Changes

The book is set in 2011 around the Christmas season.

The book is set in 2011 around the Christmas season.

One year after Lauren Gabriel "accidentally" discovers Grandon<ref>Her story is the main plotline of ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'', the book immediately proceeding this in the series.</ref>, her previously unhappy and unfulfilled life has totally changed: she has now moved there (moving in with Stacy, who's accident she witnessed, causing her to return to Grandon), works at the same grocery store as Ben (known for his hand-written messages he gives to his customers, though she works in the floral department), continues to volunteer at Glory's Place (where she volunteered the prior Christmas season, and where she met most of her now closest friends), and is in a serious relationship with Travis Mabrey (who continues to work for the local parks and recreation department; this year he gets to hang a lighted star in the town square's gazebo, the gift of a local resident).

One year after Lauren Gabriel "accidentally" discovers Grandon<ref>Her story is the main plotline of ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'', the book immediately proceeding this in the series.  The "accident" is meant to be ironic: while driving aimlessly around after another day at work, she ended up in Grandon (about an hour north of her former home) and literally witnessed a hit-and-run car accident, which required her to return later to identify the offending driver; ultimately she continued to return there to volunteer at a children's program.</ref>, her previously unhappy and unfulfilled life has totally changed: she has now moved there, works at the same grocery store as Ben (known for his hand-written messages he gives to his customers, though she works in the floral department), continues to volunteer at Glory's Place (where she volunteered the prior Christmas season, and where she met most of her now closest friends), and is in a serious relationship with Travis Mabrey (who continues to work for the local parks and recreation department; this year he gets to hang a lighted star in the town square's gazebo, the gift of a local resident).

After several of the children (including "Maddie") in the Glory's Place after-school program suggest that Travis and Lauren should get married, the following day Travis proposes.  The two decide on an outdoor wedding in the gazebo (a place special to them both), which Miriam (who volunteers herself to be the wedding planner) loves, only to be mortified when they decide to hold the wedding on Wednesday, December 21 (an outdoor wedding on what is expected to be a cold day), don't want upscale dresses for the bridesmaids, desire to hold the reception at Glory's Place (so the children can participate) with the reception meal consisting of chicken wings and potato salad and candy for the children (they end up having a cake, which Gloria and her husband decide to buy for them).

After several of the children (including "Maddie") in the Glory's Place after-school program suggest that Travis and Lauren should get married, the following day Travis proposes.  The two decide on an outdoor wedding in the gazebo (a place special to them both), which Miriam (who volunteers herself to be the wedding planner) loves, only to be mortified when they decide to hold the wedding on Wednesday, December 21 (an outdoor wedding on what is expected to be a cold day), don't want upscale dresses for the bridesmaids, desire to hold the reception at Glory's Place (so the children can participate) with the reception meal consisting of chicken wings and potato salad and candy for the children (they end up having a cake, which Gloria will purchase as a gift).

Maddie (full name, Madeleine Grace), age 7, has been in foster care since birth, when her mother abandoned her (a nurse actually gave Maddie her name).  Though eligible for [[adoption]] placement, she has been passed over repeatedly, due in part to her having a mild form of [[cerebral palsy]] (it only affects her right leg).  She loves her foster mother (Linda), who has raised her most of her life, but would really like to have a mom and dad for Christmas.  After her "success" with Travis' and Lauren's pending nuptials, she fancies herself as a "matchmaker", and sets her sights on her next match: getting her adult male friend Gabe "Mr. G" Rodriguez (a maintenance man at the elementary school, who was previously married but now divorced due to him being a "bad husband"; he is also Travis' cousin) paired up with her adult female friend Amy Denison (a new volunteer at Glory's Place); the two each separately give Maddie a "three-cord bracelet" that each owns but hasn't worn in years<ref>The bracelet is designed to symbolize the three parties in a successful marriage -- God, the husband, and the wife -- and is taken from Ecclesiastes 4:12 -- "A cord of three strands is not easily broken".</ref>.

Maddie (full name, Madeleine Grace), age 7, has been in foster care since birth, when her mother abandoned her (a nurse actually gave Maddie her name).  Though eligible for [[adoption]] placement, she has been passed over repeatedly, due in part to her having a mild form of [[cerebral palsy]] (it only affects her right leg).  She loves her foster mother (Linda), who has raised her most of her life, but would really like to have a mom and dad for Christmas.  After her "success" with Travis' and Lauren's pending nuptials, she fancies herself as a "matchmaker", and sets her sights on her next match: getting her adult male friend Gabe "Mr. G" Rodriguez (a maintenance man at the elementary school, who was previously married but now divorced due to him being a "bad husband"; he is also Travis' cousin) paired up with her adult female friend Amy Denison (a new volunteer at Glory's Place); the two each separately give Maddie a "three-cord bracelet" that each owns but hasn't worn in years<ref>The bracelet is designed to symbolize the three parties in a successful marriage -- God, the husband, and the wife -- and is taken from Ecclesiastes 4:12 -- "A cord of three strands is not easily broken".</ref>.

However, when Maddie finally gets them to meet, she learns that Gabe and Amy are well-acquainted with each other: the two were married for four years before divorcing six years prior.  Gabe openly admits he caused the marriage to fail, due in part to his selfishness, anger, alcohol abuse, and failure to put God at the center of their marriage, but thought Amy had subsequently been engaged.  But in the intervening years, Gabe has returned to faith in God, attended [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] meetings (and has achieved 5 1/2 years of sobriety) and is two semesters away from a degree in elementary education (previously having no interest in children).  The divorce also affected Amy, causing her to reclaim her faith in God; though not interested in reuniting with Gabe, she decides she wants to be a foster parent and is eventually approved<ref>The social worker, Patricia Anderson, had her story told in the book ''[[The Christmas Hope (book)|The Christmas Hope]]'' (though in that book her surname was shown as Addison).</ref>.

However, when Maddie finally gets them to meet, she learns that Gabe and Amy are well-acquainted with each other: the two were married for four years before divorcing six years prior.  Gabe openly admits he caused the marriage to fail, due in part to his selfishness, anger, alcohol abuse, and failure to put God at the center of their marriage, but thought Amy had subsequently been engaged.  In the intervening years, Gabe has returned to faith in God, attended [[Alcoholics Anonymous]] meetings (and has achieved 5 1/2 years of sobriety) and is two semesters away from a degree in elementary education (previously having no interest in children).  The divorce also affected Amy, causing her to reclaim her faith in God; though not interested in reuniting with Gabe, she decides she wants to be a foster parent and is eventually approved<ref>The social worker, Patricia Anderson, had her story told in the book ''[[The Christmas Hope (book)|The Christmas Hope]]'' (though in that book her surname was shown as Addison).</ref>.

While looking for her wedding dress and for Travis' outfit, she continually runs into a young woman and her mother, who are looking for a wedding dress but who are unable to afford anything they see.  Lauren eventually meets the young woman (Mandy), who says her dad was the one who purchased the star for the gazebo, tragically he died of cancer only eleven days later, not getting to see her get married.  Lauren decides to give her own dress to Mandy as a gift (in return, Gloria allows Lauren to use the outfit she wore at her wedding to her current husband).

While looking for her wedding dress and for Travis' outfit, she continually runs into a young woman and her mother, who are looking for a wedding dress but who are unable to afford anything they see.  Lauren eventually meets the young woman (Mandy), who says her dad was the one who purchased the star for the gazebo, tragically he died of cancer only eleven days later, not getting to see her get married.  Lauren decides to give her own dress to Mandy as a gift (in return, Gloria allows Lauren to use the outfit she wore at her wedding to her current husband).

Meanwhile, Gabe and Amy meet again and Amy tells Gabe the truth: she was engaged but called off the wedding because "he wasn't [Gabe]".  Seeing the star in the gazebo, they both recognize that Maddie would consider it a sign that they should see if they can reunite.  Together they choose Maddie's outfit for the wedding.

Meanwhile, Gabe and Amy meet again and Amy tells Gabe the truth: she was engaged but called off the wedding because "he wasn't [Gabe]".  Seeing the star in the gazebo, they both recognize that Maddie would consider it a sign that they should see if they can reunite.  Together they continue to see each other and they also choose Maddie's outfit for the wedding.

The day of Travis' and Lauren's wedding goes off as planned with only one hitch: the heat at Glory's Place goes out, forcing the reception to be moved to Gloria's house.  While moving the wedding gifts to a spare room, Travis whispers something to Gabe; Gabe announces that Travis said he should propose to Amy, which he does (and she accepts).  They decide to hold their wedding then and there (with most of the guests present -- Amy's parents are only a short drive away -- plenty of food, and -- most importantly -- a minister available to hold the ceremony).  Though not having rings to exchange, Maddie comes up with the idea of using her bracelets as a substitute.

The day of Travis' and Lauren's wedding goes off as planned with only one hitch: the heat at Glory's Place goes out, forcing the reception to be moved to Gloria's house.  While moving the wedding gifts to a spare room, Travis whispers something to Gabe; Gabe announces that Travis said he should propose to Amy, which he does (and she accepts).  They decide to hold their wedding then and there (with most of the guests present -- Amy's parents are only a short drive away, plenty of food, and -- most importantly -- a minister available to hold the ceremony).  Though not having rings to exchange, Maddie comes up with the idea of using her bracelets as a substitute.

But Gabe has one final surprise: he actually does have a ring with him.  The ring, though, is not for Amy, it is for Maddie.  Originally planning to give it to her as a simple Christmas gift (after Maddie was told by a boy in her class that she was too ugly for anyone to give her a ring), he decides to give her the ring and asks her if he and Amy could become her parents (which she agrees, though she still wants Linda to be in her life as a grandmother figure).  (The final scene in the book shows her adoption being finalized.)

But Gabe has one final surprise: he actually does have a ring with him.  The ring, though, is not for Amy, it is for Maddie.  Originally planning to give it to her as a simple Christmas gift (after Maddie was told by a boy in her class that she was too ugly for anyone to give her a ring), he decides to give her the ring and asks her if he and Amy could become her parents (which she agrees, though she still wants Linda to be in her life as a grandmother figure).  (The final scene in the book shows her adoption being finalized.)