Ahern wades into the Christmas fiction fray with a winning tale of magic and redemption. Lou Suffern is a busy man, and his family's growing weary of constantly taking the backseat to his career. On a whim, he offers Gabe, a homeless man he meets outside his office, a low-level job, and the uncharacteristically kind gesture plays out in a very unexpected way when Lou learns that Gabe has the power to be in two places at once. As the holidays draw nearer, Gabe tries to make Lou realize the importance of his family, but slow-to-change Lou might not come around to Gabe's way of thinking until it's too late. Ahern's an accomplished storyteller, and her writing chops elevate this far above the normal holiday fare. There's magic, but it's not campy, and the sentiment is real.

1. An Army of Secrets
2. A Morning of Half Smiles
3. The Turkey Boy
4. The Shoe Watcher
5. The Thirteenth Floor
6. A Deal Sealed
7. On Reflection
8. The Quiet Life
9. The Turkey Boy 2
10. The Morning After
11. The Juggler
12. Home Sweet Home
14. The Wake-Up Call
15. Bump in the Night
16. Granted
17. Lou Meets Lou
18. The Turkey Boy 3
19. Man of the Moment
20. "Tis the Season
21. Surprise!
22. The Soul Catches Up
23. The Best Day
24. The Turkey Boy 4
25. It All Started with a Mouse
26. Christmas Eve
27. For Old Times' Sake
28. The Turkey Boy 5
Acknowledgments