First published 2017
Elliott Banner considers their fourteenth wedding anniversary modest compared to milestone years ahead. He dreams of taking Laura to Paris for their twentieth. Two days before Christmas, they return from their anniversary dinner when Laura develops what seems like a simple headache during the drive home. The pain proves far more serious than a migraine. Laura calmly brings their family together for the holiday season, determined to celebrate their shared history and future during what may be their final Christmas together. Over one transformative night, the Banner family confronts their past and counts their true blessings. Elliott learns that every year of marriage deserves celebration, not just the landmark anniversaries. This Christmas story explores how families face crisis together and discover what matters most when time becomes precious.
Genres: fiction, contemporary, holiday, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-facing-crisis, found-family
Period: Christmas, Fourteenth Wedding Anniversary, Twentieth Anniversary
144 pages · Paperback · Harper Paperbacks
Content warnings: terminal-illness