Changes

The newer sequence takes place in 2012 and features the continuing story of Lauren Mabrey<ref>Formerly known as Lauren Gabriel before her marriage to Travis Mabrey, her story is told in the previous two books, ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'' (where after a night of aimless driving to escape her unhappy and unfulfilling life -- due in large part to being abandoned by her parents, and raised in the foster care system -- discovers Grandon by "accident" -- literally, as she witnesses a hit-and-run accident -- and upon returning to identify the driver, she continued to return there to volunteer for an upcoming fundraiser and ultimately finds the "family" she never had growing up) and ''[[The Christmas Star (book)|The Christmas Star]]'' (which shows her having moved to Grandon and her marriage to Travis)</ref>.  Having lived in Grandon for around a year and a half and married to Travis for six months, she continues to volunteer at Glory's Place where she meets a new volunteer, Andrea King (a middle-aged woman with one child in college and the other a high-school senior, who now has more time to volunteer).  Lauren has been ill for several days, which she blames on "supermarket sushi"; Andrea suspects another cause which turns out to be correct: Lauren is pregnant (and later learns that her due date is around her anniversary).

The newer sequence takes place in 2012 and features the continuing story of Lauren Mabrey<ref>Formerly known as Lauren Gabriel before her marriage to Travis Mabrey, her story is told in the previous two books, ''[[The Christmas Town (book)|The Christmas Town]]'' (where after a night of aimless driving to escape her unhappy and unfulfilling life -- due in large part to being abandoned by her parents, and raised in the foster care system -- discovers Grandon by "accident" -- literally, as she witnesses a hit-and-run accident -- and upon returning to identify the driver, she continued to return there to volunteer for an upcoming fundraiser and ultimately finds the "family" she never had growing up) and ''[[The Christmas Star (book)|The Christmas Star]]'' (which shows her having moved to Grandon and her marriage to Travis)</ref>.  Having lived in Grandon for around a year and a half and married to Travis for six months, she continues to volunteer at Glory's Place where she meets a new volunteer, Andrea King (a middle-aged woman with one child in college and the other a high-school senior, who now has more time to volunteer).  Lauren has been ill for several days, which she blames on "supermarket sushi"; Andrea suspects another cause which turns out to be correct: Lauren is pregnant (and later learns that her due date is around her anniversary).

The news of Lauren's pregnancy spurs her friends at Glory's Place to redecorate and furnish her and Travis' house for the arriving baby.  Notably, Miriam is able to negotiate a good price on a round black walnut kitchen table (which Larry, the store owner, purchased at a garage sale and refinished).  Travis notices that the table has a drawer, when he is able to get it open he and Lauren discover a stack of handwritten recipe cards.

The news of Lauren's pregnancy spurs her friends at Glory's Place to redecorate and furnish her and Travis' house for the arriving baby.  Notably, Miriam is able to negotiate a good price on a round black walnut kitchen table (which Larry, the store owner, purchased at a garage sale and refinished).  Travis notices that the table has a drawer, when he opens it he finds a stack of handwritten recipe cards (Larry bought the table years prior so he does not know who the prior owner was).

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