The curmudgeonly Charles Drooms is content with his life as the owner of a successful accounting firm. However, his narrow world is suddenly shaken up when the beautiful widow Lillian Hapsey and her two young sons move down the hall from him. The converging forces of the Christmas season, the presence of the widow, and the mysterious appearance of a little boy serve to stir up memories from Drooms's boyhood, and ultimately force him to make a life-altering...

The Axis forces are winning, and America struggles to find its footing in the war. Men leave to fight and women join the workforce. New York City vibrates with energy, tension, and urgency. Yet love burns brighter than ever, bringing people together and giving them hope for the future. The famous Stage Door Canteen in Times Square provides the background for one of these romances--between the proud, but wounded Edith Mason and the Shakespearean actor,...

Years of relentless fighting have strained the country, and the December news of the Battle of the Bulge crushes the hope that war in Europe will soon be over. Lillian Drooms pushes ahead with her career as an artist while she anxiously awaits the arrival of her husband, Charles, for Christmas. Meanwhile, her friend Izzy finally gives Mr. Rockwell the old heave ho--or does she? And on the farm in Illinois, Ursula's troubling situation reaches a climax...

After years of grueling combat, heavy losses, and heartbreak, the first Christmas after the war promises to be a memorable one. Millions of servicemen are hoping to make it home in time for Christmas. Lillian Drooms anxiously awaits the return of Charles, fearing a final disaster. Izzy has opened a line of communication to Red, but what her future holds remains a mystery. On Kate's farm, her eldest son has made it home--but will her other two sons...