Can you believe Christmas is less than two weeks away? I hope you’re
enjoying the season!
Today, I’m sharing an excerpt from my latest story, “Merry
Christmas, Amor”, which is part of the collection, “A Merry Little Winter”. It takes place in the picturesque fictional small town of Mulberry Shores where Christmas is alive and well. Main Street is wonderfully decorated and there's a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
In this scene, the very handsome Deputy Matt Nuñez stops to talk with a homeless woman on the street when he's off duty. Esperanza De La Cruz joins him.
Excerpt – Merry Christmas, Amor
Esperanza watched
Matt step out of the car and shut the door. He had made a U-turn and parked at
the curb close to where the homeless woman walked. At least, she appeared
homeless. Her shopping cart was full of things that didn’t look like groceries,
and she wandered as if she had nowhere to go.
The things Matt
had said about his childhood had rendered Esperanza immobile. Sitting there in
the silence, her mind was still reeling.
“Good evening.”
Matt’s voice filled the air.
Esperanza
gathered herself together and stepped outside.
“I’m Deputy Nuñez
from the Sheriff’s Office,” he said to the woman who had stopped on the
street. “What are you doing out here
alone? It’s cold out tonight.”
“Good evening
deputy,” said the woman with a feeble voice like that of a much older person.
Her cheeks appeared sunken in, and her graying hair was unkempt. “I came to
find my son,” she said. “He lives here in Mulberry Shores
“What’s his
name?” asked Matt. “Maybe I can find him for you.”
“His name is
Christopher Harris.”
Matt pulled his
phone out of his pocket. “How do you spell his last name?”
The woman
explained how and then gave him her name, which was Gloria.
Matt quickly
typed on his keypad. “There's a Christopher Harris living a few streets down
from here. Do you think he’s your son?”
Hope filled her
sorrowful gray eyes. “Yes. It has to be him. Unless there's more than one Christopher
Harris living in Mulberry Shores
“Why not?”
“Because,” she
said, “I—” She stopped. “I wasn’t a very good mother.” She lowered her gaze.
“I wasn’t there for him when he was growing up. But I’ve changed since then.
I’m sober now.” She gazed up at Matt with her eyes moist.
Matt’s face
boasted the same expression as when Esperanza first met him—a strictly official
look that hid any sympathy he may have felt.
“I can call him
for you,” he said. “His number is listed. I can’t guarantee how he’ll react.”
“Oh, yes,
please,” she said. “I would be so grateful.” The hope rose again in her eyes.
Matt stepped
away, dialed the number and waited for an answer. “Good evening, this is Deputy
Nuñez from the Mulberry Shores Sheriff’s Office. May I please speak with
Christopher Harris?” He paused to hear the response. “Sir, I have a woman here
by the name of Gloria who says she’s your mother. Do you know her?”
A man’s muffled
voice resounded through the speaker.
“Yes, she’s here
in Mulberry Shores
Her face lit up
as brightly as the Christmas tree that shone on Main Street
Matt approached and held out his phone.
With a trembling
hand, she took it from him and raised it to her ear. “Hello? Son?” she said. “Is
it really you?”
Their
conversation was nothing like Gloria had feared. Any hurt that may have existed
between them no longer seemed to be there.
Esperanza held
her breath as she listened.
Gloria lowered
the phone, her face now brighter and her eyes brimming with tears. “My son said
he wants to see me,” she said, the emotion seizing her voice. “He said he wants
to come and get me.”
“Did he?” Matt
sounded as if he hadn’t expected it.
“But I don’t know
the name of this street.” She glanced around with a desperate gaze.
“I can tell him
for you. I’ll give him directions.” Matt took the phone and described to
Christopher where they waited. Slowly, he hung up, his expression reflecting
disbelief. “He said he’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Gloria clutched
her chest and let out a joyful laugh. “I can’t believe it. My son is coming for
me. He’s coming for me.” She began to weep.
Esperanza’s hand
flew to her mouth. Tears spilled down her face. She stepped
forward and wrapped her arms around Gloria. “I’m so happy for you.”
* * *
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Cindy Flores Martinez is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes Christian Romance. She has an MFA in Creative Writing with an emphasis in Screenwriting. Her debut novel, Mail-Order Groom, started as a screenplay and movie project, which she shopped around Hollywood, New York, and other parts of the world. You can learn more about her at www.cindyfloresmartinez.com
