John and Madison Carmichael's success in their careers has come at a high price at home: they are on the brink of divorce. To soften the blow for their two children, they decide to spend one final Christmas together as a family. Responding to a travel brochure, they set off to "Celebrate Christmas Past" in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee with a group of historical re-enactors. Tensions worsen when their car breaks down, but a horse-drawn carriage arrives and delivers them to the home of Judge Andrew Norton and family, where their Victorian Christmas begins. With none of the comforts or distractions of contemporary life, John and Madison rediscover each other and the love they once felt. But upon their return to "modern civilization," the Carmichaels learn that the nineteenth-century house has been empty and boarded up for more than thirty-five years. Could it be that a miracle from "Christmas Past" has brought their family together again? Christmas Past When the Power of Love Reaches Across Time By ROBERT VAUGHAN THOMAS NELSON PUBLISHERS Copyright © 2007 Robert Vaughan All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-7852-6235-0 Chapter One December 20 Timothy Jerome Carmichael had been called "T. J." for his entire life, and somehow it still suited him as a grown man of thirty-nine. His office at 21 Music Square West overlooked the RCA Building in downtown Nashville. Richly paneled and tastefully decorated, the suite reflected T. J.'s status as one of the most successful artists' representatives in the music business, who traveled frequently to scout new talent around the country and make deals in New York and L.A. T. J. held the phone away from his ear, drumming his fingers impatiently on the desk. "Thank your for holding Mr. Carmichael. Mr. Douglas will be right with you." As T. J. continued to hold, an advertising brochure on his desk caught his eye. Bright-red letters spelled " Christmas Past ," the title accented with boughs of holly. The cover featured a picture of a beautifully restored antebellum house, its great, white Corinthian columns laden with greenery and a Christmas wreath hanging from the front door. "T. J.!" An effusively friendly voice boomed through the receiver and broke into T. J.'s rare daydreaming. "Thanks for waiting. How are things going? Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?" T. J. cast the brochure aside. "Very nice. Ate too much." "That's what Thanksgiving is all about, isn't it? That and football?" "Yeah, well, I'm sure it's more than that. So, have you made a decision about Corey Doolin?" "I'm told you have an offer on the table from ABC. Is that true, or is this just your way of giving me a little poke?" "Listen, I'd poke you with a cattle prod if I thought it would help. You're not surprised that ABC has made an offer, are you? Corey is the hottest property in the country right now. So, where does HeartNet stand?" "You might say that we are engaged in serious discussion at the moment." "Okay, let me give you a little something to discuss. Corey's `Christmas Past' is number three, `Waiting for You' is number five, and `Ruby Lips,' which has been on the charts for forty-two weeks, is still in the top ten, at number seven." "But you're talking country ," said Evan. "Is there any other music chart?" T. J. asked, chuckling. "Look, Heartland Network emanates from Nashville. And when you say Nashville, the first thing people think about is country music." "What's wrong with that? Seems to me that would make a Corey Doolin special a natural." "You're preaching to the choir, T. J. But there are a few people here at the network who are afraid that a country music special would just reiterate our Nashville connection." "And why would that be a bad thing? Are you ashamed to be based in Nashville?" "Come on, T. J., you know better than that. We aren't turning our back on country music, but we want people to know that HeartNet is more than that. We know we have the pickup truck and feed-store-hat crowd, but we also want to reach the ones who drive BMWs and wear Gucci." "You sound like my wife." "I'll take that as a compliment. Madison is one of our brightest stars, and we're lucky to have her," Evan said. "Come to think of it, so are you." "So I'm told." T. J. looked at his watch. "Listen, T. J., give me just a little more time to bring the others around. It's getting very close to Christmas, and you've been in the business long enough to know that not much gets done during the Christmas season." "That's true, but remember that offer from ABC." "What is the offer?" "I'm sorry, I can't tell you that. It's generous, but I wouldn't call it preemptive. If you want to be in the game-" "If I can get everyone on board, and I think I can, we'll top ABC's offer. I promise you that. Is that worth keeping them at bay for a few more days?" "I can hold them off until after Christmas," T. J. agreed. "Are you staying in town for the holidays