It's been months since that fateful night on a doorstep when Timothy accidentally blurted "I love you" to his favorite cook's assistant. Ever since that moment, Timothy has been a dead man walking--at least, in his own estimation. How could he break the news of their understanding to his parents and live to tell about it? And yet, the date is set: December 24th, Christmas Eve. He has six days to prepare himself. Six days before what's unknown becomes known, and he'll find out whether the Christmas he's read about in books could be real.

Timothy Wright spends his days reading, writing, and arguing with his favorite parrot. But sometimes, scraping out a living at the nearest newspaper leaves him feeling more drained than rewarded. He wants to write stories about the things that matter, not news articles about the latest fluctuation in fruit prices. But when an aspiring doctor trying to fund his education on a reporter's salary appeals to him for help keeping his job, Timothy finds himself drawn into a web of murder, intrigue, and dark family secrets that leave him wondering at the difference between living and breathing-and whether he'll ever have the courage to do the things that frighten him. - Complete - Sequel to What Is and Could Be.

Sam Paine knew exactly two things: That Mrs. Oliver was in the family way, and that the bump on his head was there to remind him never to congratulate expectant mothers again. It wasn't the first time someone had had an adverse reaction to something Sam said, but it was the first time a chain of gossip ended with a report card burning a hole in his pocket, some yarn, and an idea-an idea that maybe Sam was bound for more than counting change. -Complete-