Chapter 8

VOLUME THREE: CHRISTMAS SALVATION

Two weeks before Christmas

John Watson put his cup of coffee down on the granite countertop and reached over to answer the wall phone, "Hello?"

"Hi Dad. How are you?"

"I'm fine, Jen. How's the weather there in sunny Florida?" he asked as he picked up his cup of coffee and took a leisurely sip.

"We're all fine, Dad. But I have some bad news. Since I took so much time off from work when Mom was sick, then more for the funeral, and Thanksgiving, my company won't approve any more time off for me. They've already had to make some cutbacks due to overall economics, too. So Cameron and I talked about it and we're not going to be able to come home for Christmas this year. Dad, I'm really sorry," she said, rushing her words.