First published 2016
Michael dreads coming home for Christmas. His father lies upstairs recovering from surgery, and the annual tree decorating falls to Michael instead. He has always wanted a closer relationship with his dad, but they remain strangers to each other. His father's inner life stays locked away, full of mysteries Michael cannot penetrate. As Michael and his mother pull ornaments from their box and hang them on the tree, each decoration becomes a window into family history. The ritual of decorating reveals layer after layer of his parents' past. Through these discoveries, Michael begins to understand the hidden pain his father carries. The evening transforms from an obligation into something deeper. What starts as reluctant duty becomes a bridge between father and son, built from shared memories and unspoken love.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, relationships, family-drama
Vibes: emotional-atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, second-chance
Period: Christmas
182 pages · Paperback · CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform