Bestselling author Debbie Macomber’s latest novel, A Christmas Duet, delivers her signature heartfelt charm, cozy settings and inspiring moments. Ahead of the book’s release, Woman’s World Editor-in-Chief, Liz Vaccariello, sat down with Macomber—who is lovingly known as “the official storyteller of Christmas”—to discuss her new book, what she hopes readers will take away from the story and more. Check out their fun video interview above—where Macomber also shares her most recent favorite reads!
And here, continue reading part 2 of our exclusive preview of the new novel. When we left off last week, handsome Jay had just removed the furry threat hiding in Hailey’s log cabin. (Missed part one of the excerpt? Read it here!)
Ballantine
Excerpt from ‘A Christmas Duet’ part 2:
“No worries. The intruder won’t be a problem for tonight. That hole will need to be repaired, but that doesn’t need to happen until later.”
“Later? How much later?” Hailey couldn’t imagine facing Rocky Raccoon again. He’d frightened her out of her wits the first time. She wouldn’t welcome a second introduction.
Hailey’s mind whirled at tornado speed, wondering who she could find to complete the work. Should she connect with Katherine’s family, or had they already left for their skiing vacation? The only way she could reach them would be from town, since she had no cell coverage at the cabin. She hadn’t anticipated any of these problems, and they felt overwhelming.
Jay must have sensed her anxiety, because he added, “I’ll take care of it first thing tomorrow morning.”
Jay was willing to do that for her. Hailey hardly knew what to say.
“Let’s get you inside. I promise it’s safe.
I’ll get the fire going and the cabin will warm up in no time.”
“Can I help?” she asked, eager to do something to prove she wasn’t completely useless.
“Can you light a fire?”
“Sure.” It couldn’t be that difficult. Her parents had a gas fireplace and it worked with a handy remote. She’d been in Girl Scouts for a time. Her father had uprooted the family for another move before she had a chance to attend camp. All it took to light a fire was paper and a match, right?
“There’s kindling by the fireplace; go ahead and get it started while I carry in a few logs from outside.”
Earlier, Hailey had noticed a stack of firewood a few yards in the clearing before the forest. Happy to be given a task, she immediately went to work. The kindling was in a wooden box on the right of the stone fireplace. She guessed the rounded rock that made up the fireplace must have come from this area. She found matches and faded newspapers there as well. She was in business.
Crumbling up the paper, she placed those items down first. Next, she set the smaller pieces of kindling in a nice teepee to be sure the flames would catch. She was rather proud of her efforts. Brushing her hands free of grit, Hailey felt infused with the frontier spirit. Thelma, Jay’s mother, implied she would last only a few days in these rustic conditions. Hailey was determined to prove the older woman wrong.
Leaning forward, Hailey was about to light the match when something brushed over her head, mussing her hair. Breathless, she fell back, landing on her haunches.
At first, she assumed whatever had dive-bombed her head was a large flying bug. Then it dawned on her. This was no bug.
That was a bat.
Scrambling, she struggled to a standing position and flew out the door and screamed for Jay.
He came running up the steps with a load of firewood in his arms, which he promptly dropped as he raced to her side.
With her throat closed off, Hailey found it difficult to speak. Instead, she raised her arm, aimed it behind her at the open door, and managed to get out the lone word: “Bats.”
“In the chimney?”
“The…house.”
“Okay, stay here, and I’ll see what I can do to get them outside. You don’t need to be afraid, Hailey. Bats contribute a lot to the environment.”
“Which is where they should be, don’t you think, and not making nests in a cabin?”
“True. You had a scare.”
That was putting it mildly.
“Take a deep breath, blow it out, and relax.”
Easy for him to say. Jay hadn’t had a bat tangle in his hair.
An hour later, the cabin was bat-free as far as Jay could determine. The fireplace crackled as the wood burned, warming the room. Jay had helped Hailey uncover all the furniture.
Hailey had long since lost track of time. By now, she’d hoped to have unpacked her car, made up her bed, eaten dinner, and been sitting in front of the fireplace, playing her guitar. Up until this point, she hadn’t accomplished any of what she’d hoped. Her escape had gotten off to a rocky start. The only thing she could do was go with the flow.
Once the fire was at the flame point, she knew she couldn’t keep Jay any longer.
“Thank you,” she said. “I…don’t know what I would have done without you. The raccoon, and the bats, and everything else. A simple thank-you doesn’t seem like enough. I’d like to pay you for your efforts.”
His eyes widened and he adamantly shook his head. “My mother would be outraged if she knew you tried to pay me. It’s neighbor helping neighbor.”
“But—”
Stopping her, Jay held up a hand. “Arguing will do you no good. It’s not our way. My mom is a longtime friend of the Stockton family and would take it as an insult.”
Hailey hardly knew what to say. His generosity was unexpected. “All right, I’ll graciously accept that you don’t want payment. Thank you again.” She was sincere. Jay had gone above and beyond what she could have expected.
He arched his thick brows. “Are you looking to be rid of me?”
“Ah, no. I assumed you wanted to get back into town.”
“I do. All in good time, though. You haven’t unpacked your vehicle. I thought I could help with that.”
Once again, Hailey was speechless at his thoughtfulness. “Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.”
After the day she’d had, it would be foolish to refuse.
As loaded down as her car was, it would take a dozen trips to get what she’d packed inside the house. “You don’t need to, but seeing that you volunteered, then I will accept with gratitude.”
Hailey followed Jay outside and opened the trunk. Then, reaching inside the back seat, she grabbed the bags of food she’d packed at Katherine’s recommendation.
She carried the two bags into the kitchen. Jay followed her inside. “Go ahead and get that stuff stored while I bring in the rest of what’s there.”
Noticing a package of hot cocoa at the top of the first paper grocery bag, she had an idea.
“How about if I fix us a cup of hot chocolate?” she asked.
To read the whole story, pick up your copy of A Christmas Duettoday!
