Christmas from the Heart Read online

  USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts takes readers to the charming, snowbound town of Pine River in this irresistible holiday romance.

  Sometimes you need to look beyond the big picture to see what really matters

  Olivia Berg’s charity, Christmas from the Heart, has helped generations of families in need in Pine River, Washington, but this year might be the end of the road. Hightower Enterprises, one of their biggest donors since way back when Olivia’s grandmother ran the charity, has been taken over by Ebenezer Scrooge the Second, aka CFO Guy Hightower, and he’s declared there will be no more money coming to Christmas from the Heart.

  Guy is simply being practical. Hightower Enterprises needs to tighten its belt, and when you don’t have money to spare, you don’t have money to share. You’d think even the pushy Olivia Berg could understand that.

  With charitable donations dwindling, Olivia’s Christmas budget depends on Hightower’s contribution. She’s focused her whole life on helping this small town, even putting her love life on hold to support her mission.

  When Guy’s Maserati breaks down at the edge of the Cascade foothills, he’s relieved to be rescued by a pretty young woman who drives him to the nearby town of Pine River. Until he realizes his rescuer is none other than Olivia Berg. What’s a Scrooge to do? Plug his nose and eat fruitcake and hope she doesn’t learn his true identity before he can get out of town. What could go wrong?

  Praise for the novels of Sheila Roberts

  “The ultimate in feel-good family drama and heart-melting romance. Plus there’s the added bonus of getting to celebrate the season with a community that couldn’t be more devoted to Christmas.”

  —USA TODAY on The Lodge on Holly Road

  “A lovely blend of romance and women’s fiction, this insightful holiday treat hits all the right notes.”

  —Library Journal on Christmas in Icicle Falls

  “Roberts engages readers from the first page with her colorfully distinctive characters and her amusing storytelling. A delightful read.”

  —RT Book Reviews on Christmas on Candy Cane Lane

  “Engaging, sweet, and dusted with humor, this emotional romance tugs at the heartstrings.”

  —Library Journal on Home on Apple Blossom Road

  “No one writes emotionally satisfying, warmhearted tales of small-town life quite like Roberts.... Lake Wobegon has nothing

  on this Washington town when it comes to spirited charm and quirky humor.”

  —Booklist on Starting Over on Blackberry Lane (starred review)

  “Sheila Roberts has created a magical place where friendship and love abound, and you never know who’s going to turn up here next.”

  —Fresh Fiction on Starting Over on Blackberry Lane

  Also by Sheila Roberts

  Moonlight Harbor

  THE SUMMER RETREAT

  WINTER AT THE BEACH

  WELCOME TO MOONLIGHT HARBOR

  Icicle Falls

  CHRISTMAS IN ICICLE FALLS

  STARTING OVER ON BLACKBERRY LANE

  THREE CHRISTMAS WISHES

  HOME ON APPLE BLOSSOM ROAD

  CHRISTMAS ON CANDY CANE LANE

  A WEDDING ON PRIMROSE STREET

  THE LODGE ON HOLLY ROAD

  THE TEA SHOP ON LAVENDER LANE

  THE COTTAGE ON JUNIPER RIDGE

  WHAT SHE WANTS (also published as

  ROMANCE ON MOUNTAIN VIEW ROAD)

  MERRY EX-MAS

  BETTER THAN CHOCOLATE (also published as

  SWEET DREAMS ON CENTER STREET)

  Look for the next novel in Sheila Roberts’s Moonlight Harbor series, BEACHSIDE BEGINNINGS, available Spring 2020 from MIRA Books.

  Sheila Roberts

  Christmas from the Heart

  For Carol

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  We Wish You a Merry Christmas

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Happy New Year

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  From the Heart

  Chapter 19

  Recipes

  How to Make Your Christmas Special—Tips From Christmas from the Heart

  From Our Kitchens to Yours

  Bernadette’s Banana Bread Fruitcake

  Chocolate Cherry Chunk Fruitcake

  Livi’s Candy Cane Cookies

  Livi’s Eggnog Coffee Cake

  1

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 2-14-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Subject: Holiday Joy

  Dear Ms. Thompson,

  Happy Valentine’s Day to you! I’m following up our January newsletter with a special greeting as this is, of course, the month for love. Love for our sweethearts, our family and friends, and for those in need. As you could see from the newsletter, we put the money our loyal supporters donated to us to good use. So many families benefited from your generous donation to Christmas from the Heart last year and I just wanted to remind you that, even though the holidays seem far away they will be here before we know it. I hope we can count on Hightower Enterprises again this year. We have such a history together. Let’s keep up the good work!

  Warmly,

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Date: 2-14-19

  To: Ms. Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Subject: Holiday Joy

  Dear Ms. Berg,

  Thanks for reaching out. Our fiscal year is just ending and I haven’t yet received word as to how our charitable donations will be dispersed this year. I will keep you apprised.

  Best,

  Marla Thompson

  CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 2-14-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Subject: Holiday Joy

  Thank you so much. Looking forward to hearing from you!

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 5-1-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Subject: Happy May Day!

  Dear Ms. Thompson, just wanted to wish you a happy May Day. The flowers here in Pine River are now in full bloom, and our organization has been busy helping people make their dreams bloom, as well. As you know, while our focus is primarily the holidays, Christmas from the Heart tries to help people all year round when needs arise. Of course, Christmas is our big thrust, and as there is no other organization working in this area, we are much needed. As are your kind contributions. I still haven’t heard and I do hope we can count on you.

  Warmly,

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Hear
t

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson

  Subject: Just checking

  Reaching out again in case my last email went astray. I’m wondering if you have any news for me regarding Hightower’s involvement with our cause for this coming year.

  Thanks!

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Olivia Berg

  Subject: Just checking

  Ms. Berg, sorry I haven’t been able to get back to you sooner. I’m afraid I have some bad news for you. It appears that the company is going to be scaling back on their charitable giving this year and funds have already been budgeted for other causes. I’m aware of the fact that in the past we’ve donated to your organization and I’m sorry I don’t have better news for you. I do wish you all the best in your search for other funding.

  Best,

  Marla Thompson

  CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson

  Subject: Just checking

  There must be some sort of misunderstanding! Hightower has always donated to Christmas from the Heart. The company’s founder, Elias Hightower, was my great-grandmother’s first contributor, and he promised her that Hightower would always be there for this organization. This is a company tradition! Please speak to your director.

  Hopefully,

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Olivia Berg

  Subject: Just checking

  I’m sorry. The decision is out of my hands.

  Marla Thompson

  CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Marla Thompson

  Subject: Just checking

  Then please tell me who I need to talk to. Who’s your CFO?

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  From: Marla Thompson, CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Ms. Olivia Berg

  Subject: Just checking

  Our CFO is Guy Hightower, and his email is [email protected]

  Good luck!

  Marla Thompson

  CSR Director, Hightower Enterprises

  From: Olivia Berg, Director, Christmas from the Heart

  Date: 5-5-19

  To: Guy Hightower, CFO, Hightower Enterprises

  Subject: Please reconsider

  Dear Mr. Hightower, I understand from your corporate social resources director that Hightower isn’t planning on making any donation to Christmas from the Heart this year. There must be some mistake! Surely you’re aware of the long-standing relationship between your company and our organization. I’m sure I can count on you for some small amount.

  Best,

  Olivia Berg

  Christmas from the Heart

  Giving from the heart makes all the difference

  Guy Hightower frowned when he saw the email from Olivia Berg in his in-box. Marla Thompson had been forwarding her emails to him, keeping him abreast of Olivia Berg’s varied begging tactics, and had finally even come into his office, trying to dump the load of guilt the woman had laid on her from her shoulders to his.

  “Don’t open it,” he told himself. He opened it anyway. Then he read it and swore.

  Actually, he’d been swearing ever since meeting with his brothers to discuss the budget back in December. If either of them had listened to him three years ago, they wouldn’t be having to pull the company belt so tight now. This was the problem with being the youngest. It didn’t matter how many degrees you had, how smart you were or what your job title was. Big brothers never listened.

  Hard to listen when you were going through your third divorce.

  That was Mike’s excuse. What was Bryan’s? Oh yeah. He was a wuss. He always agreed with Mike, no matter what. And Mike hadn’t wanted to change directions. Never mind that the company was struggling, keep on doing the same thing. The definition of insanity.

  Sorry, Little Miss Christmas. Times were tough all over. Hightower had kept its commitment to the more visible causes and turned the little fish loose. And that was how it worked in the corporate world.

  He typed his reply.

  Dear Ms. Berg, I regret that Hightower can’t help you this year. We’ve had to reassess our commitments to various causes. I’m sure you’ll understand.

  Then he signed off with the time-honored adios: Respectfully, Guy Hightower.

  And if she didn’t understand, well, not his problem. He had his hands full trying to keep the family company afloat. Maybe now Mike would be ready to take his advice and diversify.

  * * *

  Olivia Berg—Livi to her family and friends—read the email from Guy Hightower a second time. Yes, the message was the same. Really? Really? Who was this man, Ebenezer Scrooge the Second?

  She plowed her fingers through her hair, the birthstone ring Morris had given her for her birthday catching in the curls. She was so angry she barely noticed.

  With a snarl, she began to type.

  You should be ashamed. Your great-grandfather is probably turning in his grave right now. What’s the matter with you, anyway, you selfish bastard?

  She pulled her fingers off the keyboard with a gasp. What was she thinking? Was this any way to get someone to contribute to her cause? And what kind of language was this? Her great-grandmother would be turning in her grave right now, along with Elias. Adelaide Brimwell had been a lady through and through. So had Livi’s grandmother, Olivia, as well as Livi’s mom.

  The thought of her mother made her tear up. How she wished Mom was still around to advise her. They’d always planned that Livi would take over running the organization one day, but neither had dreamed that day would come so soon. Her mother’s heart attack had struck like lightning. Livi’s brother had left town, moving to Seattle, which was just far enough south to keep the memories at bay. Livi had stayed put, holding on to every single one, weaving them together into a lifeline to cling to as she kept Christmas from the Heart afloat.

  Oh, Mom. What should I do?

  Try again came the answer.

  Yes, her mother never gave up. She’d chased one potential donor for two years before he finally came through. Livi still remembered the day her mom left the house, clad in a Mrs. Santa costume she’d created—requisite white wig along with a frilly white blouse and a red skirt topped with a red-striped apron. She’d taken with her a batch of home-baked cookies nestled in a red basket and returned home with a check for five hundred dollars. The man had been a loyal contributor ever since. Livi still took him cookies every year.

  “Persistence pays,” she told herself as she deleted what she’d typed.

  She started over.

  I’m asking you to reconsider. Your company is our major donor, and without you so many people will have little joy this Christmas. Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated.

  There. He’d have to be a heartless monster not to respond to that.

  * * *

  Guy trashed the guilt-inflicting email. What was he, Santa Claus? He had
his hands full keeping his company solvent.

  But then, people like Olivia Berg never considered the fact that a company might have needs of its own. What made them feel so entitled to sit at the edge of the salt mine while a man slaved away and then greet him with their hands out when he emerged broken and bruised? Maybe some of those people always begging for money should get out there and actually earn a living. Let them work their tails off, putting in seventy-hour weeks. Sheesh.

  Anyway, the company had already met their good deed quota for the year. The only cause Guy was interested in now was Hightower Enterprises.

  * * *

  By the end of the workday, Guy Hightower still hadn’t responded to Livi’s last email. “You are a heartless monster,” she grumbled, glaring at her empty email in-box.

  “No word yet?” her part-time assistant, Bettina Thomas, asked as she shut down her computer.

  Livi sighed and shook her head.

  “That is so wrong,” Bettina said in disgust.

  It sure was. “They’ve been our major donor ever since my great-grandmother founded Christmas from the Heart. Without their contribution how will we put on the Christmas dinner at the community center? How many families won’t have presents under the tree or Christmas stockings or a Christmas turkey?” There was no Salvation Army in Pine River, no Toys for Tots—none of the usual organizations serviced this area. There had been no need. Christmas from the Heart had it under control.

  Until now.

  “We’ve had to reassess our commitments,” Livi quoted. The words left a bad taste in her mouth and she frowned. “It sounds like something your boyfriend says when he’s dumping you.”

  “They are dumping us,” Bettina pointed out. “But don’t worry. We have time. We’ll find someone else to come through.”

  “Not like Hightower. There must be something I can do,” Livi mused.

  “There is. Go home and eat chocolate.”

  And try not to think bad thoughts about Guy Hightower.

  In all fairness, he probably didn’t grasp the situation. She’d call him the next day and invite him to come to Pine River for a visit so she could let him see the need, show him a little of what Christmas from the Heart did for the community. She could take him to lunch, introduce him to some of the people in town, put a face—or better yet, several—to Christmas from the Heart. She’d top it all off by following in her mother’s footsteps and baking him cookies. Then how could he help but catch the vision his great-grandfather and her great-grandmother had shared?