Norma Hayes has always tried to make Christmas special for her family, but this year it is going to be difficult. Money is tight, and wartime rationing is taking its toll as well. Harder still, her oldest son, Glen, is on the front lines of the battle in Europe. Glen Hayes wants nothing more than to be home for Christmas. He holds a sprig of lavender in his pocket. The scent reminds him of his mother. The memory of home may be the only thing that is keeping him alive and sane during the horrors of war. Dennis Hayes is sixteen and longs to see his older brother again. He also longs to have a relationship with his father, but most important, Dennis is determined to buy something special for his mother this Christmas—the one gift he feels certain she deserves. So many families have had their hopes dashed in World War II. Will the Hayes family make it through? “Beautifully nostalgic. Hughes expertly captures the spirit of family, of war, and of Christmas. Home and Away isn’t just a book, it’s a gift.” – Jason F. Wright, New York Times best-selling author of Christmas Jars   Audio running time - 4 hours, unabridged. Read by Kirby Heyborne