The Christmas Miracle

Chapter 1: Heading Home

Christmas. It's the most wonderful time of the year. The time when miracles are supposed to happen, at least that is what I have always heard. Not that I have ever believed in miracles. Life's just been a little too cruel, especially now, for me to believe in childish things like a Christmas miracle.

When the call came from my mother saying that my father was ill came, I decided it was time to head home. This would be the first time in three years and let's just say I was a wee bit anxious.

My relationship with my family has never been the best, but I bit the bullet and bought the plane ticket home to North Dakota anyway.

As the plane descends, my anxiety decides to hit me full force. Here I am, in my home state and all I can think of is heading back to New York City. Pitiful really. How can I be so selfish?

Inhale, Lina.

"Ma'am?" Someone calls from behind me.

I whirl around, practically hitting the man with my purse. He ducks just in time. "I am so sorry. Bit of mess right now." Great, now he thinks I'm probably a little neurotic.

When he chuckles, I sigh in relief. "No worries, ma'am. Can I help you find your baggage?"

I shake my head. "No, I am good to go." As if right on cue, my blue luggage bag swings around the belt and I point. "There it is right there." I rush past a few other fellow passengers and quickly grab my blue bag.

Phew. Now all I need to do is hail a taxi and make the hour-long journey to Maysville. Plenty of time to sweat it all out on the taxi ride there. Hopefully.

The taxi line is about a mile long and I have to resist the urge to pull my hair. "Miss?" I look up and find a taxi right in front of me.

I give the driver a huge smile. He is on the heavier side, with balding gray hair. His return smile is filled with warmth. "What brings you out here to Grand Forks, North Dakota?" He asks as he places my luggage into the trunk.

"Visiting family for the holidays," I answer simply. "GFK is the closest airport to Maysville where I grew up." We both hurry into the taxi, the impatient people around us only growing.

He nods. "Yeah, I have been to Maysville quite a few times. It's a nice little town." He pauses as he attempts to merge into the chaotic traffic around us. "Where ya' living now?"

"New York City," I tell him proudly. "I've been promoted to city life."

He catches my eye in the rearview mirror. "We don't get a lot of city folk out here. My sister left for the city fifteen years ago and I haven't seen her since. She never comes home. I get a phone call from her every so often, but I guess she has bigger and better things than her family."

I frown. What could I say to him? I had done the same thing to my parents and siblings. I decide not to respond to him and instead stare out the window.

"It's good that you are taking the time to see your family for the holidays."

All I can do is smile and nod. A few moments later he asks for the address.

"273 Calico Way, Maysville," I can hear him plug the address into his GPS and soon enough we are on the highway.

The rest of the ride is quiet, only the tunes from the radio echoing through the vehicle. My anxiety has steadied quite a bit, but the nervous jitters are still there. When my mother called, I did not exactly answer the phone, nor did I tell her I was coming. I listened to her message, contemplated it for a few days and then I bought the plane ticket. I definitely would not be winning any "Best Daughter" awards anytime soon. At least my parents had three other children.