"A Lowcountry Christmas," by Mary Alice Monroe.
A
wounded warrior and his younger brother discover the true meaning of
Christmas in a timeless story of family bonds in this tale from Mary Alice Monroe:
As
far as ten-year-old Miller McClellan is concerned, it’s the worst
Christmas ever. His father’s shrimp boat is docked, his mother is
working two jobs, and with finances strained, Miller is told they can’t
afford the dog he desperately wants. “Your brother’s return from war is
our family’s gift,” his parents tell him. But when Taylor returns with
PTSD, the stress and strain darken the family.
Then Taylor’s
service dog arrives—a large black Labrador/Great Dane named Thor. His
brother even got the dog! When Miller goes out on Christmas Eve with his
father’s axe, determined to get his family the tree they can’t afford,
he takes the dog for company—but accidentally winds up lost in the wild
forest. In the midst of this emergency, the splintered family must come
together and rediscover their strengths, family bond, and the true
meaning of Christmas.