Description
Widow Sarah Blanding is building bridges with her estranged mother and sister at a family wedding when she is charmed by wealthy Paul North. As Sarah’s feelings grow she is both awed and appalled by his affluence, andcommitted to her modest life style. Paul iswidowed with two children, Karen age twelve and Timmy four. When son Timmy’s fall interrupts a tryst; Sarah spends time alone with daughter Karen and learns details of her cloistered life. The precocious, complex child has never visited a mall or a playground and only interacted with aged hired help. Sarah briefly introduces her to the world. Karen is fascinated but leery of Sarah’s candor as she cautiously peeks into this unknown world. Their growing bond is strained when Karen lies and Sarah refuses to tolerate the falsity.
Sarah accepts Paul’s proposal, but only with the children’s approval. Timmy is hugs and kisses but Karen remains remote but makes a pact of toleration. Karen agrees not to undermine stepmother Sarah but she’ll never call her mother. Karen can’t promise she won’t lie, but will try. Sarah agrees and is shocked Karen wants to live “like real people,” in a smaller housewith no servants. Paul too agrees and a new life as a family begins.
Karen loves her new life but her naiveté demands answers. Sarah promises to address any questions, in return for a promise of mutual total honesty. Karen divulges witnessing her mother’s suicide, unbeknown to her father who covered up the death and lied. Psychiatric help is obtained for Karen. Sarah, guilty over her long abandonment of her deceasedmother, visits Dr. Mason as well.
Karen is obsessed with mirroring how Sarah’s upbringing. She visits a forbidden quarry and when Paul reacts angrily, guidelines for punishment are established. Theyban corporal punishment, in spite of its use in Sarah’s childhood. Alternativepenance is discussed and agreed upon, reluctantly by Karen. She grows closer to Sarah and prospers socially and in school. However, sheremains burdened with a guilt Sarah is unable to pry loose. Doctor Mason and Sarah believe her nightmares concern her mother who the child nursed until death.
At Dr. Mason’s suggestion Sarah and Karenagree to mutually confess hidden secrets and accept the appropriate punishment to appease their guilt. Karen finally reveals her mother was a tyrant who beat her andforced lies to obtain drugs, all unbeknownst to her father. Paul refuses to believe he’d been blind to such atrocious behavior by his wife.
Sarah tries frantically to prove Karen’s honesty and reestablish trust.She covertly confirms partof the truth from the family doctor and the remainder from avague memory of Timmy. She convinces her husband. Paul is devastated at the woman’s cruelty and remorseful of his inattention that allowed it. Karen, guilty that her actions contributed to her mother’s death, craves corporal punishment, whatchild Sarah would have received, but Sarah refuses to do so. At last they reach an understanding based on truth and trust.
Enough to Miss Christmas is a family love story, of sisters, mother and daughter, husband and wife. Paul North appears to walk the sidelines but he is always there, with unconditional love. First and foremost stand Sarah and Karen, and the intimate mother-daughter bond they fuse together from their pain with agonizing honesty, trust and love.