Luminary

In this short story, Christie, a relapsed alcoholic, faces her first Christmas apart from her children. As she window-shops for gifts her ex-husband won’t allow her to give, she finds a family huddled around a fire in the alley behind the store. If she wants to offer help, she must face her own fractured heart.Built during the sixteenth century, the majestic turreted stone clad fortress of the Montgomery's stately residence sits next to the River Dale, which meanders its way gently passed the estate as it flows slowly towards the sixteenth century church and the ancient village of Sunny Dale, in the distance. Rodney the gardener is tending the estate's award winning roses, and appears to be everything a woman could ever want in a man; tall, handsome, clean shaven, caring, helpful, charming, a good listener, friendly, witty, always immaculately dressed, but above all, exciting. Penelope thinks so, as she has agreed to marry him. So does Lady Montgomery. After all, no other gardener has taken the time to help her with her own personal pride and joy, her very own hidden garden. But Lord Montgomery is not so sure.