Separated twin sisters are reunited at Christmas in these two connected novellas
One Silent Night
Framed for murder and on the run from her kidnappers, Vanessa Jackson secretly hides her infant son in a safe place and flees for a wooded cabin. There she finds her childhood friend Eric Tomlinâa man she must trust with her life...and her familyâs future.
The Danger in the Manger
Alyssa Jackson is shocked to find a baby in her Christmas manger. But the message on the infantâs T-shirt tells Alyssa the child must be her nephew. Alyssa believes her twin sister, presumed dead for years, is still alive. With the help of handsome police officer Chris Jensen, Alyssa goes on a dangerous search for the truth to reunite her family for Christmas.
Sammy was asleep when Vanessa placed his car seat in the concrete manger of the life-size nativity scene in front of her sisterâs house.
She felt a pang of doubt. Was she right to leave the baby with her sister? It was going to be difficult enough to run with the girls. Sammy needed frequent feedings and diaper changes. The girls, at least, could stay quiet when they needed to.
Heâd be safer with Alyssa. Wouldnât he? Vanessa looked at the concrete sculptures of Mary and Joseph, poised protectively over the manger. Maryâs expression of love and concern seemed to say sheâd look over the child.
Vanessa knew she didnât dare linger, no matter how much she wished she could see her sister. She hadnât laid eyes on her since she was kidnapped eight years ago. If Alyssa saw her, sheâd have to take the time to explain, and that would endanger them all.
Twin Threat Christmas: Two novellas of twin sisters separated by danger who reunite and find their matches during a dangerous holiday season.
ONE
She couldnât breathe. Vanessa had feared this moment for years, envisioned it repeatedly over the past few months, watched it play out time after time in her nightmares. And yet, for all its familiarity, nothing could match the terror she felt now that it was actually happening.
It was worse than sheâd imagined it.
The black Land Rover pulled into the middle of the driveway.
The middle! Why block the entire double-lane driveway? Why today?
Because they didnât want anyone to get out alive, that was why.
âMommy, Mommy!â Emma tugged at Vanessaâs shirt. âMy apple juice!â
Vanessa sucked in enough air to speak. âYes, Emma. I have your apple juice right here. You can drink it in the car. Weâre going to do the quiet drill again. Remember the quiet drill?â
To Vanessaâs relief, her four-year-oldâs eyes lit up. âThe quiet drill. Yes! But Sammy is napping.â
âI know, sweetheart.â Vanessa handed her daughter the sippy cup of juice. âIt will be okay. Can you get your jacket on? And tell Abby. Remember to whisper. Everything will be okay.â Vanessa spoke the last words as much for her own reassurance as for Emmaâs. She gave her daughter an encouraging smile, then glanced back out the basement-level window in time to see an all-too-familiar pair of black shoes looking not too out of place in the quiet suburban cul-de-sac.
And boots. Two pairs. No, three.
Virgil had extra guns with him today.
Of course he did. Heâd told Jeff on his last visit there wouldnât be another warning. His money or his life...and the lives of Vanessa and the children.
As always, Jeff had made the deal without consulting her. Vanessa had no intention of letting him bargain with their lives. Sheâd been preparing ever since, hiding emergency supplies in the garage, ready to go. Drilling the children on a swift and silent evacuation. She was readyâas prepared as anyone ever could be.
But why did Virgil have to park in the middle of the driveway?
The doorbell echoed through the house, and Vanessa flew into action. She might not have much time. Sure, Virgil liked to talk. She hoped heâd try to threaten Jeff a little longer in hopes of squeezing the money out of him, but there was every chance the mobsterâgangster, whatever he was, Vanessa had never really wanted to knowâmight drag the kids out first in an effort to make his argument more compelling.