sue merriam

In five years of running away from pain, Sean Weldon has found himself going nowhere fast and gaining poundage besides. After getting a summons from his father as well as seeing recurring signs telling him to Go Home, Sean reluctantly returns to his hometown to spend Christmas with his father and brother, both shepherds.

But there won't be any peace on earth this Christmas. Sean's niece Macey warns him that "Bad people" are threatening the Weldon family farm, and mysterious incidents keep threatening the sheep.

Sean learns his former father-in-law, Tom, is dying of cancer, and Tom's wife, Miralee, intends to spend Christmas venting her frustrations on her former son-in-law.

Then there's Steele, Sean's impossible snob of a cousin who has suddenly taken an unhealthy interest in the Weldon's land. And to top it all off, Sean's long-lost mother appears out of nowhere hoping for a cozy family reunion.

The only bright spot in Sean's visit home is a mysterious waitress who seems to know everything about him, including his favorite foods...