Hope for Christmas by Stacy Finz

So I’ve been asked to fast forward to Christmas 2022 and tell you what gifts Clay and Emily of Hope for Christmas exchange with each other. Wow, I don’t know what could top the gift they get in this story. And since I don’t want to spoil it, I’ll leave it at that.

But five years from now, the McCreedy family is going to be sharing a lot of love. Justin will have graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and has a serious woman in his life. Baby Paige starts kindergarten, can you imagine that?

And a big surprise is in store for Emily that year. Her second installment of the Nugget Cookbook is the recipient of the coveted James Beard Award. She and Clay go to New York City for the ceremony and spend a romantic weekend at the Ritz-Carlton, just the two of them. It’s like a second honeymoon.

Not to be outdone, Clay wins Cattleman of the Year. This time, the whole family goes for a fun-filled weekend in San Lucas, California, where he’s feted by the United States Cattlemen’s Association.

But like all good stories there are bumps and twists and turns too, which make the good times all that much better. And when Christmas comes around they hold the ones they love close and celebrate with the whole town. Because there is nothing like the holidays in Nugget, California.