residents and lure tourists to the seaside community.

As she strolled, Megan recalled the sweet simplicity of going Christmas shopping with the kids when they were small, pausing as they stared in wonder at the window displays. There were a few new shops now, but many remained exactly the same, the windows gaily decorated in a suitable theme. Now it was her grandchildren who would be enchanted by the displays.

Ethels Emporium, for instance, still had the same animated figures of Santa and Mrs. Claus in the window along with giant jars filled with the colorful penny candy that was so popular with the children in town. Once again, Seaside Gifts had draped fishing nets in the window, woven lights through them and added an exceptional assortment of glittering nautical ornaments, some delicate, some delightfully gaudy and outrageous.

At her daughter Brees shop, Flowers on Main, lights sparkled amid a sea of red and white poinsettias. Next door, in her daughter-in-law Shannas bookstore, the window featured seasonal childrens books, along with a selection of holiday cookie recipe books and a plate filled with samples to entice a jolly life-size stuffed Santa. Inside, she knew, there would be more of the delectable cookies for the customers. The chef at her daughter Jesss inn was sending them over daily during the season, some packaged for resale as enticing gifts.

In fact, all along Main Street, Megan saw evidence of her family settling down in this town that had been the creation of her ex-husband, architect Mick OBrien. Though all of their children except Jess had fled for careers and college, one by one they had drifted back home and made lives for themselves in Chesapeake Shores. Theyd made peace with their father and, to some extent, with her. Only Connor, now an attorney in Baltimore, had kept his distance.

It should have been gratifying to see an OBrien touch everywhere she looked, but instead it left Megan feeling oddly out of sorts. Just like Connor, she, too, had yet to find her way home. And though her relationship with Mick had been improvingshe had, in fact, agreed to consider marrying him againsomething continued to hold her back from making that final commitment.

Megan shivered as the wind off the Chesapeake Bay cut through her. Though it was nothing like the wind that whipped between New Yorks skyscrapers this time of year, the bitter chill and gathering storm clouds seemed to accentuate her odd mood.

When she shivered again, strong arms slid around her waist from behind and she was drawn into all the protective warmth that was Mick OBrien. He smelled of the crisp outdoors and the lingering aroma of a spicy aftershave, one as familiar to her as the scent of sea air.

Why the sad expression, Meggie? he asked. Isnt this the most wonderful time of the year? You used to love Christmas.

I still do, she said, leaning against him. Despite all those sorrowful holidays shed spent alone, it was impossible for her to resist the hopeful magic of the season. New York is always so special during the holidays. Id forgotten that Chesapeake Shores has its own charm at Christmas.

She gestured toward the shop windows. Bree and Shanna have a real knack for creating inviting displays, dont they?

Best on the block, he said proudly. There was nothing an OBrien did that wasnt the best, according to Mickunless, of course, it was an accomplishment by one of his estranged brothers, Jeff or Thomas. Why dont we go to Sallys and have some hot chocolate and one of her raspberry croissants?