"Dad! Dad! Are we almost there?" A squeaky voice said from the back seat of an almost speeding SUV.
"Yes, honey. You've asked seven times, but you're finally right." Said the gruff voice of the miserable driver.
"I can't wait to see Grandpa!"
"How can you even remember meeting him last year? You're only five. I don't remember anything from when I was your age."
"Well, you're a lot older than I am, Dad!"
"So, you'll forget when you're my age?"
"Never!" The young girl persisted.
"How do you know?"
"You'll take me to see Grandpa every year! I won't have time to forget!"
"What have I gotten myself into?" The girl's father applied the brakes.
"We're here," he said as he parked the SUV. It was quite crooked, but the snow helped cover that fact.
"We're here!" The young girl repeated with more vigor than her father as she unbuckled her seatbelt with slight difficulty. Once the girl conquered the safety feature, she hopped out onto the snowy ground outside, leaving two tiny footprints as she did.
"Where's my hat?" She asked, her arms frantically searching the same spot on her head as if anything would change. "It was just here. Dad, where is it? Do you know?"
The girl's father walked over and reached above her with a sigh that told you this kind of thing was a common occurrence.
"It got stuck on the door," he said. "Are you sure you'll be fine here?"
"Of course!" The girl placed her red and white Santa hat on her head, not quite containing all her blonde hair, though it was certainly putting up a fight. "Do you have my scarf?"
"Let me get it from the car."
The girl looked around her as she waited for her father.
It was snowing, not heavily, but enough for it to stick to the ground around her. It stuck to the roofs of the many small buildings around, giving them fluffy white snow caps that resemble clouds. The small town now looked like an ice village she imagined penguins would live in. The girl rubbed her hands together and breathed a warm breath into them.
"This is how it should be," she mumbled to herself.
Her father returned from the SUV, fuzzy red scarf in hand, kneeled down and began to wrap it around the girl.
"All set," he said as he rose to his feet.
"Aren't you coming in to see Grandpa?" The girl said with a look of confusion.
"No, no, I don't really want to. You know I'm not one for this Christmas stuff. I won't drive away until you go inside, though. Don't worry."
"But-"
"-No buts. Your grandfather's waiting for you."
"Ok." The girl began walking away. "Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, Natalie," her father said, sounding slightly more gentle than before.
Natalie couldn't understand why her father didn't want to see his own father. Wouldn't they want to see each other every chance they could? It's simple, right?
That's what Natalie thought, but it clearly wasn't. The relationship between her father and grandfather had always been strained for as long as she could remember, at least, which admittedly, wasn't long.
From what the young girl understood, the damage was there long before she was born. Still, she didn't want that to stop her from having a grandfather of her own, especially as great as hers was.
Natalie stopped walking in front of a building. The building was bland—bland walls, bland roof, bland everything. It was just about the most boring building on planet Earth. From the outside, none could have imagined the magic this store held.
It had glass windows that were fogged up from the frost and were impossible to see through because of it. The only thing that gave any hint that this store wasn't closed and that it even was a "store" in the first place was a small wooden sign on the door that said "Noel is opened" or "Noel is closed," depending on how the warped sign was flipped.
Noel was a Christmas shop in this small town, the hometown of Natalie's father. She wasn't quite sure why anyone would want to leave such a beautiful, quiet place. This is where the young girl imagined living when she was older.
She only got to stay in the town for three months out of the year. At the beginning of December, Natalie's father would take her on a 2-hour road trip to stay with her grandfather until the end of February, when she would go back home.
The young girl loved it because she could spend Christmas with her grandfather, the man who surely loved Christmas more than anyone else in the world.
Natalie's grandfather was known as Mr. Pines to most. He was an old man who had gotten quite a reputation since he opened Noel nearly 50 years before. Noel wasn't a big chain; there weren't multiple locations around the world, only the one in this town.
Noel wasn't full of profit; in fact, it hardly made money at all, but it was full all the same. Not full of expensive, overpriced products that flew off the shelves to make a quick buck, but full of heart. Every ornament, every decoration, every light, every everything had some kind of story attached to it.
Mr. Pines didn't see his stuff as objects, more as family. Because of that, he rarely sold anything. Noel was a failure as a "store," really. Only those Mr. Pines felt had Christmas joy in their hearts were allowed to purchase any of his possessions.
This almost obsessive behavior of his garnered the old man the title of "The Gatekeeper of Christmas." Those who he favored would visit Noel each year and buy a precious ornament or gift with a story attached to it.
That story would then be passed on from whoever bought it to their family and so on for generations. It was a beautiful thing. However, Mr. Pines was very particular about who he thought had Christmas in their hearts, so particular that he only ever sold things to a small number of people. Such a small pool, he could remember all their names, their faces, their personalities. He even knew each day they usually came in.
Because of this, Noel wasn't really a "store" and more a place where a select few could share their Christmas stories. Natalie considered herself very lucky to be the granddaughter of "The Gatekeeper of Christmas" himself, but also to be accepted by him. The stingiest old man of Christmas cheer thought of her as one of the most cheerful people he'd ever seen.
He'd tell Natalie endless stories about every possession in Noel. It was a time the young girl looked forward to greatly since the previous year. And now, it was that time again.
Natalie raised her gloved hand up to the foggy glass door and knocked. There wasn't a response. She knocked harder this time, shaking snow down from the handle.
"One second," a slow, soft-sounding voice said from inside. "You don't have to knock so much. Gonna break my door at this rate. Can't afford that." The door opened, blasting a wave of warmth outside. "Huh? Who's there?"
"Grandpa, it's me!" Natalie said, looking up in the air.
"Oh, sorry, dear, I didn't see you there," The young girl's grandfather said warmly. "You've gotten taller, but not by much."
The two exchanged a hug.
"So, where's that idiot son of mine?"
"Dad's still in the...car." Natalie looked behind her, but nothing was there.
"Can't even see his own, father, huh? No matter. He's always been like that." He trailed off.
"Grandpa?"
"So, want to come inside? I like the cold as much as the next guy, but I've had enough for now. I was just about to redecorate one of my trees. Want to help?"
"Really? I can?"
"Of course. You have a good eye for these things."
"Will you tell me some stories while we decorate?"
"If that's what you want."
"Please do!" Natalie was very persistent, oftentimes about the oddest things.
"Ok, ok. Let's get something warm to drink first."
Natalie walked into Noel with her grandfather behind her.
Explaining Noel wasn't easy, especially to someone who had never seen it before. There were many trees around the shop, some big, some small. Some were real, and some were synthetic. Noel from the front looked slightly small, and it was, by its width that is, but by length, it was quite long. The inside of the shop was like one long hallway of Christmas cheer.
Lights, ornaments, and trees lined the walls as you walked on a warm red and green carpet. At the end of the cheerful hallway were a few wooden rocking chairs resting by a beautiful crackling fireplace. That was where Mr. Pines sat.
He didn't have a cash register or countertop where customers bought stuff. That's because Noel wasn't a traditional shop. Sure, a select few could purchase things, but that was only a small part of the experience.
Going into Noel wasn't a quick process. You'd expect to be there for a while, the whole day even. It was a weird atmosphere really. Teeming with decorations all around that invoked the feeling of a massive toy shop, but with the calming sensation you get at a local small-town cafe. It was exciting and inviting all at once. A place that made you want to jump around like a child but then relax and nap by the fireplace. It was something very unique. Something Natalie loved. Something she enjoyed almost as much as Christmas itself.
Natalie followed her grandfather down the hall of Christmas cheer, admiring everything along the way. He walked into a back room and came out a few minutes later with two mugs in his hand.
"Hot cocoa," He said, handing his granddaughter sitting by the fireplace a mug.
"Christmas wouldn't be the same without it," Natalie said, taking a sip.
"You're right there."
The young girl's grandfather lowered himself into a rocking chair and sipped his drink as well.
"The Gatekeeper of Christmas" was a kind-looking man. He had bright blue eyes like his granddaughter, but more faded from his many years on earth. He was pushing 70, which was clear by his head of gray hair. He wore a long gray beard on his face as well. Natalie always thought her grandfather resembled Santa Claus if he had gone on a diet, that is. Her grandfather didn't exactly have the stomach to be Santa. He was way too skinny for that. Though, she always thought a pillow under his shirt would do the trick just fine.
"Grandpa!" Natalie said excitedly, "When can we start working on the tree?"
"Eager, aren't you?" He laughed. "Did you even finish your cocoa?"
"Well, no, but..."
"We can start now if you'd like."
"Really?"
"Sure. If our cocoa cools down, I can always make more."
Natalie smiled brightly.
"Oh, Grandpa, where'd you get this ornament?" The young girl said as she pulled an ugly, ceramic rainbow dog creature off one of the tree's branches [https://img.wattpad.com/d8eb2c8a6cdcdffc7c536df7aa1d9af656e94ad1/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f586f347744352d475f32324f66773d3d2d313135393936393639302e313662626466366335643736616136613238323031393331343434352e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Oh, Grandpa, where'd you get this ornament?" The young girl said as she pulled an ugly, ceramic rainbow dog creature off one of the tree's branches. An unholy abomination it was.
"Oh, that one. That has to do with your dad." Her grandfather chuckled.
"It does?"
"We used to have a dog. Must have been way back when he was about your age. Anyway, your father loved that dog so much, but it was such an ugly little thing, I swear. I never saw anything like it. One year, your dad wanted to make an ornament for it, and well, you're holding the result. Not an artistic soul, unfortunately."
"Wow. I never heard about that before."
"Kind of surprised he didn't tell you about little Buster before. I kind of miss that dog, even today. Ugly, but loyal little thing."
Natalie hung the dog right back where it was. She thought it had earned its spot on the tree well.
"Grandpa, what's the story behind this one?" The young girl was now holding what looked like a tiny white umbrella made of some kind of fragile cloth.
"That one, huh? That also has to do with your dad. He always hated getting rained on when he was younger, so he carried an umbrella whenever there was even a slight chance of rain. You'd think he wouldn't carry it during Winter, but he still did. Said he hated snow getting on him."
"But that's half the fun!" Natalie was insistent on this as well.
"Isn't it? That's what I told him, but he did it anyway. So, one time I found this little white umbrella at a craft shop and thought it was a perfect way to make fun of him."
Natalie smiled and put it back. She realized she didn't have the heart to swap some of the ornaments.
The girl was speechless as she looked to the top of the tree. It was an angel. A beautiful angel made entirely of glass sitting at the top of the tree, looking down on everyone. It was beautiful; that was the only word that could possibly describe it, at least the only one her vocabulary currently knew.
"Grandpa, what's that angel?" Natalie asked in awe.
"Like it, huh?" Her grandfather said with a weak smile.
"I love it. It's beautiful."
"She was."
"Who was?"
"I think your father should tell you about that one."
"A lot of these have to do with Dad, don't they?"
"Yes, quite a few do. Truth is, he used to love Christmas."
"What changed?"
"I'm probably partly to blame."
"What do you mean?"
"It isn't really something I should involve you in. Maybe I'll explain more when you're older. For now, just know my son inherited my stubbornness, and two stubborn people rarely get along with each other."
"I don't get it..."
"You don't have to," Natalie's grandfather patted her on the head. "Not yet, at least."
The two continued to look through ornaments and decorate the trees. Natalie heard so many stories about the decorations she almost forgot some of them, but she never did. Every time she looked at one of the ornaments, the story came rushing back to her as well as the feeling she had when she heard it.
Some of the stories were happy, some strange, some funny, but some left her feeling sad—especially the ones about her father. It sounded like he once loved Christmas just as much as she and her grandfather did. What happened to change him? She couldn't wrap her young mind around it no matter how hard she tried.
But Natalie wasn't one to call it quits. She was determined, something that helped many times later in her life. If she couldn't understand it, she wouldn't; she would just do something about it anyway. If her father changed once, she could change him back again. It all made perfect sense!
"Grandpa!" Natalie yelled, rising from her rocking chair one quiet eve. "I know what to do!"
"Huh? Where'd that energy come from," her grandfather yawned. "I was trying to catch a nap."
"I know what to do about Dad!"
"What about him?"
"There's no use in talking me out of it. I've made up my mind."
"I don't even know what to talk you out of."
"You won't have to. It's the perfect plan!"
"What plan?"
"I'm going to make Dad love Christmas again!"
"Huh?"
The days Natalie spent with her grandfather went fast. Every day was fun and exciting. Learning a new story, helping at Noel, walking around the snow-covered town, eating dinner together, drinking hot cocoa; It was all so much fun, and she loved every second of it.
However, she was determined. Natalie was going to absorb so much Christmas cheer, so much happiness, that it would spread to her father no matter what. She was going to give her father his Christmas spirit back at any cost.
And so the months of fun, joy, and cheer flew by at the speed of Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve, and before the young girl knew it, the end of February had arrived, bringing her father with it.
"Grandpa, thank you for letting me stay. I had a great time." Natalie said cheerfully.
"Thank you for coming over. I don't get many visitors. I enjoy the company," her grandfather smiled. "Coming back next year?"
"Of course!"
Natalie walked out of Noel holding her grandfather's hand. He swiftly let go of hers after they walked for a minute.
"Grandpa? Dad's right up here." The young girl was confused.
"Yes, I know, but," he paused. "I'll watch you until you get to your car, don't worry."
"That's the same thing Dad told me when I got here. You don't want to see him either?"
"I-it's not that. It's just-"
"-Just what?"
"It's just...complicated."
Natalie lowered her head.
"Love you, Grandpa," she said as she slouched over to her car.
"You'll understand someday..." her grandfather mumbled back.
Natalie opened the back door of their family SUV, climbed into her seat, and buckled the seat belt.
"Have a good time?" Her father asked, looking in the mirror. "Is everything ok?"
Natalie clenched her fists hard and raised her head.
"Everything's great!" She yelled.
"G-good to hear."
"I made up my mind!"
"About what?"
"I'm going to give you the Christmas spirit!"
"But-"
"Whether you want it or not," The young girl smiled happily, making her father anything but.
"Whether you want it or not," The young girl smiled happily, making her father anything but [https://img.wattpad.com/a5d6a379abb65cdf26d5fc54cff155ac2af4dc97/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f776c4734363073677175363062773d3d2d313135393936393639302e313662626534313963323832303936653335343537363939313732372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Natalie finally arrived back at her home. As happy as she was to be there, she couldn't stop thinking. Why didn't her father want to talk to his own? It's sad. Something tore them apart. Even her grandfather wouldn't speak to his own son. What happened? Natalie didn't know.
If they'd get along, they could all be one big happy family. They could all sip hot cocoa by the fireplace together. They could eat together, decorate together, open gifts together. Natalie wanted them to be a family, and she was determined to make it happen.
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The years went by quickly. During the nine months she was home, Natalie would spend time with her father, trying to give him the Christmas spirit back. It could be in the middle of July, and the girl would still tell him stories from Noel.
She continued to try over and over and talk more and more about her grandfather, but it seemed like nothing got through. Natalie's father wasn't a mean man, the opposite even.
He didn't only get his looks from "The Gatekeeper of Christmas," but his kindness as well. However, when Winter and Christmas came around, he was a miserable wreck. Natalie couldn't do anything about it. Yet, she still tried.
It was December again, and she tried to convince her father to come to Noel, but as she expected, It was useless. Coming to Noel was more difficult as she got older. Not only because of the growing rift in her family but also her education.
Her school chewed her out for being away so long, even though she always studied when she was visiting and even took online classes. Just what more did they want? Regardless, she always had catch-up work to do when she got home, and her excuses were running thin.
But she thought it was worth it If only she could repair their family. Natalie walked through the snow alone yet again, with more worries on her mind than ever.
Then another December passed, and another one arrived. Over and over, the young girl tried to repair the relationship between her father and grandfather, but it never seemed to work. No matter what she did or said, she always walked to see her grandfather all by herself.
One December, her 13th one, she had a conversation that affected her life forever. It was a freezing cold, snowy Christmas Day.
Natalie was curled up in her favorite rocking chair in Noel, sipping on hot cocoa, still wearing her Santa hat and scarf she had since she was young. They were her favorite pieces of clothing. They gave her a sense of warmth and comfort nothing else could, even if they had both seen better days.
Her grandfather was sitting next to her, drinking cocoa as she was, staring into the fireplace with a stern look in his old eyes.
"Grandpa?" Natalie said, putting her cocoa down. "Are you ok? You've been staring for a while now."
"Oh, yes, yes, I'm fine," her grandfather said with a faint smile. "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"I'm getting up there in age, you know?"
"Don't talk like that!" Natalie slammed her cup down out of anger, splashing some hot cocoa on her arm. She regretted her poor choice immediately.
"Hey, I plan on outliving you, don't worry," he laughed. "I was just thinking that at some point, I won't be able to take care of Noel anymore."
"I guess that's true. What will happen to Noel then? I love this place."
"I know you do," her grandfather smiled. "That's
actually what I was thinking about."
"What do you mean?"
"I know this is a lot to ask, but how would you like to run Noel one day?'
"Really?" Natalie jumped up from her chair. "I can? Me?"
"Nothing to get too excited about." Her grandfather sipped his cocoa and looked to the side. "Truth is, I'd feel much better if you were looking after the place when I'm gone."
"Y-you think I could?"
"I know you could. You have more Christmas cheer than anybody I've ever seen. You have more than I do. You don't only have the Christmas spirit; I'd say you're Christmas spirit personified. You're second only to Saint Nick himself."
"I really do love Christmas."
"And it's obvious to anyone that sees you. More than that, you can spread that to others. It's a beautiful gift. A very special gift. A gift very few have."
"I don't know what to say..."
"You can give me an answer. Do you want to run Noel or not?"
"I do! I want to with every bit of my heart!"
"Then we have a lot of work ahead of us."
"Like what?"
"I'm going to teach you everything I've ever learned. I'll tell you every story I know about everything I own. I will teach you everything I possibly can. That way, one day, Noel can be yours."
"So, I can carry on your legacy?"
"Not only that, but you can create your own as well. Noel will be all yours."
"And you trust me?"
"You're the only one I would trust for this."
"Thank you! I'll make you proud!"
"I have no doubt you will."
Natalie's months with her grandfather were filled with fun and cheer, as they always were. She was told countless stories, enough for a lifetime, but it was different now. She always listened to the stories, but now she did so with more attentiveness.
She paid attention to everything her grandfather did. She watched the location of every ornament. Every light. Everything in Noel, even the stuff not on display. She took in everything.
Natalie even insisted that her grandfather tell her how he keeps his regulars. She figured it was important to keep the place open.
He smiled and told her not to worry.
"It's all about leaving a good impression and connecting with people and sharing things with them. Making them feel welcomed," he said.
"How do I do that?" Natalie asked.
"I don't think you'll have any problem with it. It's all about personality. Thankfully, you got mine."
They both laughed, Natalie, to be polite, but she desperately wanted a real answer.
Time continued to fly by at an almost alarming rate. It was full of not only fun but enough knowledge for many lifetimes. Yes, Natalie was very, very busy. If she were to become the owner of Noel one day, she'd had a long way to go. Such a long way that three months wasn't enough time.
February was almost over, and it was time for her to return home yet again. She said goodbye to her grandfather, who still refused to see his son. Natalie thought their fight was pointless. She used to be saddened by it. She still was, but now she felt anger more than anything else. What was the reason for keeping this all going for so many years?
Natalie walked to her old family SUV, leaving footprints in the snow—footprints that were noticeably bigger than when she first came to see her grandfather. It made her nostalgic. Natalie opened the front passenger seat of her SUV and sat down.
"Hi, Dad," she said as she strapped herself in the seat, seeing that she's improved at that with age as well.
"What's wrong?" Natalie's father asked.
"Do you hate, Grandpa?"
"I-I mean-"
"Do you hate Noel then? Or Christmas?"
"Where's all this coming from?" He started the engine, trying to escape the conversation.
"Grandpa wants to pass Noel to me one day. I agreed to it."
"He did, huh?" Her father sighed.
"When will you finally talk to Grandpa again?"
"I don't know."
"So, will you stop talking to me if I take Noel over? Will you hate me too?"
"Of course not!"
Silence fell briefly. Every small noise the old SUV made was more audible than normal, and you could already hear its age, to begin with.
"Try to make up with Grandpa," Natalie mumbled quietly. "For me, ok?"
"I can't make any promises."
Natalie's long trip back home felt longer than usual. Nobody said a single thing. There was only the sound of the running car to keep them both company. Frustrated as she was, Natalie didn't give up on spreading her Christmas cheer to her father. She tried endlessly to convince him to meet with her grandfather, but he kept refusing.
December after December rolled by, each one seemingly faster than the next. In that time, no progress was made on the two's relationship. However, progress was made in other areas.
Each December after she agreed to take over Noel, Natalie continued to learn more and more from her grandfather. She even got to run the shop alone for a few days. Not only was her confidence in herself better, but also the confidence in her grandfather that he was making the right decision. He had little doubt to begin with, though. All was going well.
One snowy Christmas, however, Natalie's 17th one, she had something else on her mind. Something that wasn't Christmas, rare as that was, especially on the very day itself.
Natalie was sitting not in a rocking chair but directly on the carpet near the fireplace, staring into it intensely, the top of her Santa hat falling onto her face being completely ignored. The white pom was barely hanging, as it had to be stitched back on a few times before.
"What's wrong with you, dear?" Natalie's grandfather asked, sipping his cocoa. "Not normal for you to be so quiet or serious."
"Is it that obvious?" She asked.
"You're very easy to read."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. What's on your mind?"
"You know how I'm going to take over Noel."
"You don't want to?"
"No, no, no. The opposite really."
"Then what about it?"
"Well, I wanted to move here when I turned 18 to help run Noel full time."
"And what did your father say?"
"He said I couldn't."
"I don't blame him."
"Huh?"
"He doesn't want his only daughter to move away from him. No one could blame him for that."
"Yeah..."
"Something else bothering you?"
"Kind of"
"What is it?"
"Dad and I are moving."
"Oh? Where?"
"Too far. Dad got a promotion that pays well, but he has to move."
"I see..."
"That's why I wanted to move here. If I went with him it'd be harder to visit. Plus, I could keep learning more about Noel if I came here."
"You can't do that to him."
"I don't want to, but how else will I run Noel?"
"You always have this little shop on your mind, don't you?"
"Of course I do. I love it." Natalie tried to indicate exactly how much she loved it with her hands, but it ended up looking stupid, and she gave up. "Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. It makes me happy that I'm leaving it in such capable hands." Despite his words, Natalie's grandfather looked sad.
"Grandpa?" She asked. "What's wrong?"
"I'm so happy to have you looking after my life's work for me, but I just wish your father could be there to help you."
"I want that too."
"I'm scared that when it comes time for you to take over Noel, it will drive you two apart, and it will be my fault. So, in a way, I wish you didn't love this place as much as I do."
Natalie realized something at this moment she never did before. Something that never even crossed her mind. She always thought that what she was doing was good for her father and grandfather's relationship—that she was like a link between the two connecting them even if they were apart.
But she realized that what she was doing might have been hurting their relationship even more. She chose to stay with her grandfather during Christmas, did that upset her father? When she would never stop talking about Noel year-round, did that upset her father as well? Were the things she was doing in an attempt to bring her family together actually just tearing them even farther apart?
Natalie never questioned what she was doing before, and she was afraid it was too late to fix any damage she may have done. She would be moving soon, which wouldn't only make it harder for her to visit. It was likely her father would never visit at all. Even if she moved to Noel, her father may never see her. More than that, there'd be no reason for her grandfather and father to see each other ever again. They'd be hundreds of miles apart.
What if what she had been doing all these years wasn't helping at all? She may have been the one making their family problems worse. Time was running out. This time, Natalie understood what she had to do. She wouldn't be the link between them anymore. She wouldn't talk in place of them. She would make them talk for themselves.
With renewed determination, Natalie's three months went by much slower than most did. Probably because she was anxious about the approaching February, but that February came all the same because, as we know, time waits for no one.
Probably because she was anxious about the approaching February, but that February came all the same because, as we know, time waits for no one [https://img.wattpad.com/b71d2d858713969300db5f794e6d4b4b695188db/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f783631453038537077374b4d4b673d3d2d313135393936393639302e3136626265353366656364356263363534393238393233383631372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
The engine of the old family SUV roared from outside. Natalie's father had arrived to pick her up. It was time—time to put her plan into action. Operation Christmas Spirit was a go!
"I'll be right back, Grandpa!" Natalie said as she sprinted out the front door into the snow.
"Right back?" Her grandfather said to himself. "Isn't she leaving?"
Natalie ran up to her father, nearly falling multiple times. Ok, one time she did fall face-first into the snow, though, she usually left that part out of the story in the future.
"Natalie?" Her father exclaimed, exiting the SUV, keys still in the ignition. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine," she laughed, brushing snow off her now reddened face. "I want you to see something."
"See what?"
"I'll show you."
"Where are we going?"
"Just come this way." Natalie was now dragging her father.
"Natalie, not Noel. Come on!"
"It's for your own good."
"That's not for you to decide!"
"Then it's for my own good!"
"That's selfish!"
"Then I'll be selfish!"
"I don't want to see him," her father ripped his arm away.
"Why?"
"Because-"
Suddenly the loud screech of tires filled the small town as snow kicked up into the air. Natalie looked behind her father to see their family SUV driving away from its very family. What a traitor!
"I left the keys in..." Natalie's father slouched in the snow. "When I find who did this!"
"S-sorry, it was my fault," Natalie stuttered. Then a light bulb went off in the girl's head, and she smirked. "Brrrr! It's cold out here, Isn't it? I sure wish there was some building nearby we could go to. Stay warm, ya know?"
"I'm staying out here." Her father looked depressed beyond belief. He curled up a few feet away on a snowy sidewalk. Natalie walked back inside Noel feeling depressed as well.
"Grandpa, I might need to stay here a little longer," she said, walking down the hall.
"That's fine, dear, but why?" Her grandfather asked.
Natalie explained how her favorite SUV betrayed her trust. She knew someone forced it too, but it still wasn't right. She also explained that her father was now sitting outside, presumably being buried in the snow more and more by the second, until he, himself, became a decoration.
"I'll go get him," her grandfather mumbled with a sigh as he walked out the door. Natalie was conflicted on whether to join him but ultimately did. Maybe she was selfish after all. She wanted this resolved more than anyone. Natalie walked a few feet behind her grandfather as they approached an ever-growing pile of snow against a side of a building.
"You ok?" Natalie's grandfather asked. "You want to come in?"
The snow pile said nothing.
"Dad, you should come in-"
"No!" Her father snapped, jumping to his feet. "I'm not going in there!"
"How could you be so stubborn!-" Natalie began shouting but was stopped by her grandfather yelling instead.
"-How much longer are you going to act like this?"
"You shouldn't talk!" Natalie's father shouted back. "It's your fault!"
"Stop acting like a child. Your mother wouldn't have wanted this."
"Don't talk about her like you care!"
"Of course, I care! She was my wife! I loved her!"
"Then why don't you act like it? You just keep going on with Christmas like nothing ever happened!"
"That's what your mother would have wanted! It was her favorite time of year. Do you think she would want us to stop celebrating? Cry for her? No! She would want us to be happy together on her favorite day!"
"But-"
"-Do you really think what you're doing is better? Running from your problems and moping like a child? Do you think that makes her happy? Do you?"
"I-"
"-She'd be turning over in her grave!"
With the words of Natalie's grandfather, silence befell the whole town. It was as if time itself was standing still. As if the cold winter froze time as well. Natalie wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but she knew it was big. Bigger than she may have had any right to get involved in. She watched the whole thing but couldn't say a word. Finally, her father made a move.
"I'm going inside," he growled. "It's only because I'm cold."
Natalie looked in amazement as her father opened the door to Noel and walked inside. When was the last time he had done that? Her grandfather walked in afterward.
She stood alone in the snow briefly, wondering what had just happened, screamed in excitement a bit, but came back to reality and joined them.
Her grandfather was nowhere to be found, and her father was walking through the cheerful hallway looking at the trees. He was staring at one in particular with a sad look creeping on his face.
"I helped with that one," Natalie said as she walked to her father.
"Really?"
"Uh-Huh."
"It looks good."
"Thanks."
"You really do have an eye for this stuff."
"I hope so."
"Hey, do you know about this ornament? You probably do." Her father reached up to a glass angel ornament about the size of his hand. It was pristine, as always. By far the most well-kept decoration around. He pulled it off the top of the tree where it always sat.
"That one? Grandpa, wouldn't tell me about it. I always thought it was beautiful. Grandpa said he put it near the top so it could always look over us."
"She would have liked that." Her father smiled.
"A lot happened that I don't know about, didn't it?"
"Yes. I've run for so many Christmases and my selfishness all this time caused you pain. I'm sorry."
"That angel," Natalie said. "That has something to do with my grandmother, doesn't it?"
Natalie's father gave a weak grin. Her grandfather had just exited the back room with hot cocoa in hand a moment ago.
"So, you told her?" Her grandfather said to his son.
"Not in detail, no."
"Let's fix that. She's old enough. Natalie, come sit down."
Natalie walked over to the rocking chairs as her grandfather and father did. They sat next to each other. She sat on her favorite chair opposite them.
Her father sipped on his mug of hot cocoa. He looked not exactly happy, but not sad either. It was somewhere in between—almost a relieved look, mixed with a defeated one.
"The story behind that angel Isn't exactly a happy one," her grandfather began. "It has to do with your grandmother. My wife. His mother."
Natalie said nothing; she just nodded her head.
"I was really close to my mother," her father started. "I did everything with her. Even decorating for Christmas. Christmas was her favorite time of year."
"Grandpa told me you used to love Christmas," Natalie said.
"I did. Partly because of her, but partly because of the time of year itself. It was nice. My mother wasn't the healthiest. For most of my life, I remember her struggling medically."
"She was very frail. Had a very weak immune system," Natalie's grandfather continued. "Even something like a regular cold was concerning. That's something she dealt with for her entire life."
"When I was 11," her father said, "There was this ornament I really wanted in this craft shop on the other side of town, but we couldn't afford it at that moment. It's that angel over there. I thought she was beautiful. I wanted it on our tree that Christmas, but after we had the money, none of us could leave the house because of a snowstorm. You've seen how bad it gets here. It continued like that right up until Christmas. The snow was endless. I woke up early in the morning on Christmas Eve to find out I was alone in our house. I learned later that my father was at Noel dealing with some customers that came in, but my mother was nowhere to be found. As we said, she was frail, especially around this time of year, so I was worried. A few minutes later, I heard the door open. It was my mother all bundled up, covered in snow. I yelled at her for leaving without saying anything. It wasn't quite a blizzard anymore, but she shouldn't have been out in it, definitely not by herself. Just then, she showed me the glass angel I wanted and said Merry Christmas. I couldn't bring myself to yell at her again after that."
Natalie looked over at the angel atop the tree and felt a rush of emotions. She had no idea why she loved the angel so much. She knew now. Maybe she could sense the feelings coming from it. That angel had love. So much pure love in it that it could be felt. Natalie's grandfather sipped on his cocoa and continued the story.
"After your father found her, he called me right away, and I came running. We forced her to lie down the rest of the day. At first, she was fine, but she started to get a fever. Then a cough. Then it turned into a full-blown cold. That wouldn't be a problem for you, but for someone as weak as her, a common cold can be dangerous, especially one like she got. It eventually turned into pneumonia." Her grandfather looked down at the ground. "Her body couldn't fight it off, and a few weeks after Christmas, she died." Her grandfather looked in pain. "If only I hadn't gone to Noel that day..."
"It's not your fault," Natalie's father said to his. "I shouldn't have been such a spoiled brat."
"I guess we're both to blame then."
"Yeah...."
Natalie sat up from her rocking chair and rose to her feet, finally breaking her silence.
"I don't think either of you is to blame," she said, not giving anyone a chance to oppose her. "Sure, you may have done some things differently, but I don't think Grandma would have."
"Why?" Her father asked.
"Because she loved you. It wasn't about an angel or some glass ornament. It was about keeping her family happy. Did she ever tell you she regretted what she did?"
"No."
"Not to me either," her grandfather added. "She was smiling the whole time."
"That's because she loved you both. She was willing to do anything to make you happy. Does that make it right? No, it doesn't. But she didn't regret what she did. As long as her family could be happy together, that was enough. It's horrible what happened to her, but what you two are doing now is worse—living in the past, refusing to move forward. Hating each other pointlessly. Grandma wouldn't have wanted any of that!"
Natalie's father and grandfather both looked at each other sadly then stared at the ground.
"I'm sorry," Natalie's father said to his. "I was angry at you all this time because I didn't know how to deal with my guilt. I was too stubborn to face my problems."
"I'm sorry too," her grandfather said. "I didn't try to resolve the issue either. Truth is, I may have held a grudge against you all these years as well."
"We both made mistakes."
"We did."
The two climbed out of their chairs and exchanged a hug. Natalie couldn't help but smile. She felt like her work had finally paid off after all this time. Maybe they really could be a family now.
Both her grandfather and father looked at Natalie and apologized.
"D-don't say sorry to me," she panicked now. "If anyone should apologize, I should. I brought up a lot of stuff I didn't have any right to."
"Maybe, but you did it for our own good," her father said.
"I'm still sorry."
"So are we," her grandfather said. "But everything's fine now because of you."
Everyone sat back down on their chairs and told stories as they sipped their cocoa. Natalie didn't do much of the talking that night. Not because she didn't want to, but because she couldn't stop herself from smiling as she listened to her father and grandfather talk. How long had it been since they could do that last? When did they last laugh together? None of that mattered anymore. Natalie has finally gotten her happy family she always wanted. There was nothing that could make her more full of joy.
In the next days, Natalie stayed with her grandfather in Noel with her father at her side [https://img.wattpad.com/cf7ec301404ba69b4aeceed358c6c9b137d9d719/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f75576162485979386353743556673d3d2d313135393936393639302e313662626535626330643665653932643536343530373034323930372e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
In the next days, Natalie stayed with her grandfather in Noel with her father at her side. They ate meals together, talked together. It was the best time of Natalie's life. Eventually, the police managed to find the man who stole their SUV. Natalie was reasonably upset at the thief, but a small part of her thanked the man. If not for him, she may not have gotten her family. Hopefully, his sentence wasn't too harsh.
"Thanks for dropping by again, dear." Natalie's grandfather hugged her. "Always nice to have you around."
"I just wish we weren't moving so far away." Natalie frowned. "Don't worry, though. I'll visit whenever I can, and eventually, I'll run Noel. Whenever that will be..."
Her grandfather smiled mischievously. Natalie looked at her father packing the recovered SUV. He looked at her and smiled as well. He shut the back hatch and walked over.
"What are those looks on your faces for?" Natalie asked, confused.
"I got to talking with your grandfather," her father said with a grin.
"What about?"
"Not much. About us moving."
"Oh! Did he talk you out of it!"
"No, not quite. We still have to move." Natalie could have sworn her father tried to suppress a laugh.
"Oh."
"Apparently there's a place not too far from a certain Christmas shop that just went up for sale recently."
"Wait!" She yelled directly in her father's face. "Does this mean what I think it means?"
"Depends. You want to live together here?"
"Of course, I do, but what about your job?"
"Well, I talked it over, and I can switch locations to a place around here. A bit of a drive and doesn't pay as well as my promotion would, but some things are more important than any amount of money, you know?"
"And you're ok with moving here?"
"I wouldn't offer if I wasn't. Plus, who would run Noel once this old-timer is gone?"
"I'm the only one who can call myself old..." Natalie's grandfather grumbled.
"Grandpa, how'd you find out about the place going for sale?"
"Noel's regulars, how else? They aren't only helpful for paying the bills, you know."
Natalie was beaming at this point.
"So we're moving here?" She asked.
"Sure are." Her father said with a smile. Perhaps the brightest one he's ever had.
"Thank you," were the only words she could muster.
The engine of the aging SUV roared as the tires slid off the melting slush. Natalie was going back to her home—her old home now, and she wasn't nearly as sad as she imagined. She was ecstatic. The entire drive was full of both her and her father (after much convincing) humming Christmas tunes. Who cared that it was in the middle of March? These two certainly didn't. The drive went by in an instant, and before they knew it, it was moving day.
Natalie opened her tired eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, not moving at all nor wanting to until she finally remembered what day it was [https://img.wattpad.com/162b6efc38548eecef40b07d85b18b52909e43e5/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f7573675f776f35554242575743413d3d2d313135393936393639302e313662626535636334393538306363643330323838333030393634312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Natalie opened her tired eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling, not moving at all nor wanting to until she finally remembered what day it was.
"Wait..." she mumbled under her breath. "It's Christmas!"
She reached over to her nightstand and, after several failed attempts, grabbed her phone. The brightness of the screen assaulted her eyes like the rising sun. After adjusting, she saw that it was 6 in the morning. Perfect time to wake up, she thought. She hopped out of her bed, threw on her aged hat and scarf, and walked out of her bedroom, not bothering to change, as it was meant to be.
"Dad, presents, Christmas, now!" She banged on her father's door. Years of doing the same thing taught her the most efficient words to use to wake her father.
"Coming..." a groggy voice said from the door.
Natalie banged on her grandfather's door, saying the same words, but replacing "Dad" with "Grandpa." It was interchangeable and efficient for anyone. However, her grandfather didn't say a word. She walked downstairs to see three mugs of hot cocoa sitting on a table in front of their Christmas tree. The tree where the beautiful glass angel now stood atop. It was a housewarming gift from her grandfather.
"How'd you sleep?" Her grandfather asked, coming from the kitchen. "I made us hot cocoa."
"Oh. Thank you. Dad should be down...soon. Probably." She plopped in front of the tree.
A few moments later, slow, heavy footsteps could be heard on the staircase.
"Morning, Dad!" Natalie said.
"Morning, honey." Her father said. "Old man, you made hot cocoa?"
"Sure did."
Her father sat down in front of the tree. Her grandfather joined them. They were now staring at the presents under the tree, eyeing them up as if they had x-ray vision. Unfortunately, none of them did, not that they would share that information.
"What do we open first?" Natalie said as she stretched her arms.
"I know," her grandfather said. "Open this one."
He handed Natalie a small square box that was red with a green ribbon. It was beautifully wrapped and decorated.
"Let's see. From...you, Grandpa!" Natalie read.
"Well, open it."
"First, I'm legally obligated to shake it. I don't make the rules, only follow them." She shook the box and heard the jingle of metal and the ringing of bells.
"Open it," her grandfather insisted.
Inside was an engraved key and a shiny yellow bell attached to a golden keychain. The engraving said, in very fancy writing, the letter "N." That was all.
"N?" Natalie wondered. "Like my name?"
"That's one meaning," her grandfather smiled. "Can you figure out the other?"
"Noel?"
"Bingo. That's the key to Noel. It's all yours."
"Really?"
"Sure is. I'll still help you out and supervise a bit, but I think it's about time I retire. I'm counting on that son of mine to help you out some too."
"Will you, Dad?"
"I planned to." Her father sipped his cocoa, still not fully awake.
"Thank you, Grandpa!"
"No, thank you for taking over my life's work. I wouldn't want it with anyone else."
"I'll make you proud!"
"I know you will, dear. I know you will."
Christmas continued and passed yet again. The small Christmas shop called Noel had seen quite a few of them, that's for sure. All of which with the same owner, but now that changed—changed for the better.
If there was anyone fit to take over the life's work of "The Gatekeeper of Christmas," it was The Gatekeeper's granddaughter herself. The girl whose ripped-up hat, scarf, and limitless Christmas spirit became the trademark of Noel.
Everyone who visited once was sure to come back every year. Natalie would only sell things to those she believed had Christmas spirit, like her grandfather. However, she believed more people were worthy than he did. Not because she had a lower standard; she probably had a higher one.
The reason so many who came to Noel had the Christmas spirit was because of the girl herself. Her genuine joy and love for Christmas were truly contagious, and none who visited Noel could stay away for long.
The girl didn't only give the Christmas spirit to her father, without knowing it, she spread it to all that came in contact with her. Because of Natalie, the granddaughter of "The Gatekeeper of Christmas" himself, Noel continued to prosper for many, many generations.
[https://img.wattpad.com/2e0c98d6d39139ae12a66b5e20433f198335e659/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f694742346f7348665861525f41513d3d2d313135393936393639302e313662626536306663653934636463353837363437343233303739312e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]