Sarah dragged into work the next day, which was Christmas and tried to put on a brave face. She was short a few people, so she had to serve the food. It smelled amazing! One of the restaurants in town had taken it upon themselves to make 20 roast turkeys, ten trays of stuffing, mashed potatoes to feed an army, hawaiian rolls, Karo pecan pies, pumpkin pies, apple pies, green bean casseroles and more. Sarah smiled when she saw the reactions of the first ones to be served. They were happy! She figured if they could be happy with this wonderful meal, so could she! The tears were put aside. Besides, who needed presents? There was still that little niggling pest in the back of her mind, trying to rear its ugly head to remind her of the coming inhumanity, but she managed to push it down. “It is possible that a miracle will happen. It has been known to happen before!” This thought was her best weapon to defeat that pest!
Sarah served every plate with a smile and found her smiles returned. “This is actually fun. I am so glad I came today. I really can’t think of anything I would rather be doing on Christmas!” Someone had brought a squeezebox and was playing Christmas carols and after a couple of songs, everybody was singing together! A scripture from her childhood came to Sarah, ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me!’ “How in the world did I remember that verse? It must have been 30 years since I thought of it!”
Sarah thought.
Meanwhile, in Alaska, Nancy and the kitchen crew had outdone themselves! They too had a feast and Karen surprised everyone by sitting down at the piano and playing Christmas carols in a ragtime way! At first, they were all so surprised that the room filled with laughter, hearing the carols presented in such a way and so out of character for Karen! Then the singing was so whole-hearted that you could barely hear the piano! The doorbell rang and Donald and Jim just looked at each other, wondering who would be out in the snow in this weather! Karen jumped up from the piano while they were sitting there, surprised and almost ran to open the door, as if she was expecting someone!
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Karen threw open the door to a Santa Claus! Behind him was a dogsled with ten beautiful dogs. Stunned, no one spoke at first! Then, Santa scooped up Karen and gave her a big smooch on the lips! “Hello love!” Santa said.
Karen was the first to recognize Max and started doing a jig! “I thought it was you, I just didn’t know until you kissed me! I’m so glad you are back!”
The whole room was talking at once. Donald thanked Max for his present and asked what he was doing here. Jim asked what was going on with the dogs. Nancy asked if he was hungry. Come to find out, Max had purchased the dogs and sled for the hunting and shopping trips for Donald! He said, “You needed back-up for when the snowmobiles might act up. There are also generators in the sled for emergencies. Believe it or not, I have found happiness with you all and I am no longer happy working for the FBI. I want to live here permanently, if you will have me, well, that is if you are not planning to tie me up again!”
Everyone roared with laughter! Donald sighed a big sigh of relief. “Max, you are welcome here and not just because of the presents. Yours is one of the biggest transformations I have ever seen in a person’s life and it came about in a most peculiar way!” Everyone laughed again!
Santa sat down at the table and after Karen had fixed his meal just the way he liked it, he pulled her into his lap! Karen blushed! While he was eating, Karen went back to playing the piano and the singing commenced again!
Christmas was not as happy for everyone. Andrew Weeks could not wait any longer. He and the doctor arrived at the resort shortly after the Christmas dinner there. As soon as the elderly had retired for the night, they were drugged and taken two by two downstairs, never to return. All through the night and into the next day, it continued. Two days after Christmas, Andrew arranged for vans to bring addicts up to the resort with the same results.