What We Want and Need

by R.M. Gilbert

Asking for what you want and getting what you need are two very different things. Like many, this is a lesson I learned when I was a little girl. A lesson that was never truer than at Christmas.

Thanks to my mom, each year we could count on several things being under our Christmas tree: socks, underwear, sometimes gloves, and the occasional canned spam. (Okay, maybe not the spam). But the other “necessities” were always there.

If you’ve never experienced the excitement of opening a package of underwear at Christmas let me tell you now, there was no greater joy in life than giving Mom a smile with the flicker of thankfulness before tossing the panties aside to tear open the good stuff.

Not until years later as I was weaving my way down the clothing isle did it hit me. While other parents are rushing toward the toy and video games, I’m buying underclothes. That’s right, here’s me in the middle of all the chaos, picking out tighty-whitey’s and socks with the reinforced gray heel to go under our Christmas tree. Just like when I lived at home with Mom and Dad.

With kids of my own, I’m thankful we can give them the things they want. But the necessities under our tree are a wonderful reminder that we also provide for them what they need as well.

In celebration of the season, I’m giving away a copy of my new book, Holiday Headlines to one lucky commenter. But that’s not all…a second one of you will receive a “necessity” gift. By necessity, I of course mean the necessity of your choice. You will receive $10 to one of the following: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or Decadent Publishing.

**To Celebrate our '8 Crazy Nights', Decadent Publishing will also be giving the winner one FREE book of their choice from Decadent Publishing**

Before you comment here’s a sneak peek at Holiday Headlines:

EXCERPT

“Fire!” People shouted all around her.

Paige fumbled with the recorder. Excitement rang in her ears. Adrenaline pumped through her veins. The majority of onlookers raced away from the small flames, Paige sprinted toward them. “Yes. Yes. Yes.”

“No!”

Whirled around by a heavy hand with a tight grip, Paige collapsed against the investigator. Again, the room dimmed. Darkness seeped in as the air pressed heavily upon her.

“What are you doing?” She gasped.

“We need to get the hell out of here.”

“No.” She tried to yank away from him. “I need my story.”

“Trust me.” Smith tossed his pie, tin and all, to the floor. He lifted her like a sack of potatoes.

Legs kicking, arms flailing, she pounded on his backside. “Put. Me. Down!”

With each step, his shoulder jabbed uncomfortably into her stomach. For a man with such a lean frame, she could feel Smith’s solid muscles through his clothes. As he rushed past several groups of people and stepped outside, the wind whipped around them. Snow and ice crunched under their weight as he carried her up the east incline. He traversed the ridge with ease. Once they were a good distance from the barn, he returned her feet to the ground. She immediately lost her balance in the snow. Instinctively, Paige reached for Smith to catch herself. His hands gripped firm around her waist as she clung to his shoulders.

It took her all of a second to push out of his grasp.

“What is the matter with you?” she snarled.

Holiday Headlines is part of A Passionate Christmas Series, an anthology written with fellow critique partners (Passionate Critters: http://passionatecritters.org ). Be sure and check out our books on the Decadent Publishing Website:

I would love to hear what necessities made it under your holiday tree. Have a blessed holiday and happy reading!

~R.M.Gilbert

Find R.M:

Her Blog: At the Heart of the Story

Twitter

Facebook