I am reading the Christmas anthology called A Gift of Joy. 

The story by Fern Michaels does not make sense.  Has anyone else ever noticed this?  It is really strange, but it seems like it is missing something, like some whole paragraphs are missing.  I have noticed this on several pages, where it skips too much and it doesn't make sense.

I was just curious if it is just me not understanding or if there is really something wrong with the story.

I have't read it but it could be that is was a previously released story that was abridged for the anthology.  I don't like abridgements usually it always seems like something is missing.

I noticed that with one of her other re-releases.  They updated some of the dates in the book, but not others.  When you did the math on character age, one of the alive and kicking characters computed out to age 111 or so, and the date to meet later if everyone survived fluctuated by about 20 years.

Ah, I didn't realize that they abridge some stories in anthologies.  I guess that makes sense now.

I think it was probably bad editing in this case.  Thanks for the thoughts.