The Last Christmas Tree by Laura Monti

The Last Christmas Tree is a story about life after loss. Recently widowed Andrea Morgan has a falling out with her adult children only days after her beloved husband Roger's death in late September. Alone for the first time in her life, she befriends Jessie Michaels, the eleven-year-old grandson of Carmela and George Dempsey who she and George were once very close friends with. The Dempseys live down the street from Andrea, and soon the old friendship is rekindled and hope begins to re-enter Andrea's lonely world. Jessie offers to rake leaves and clear snow for Andrea, and the two develop a sweet friendship. Young Jessie, who is wise beyond his years, helps Andrea realize the importance of family. With the holidays quickly approaching, Andrea slowly begins to mend the severed family ties with her children. She doesn't know how she will be able to face Christmas without Roger, and throughout the story, experiences a continuous inner-battle over it. When a mishap prevents Andrea from going to her daughter's home in Vermont for the holidays, her family must scramble to create a Morgan traditional Christmas, which ultimately includes an eleventh hour search for the perfect Morgan Christmas Tree.