Excerpt of A Christmas Homecoming by MaryAnn Diorio

Sonia blinked back the stinging tears. Truth be told,
some days worry clawed at her tearing her heart to
shreds. But there were other days, just as wrenching,
when rage gripped her to the point she never wanted to
see her daughter again. Like a scorching iron, raw pain
seared the edges of her memory, leaving only blame to
vent the hurt.

After all she'd done for her child. To have Jody leave
without warning, without saying good-bye, without so much
as an "I'll be in touch, Mom." Nothing. Just cold,
heartless rejection fueled by arrogance and ingratitude
that bordered on the cruel. A vicious slap i the face to
a mother who'd given her life for her children.