Chapter 1 – Mack
The crackle of the airport’s PA system cut through the low hum of conversation in Watertown Regional Airport’s small terminal. Mack Harper looked up from her laptop, her fingers freezing mid-type.
“Attention passengers,” a tinny voice announced, the speaker’s forced cheerfulness barely masking their frustration. “Due to the winter storm, we regret to inform you that all flights scheduled for the next three hours have been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please check with your airline’s desk for rebooking options.”
A collective groan rose from the scattered passengers. Mack slammed her laptop shut, shoving it into her messenger bag as she scrambled to her feet. She wasn’t about to let a little snow keep her from making it to Minneapolis for Christmas. Her sister’s baby was due any day now, and Mack had promised she’d be there.
She joined the quickly forming line at the airline desk, her hand instinctively moving to push back her teal-dyed hair. Tapping her foot impatiently, she glanced at her smartwatch and sighed. Yes, the storm was raging outside—in fact, she was lucky they were able to land here for her change over in the first place—but if she could just get on the next available flight, she might still make it home today.
Mack stepped up to the desk, flashing what she hoped was a winning smile at the tired-looking attendant. “Hi, any chance there’s a seat left on the six-p.m. flight to Minneapolis?”
“You’re in luck.” The attendant tapped away at her keyboard. “We do have one seat remaining. Let me just—”
“Excuse me,” a voice interrupted from behind Mack. “I couldn’t help overhearing. Is there really only one seat left?”
Mack turned to see a young Asian American woman with a glossy black bob and dark eyes filled with worry.
“I’m sorry,” the attendant said, “but yes, we only have one seat available in economy. And this passenger,” she gestured to Mack, “is currently booking it.”
“Please.” The woman stepped closer to the desk, practically pushing Mack to the side. “I really need to get to Minneapolis. It’s extremely important. Isn’t there anything you can do?”
Mack felt a twinge of sympathy, but she squashed it down. “I’m sorry,” she said, trying to keep her voice neutral, “but I also need to get to Minneapolis. It’s important for me too.”
“You don’t understand. I have to be there for Christmas, and I’m a business-class passenger. I’ve paid more for my flight, so surely, that counts for something?”
Suppressing an urge to roll her eyes, Mack shook her head. “Everyone here needs to get home for Christmas, princess. Sorry. This seat is mine.”
“Don’t ‘princess’ me. How dare you! You don’t know me.” The woman’s expression hardened. “Fine,” she spat. “Enjoy your flight.”
“I’m not sure what makes her think she’s special,” Mack mumbled to the attendant, who had watched the exchange with a weary expression.
“I heard that!” the woman yelled over her shoulder as she stormed off. “Karma’s a bitch and you have it coming.”
Mack sighed and ignored the comment. “I’ll take the seat.” Behind her, she heard sighs and curses from other passengers who would be stuck in Watertown. She’d be late for dinner with her family, but at least she would make it home.
As the attendant processed her booking, Mack glanced in the direction the woman had gone. She spotted her on the phone in a corner, waving her hands around, no doubt cursing her to whoever she was talking to.
“Here you go, Ms. Harper. Merry Christmas.”
“Thank you. And Merry Christmas to you too.” Mack shot the attendant a sympathetic smile as she gestured to the queue behind her. “I hope they don’t give you too much of a hard time.”
With her new boarding pass in hand, she searched for a place to wait for her flight, but with the airport at maximum capacity, all seats were taken and she had to settle for the floor. Leaving from Seattle this morning, it had been a long day already, but she figured she’d use her time wisely to tie up loose ends at work before Christmas.
As a software engineer for a promising tech startup, Mack had been working on an innovative AI-driven personal assistant app. The project was designed to anticipate users’ needs based on their daily routines, calendar events, and even subtle changes in their tone of voice in order to assess their mental health. It was cutting-edge stuff, pushing the boundaries of natural language processing and machine learning.
The trip to Seattle had been to iron out some bugs in the speech recognition module. Mack had spent long days and even longer nights hunched over her laptop, tweaking algorithms and refining code. She’d made significant progress, but there were still a few persistent issues that needed addressing before the app could move to beta testing.
Half an hour crawled by, and then the PA system crackled to life once more.
“Attention passengers. We regret to inform you that due to worsening weather conditions, all remaining flights for today have been cancelled. The airport will be closing shortly. Our airline representatives will be available at the customer service desk to assist you with rebooking options and to provide information on discounted hotel rates for stranded passengers. We are working with local hotels to secure rooms, but please be aware that availability may be limited due to high demand. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”
The announcement hit Mack like a punch to the gut. She sat there, stunned, as chaos erupted around her. Passengers rushed to the airline desks, voices rising in anger and desperation. But Mack knew it was pointless. Long queues were already forming, and by the time it was her turn, there wouldn’t be any rooms left. She was stranded in Watertown, South Dakota, and she had to find a place to stay.
She pulled out her phone to call her sister, but the call wouldn’t go through. “Great,” she muttered, “cell towers must be down.” The airport Wi-Fi was down too, and her hotel booking app didn’t respond. While she kept trying to connect, Mack overheard fragments of conversations around her. Everyone was nervous about securing accommodations for the night. She heard mentions of the Watertown Inn, the Pine Lodge, something called the Mistletoe Motel, and several other motels outside town.
The reality of her situation crashed down on her. She needed to call her family, find a place to stay, figure out how to get to Minneapolis if the storm persisted tomorrow. Noting some people were already rushing outside toward the taxi stand, she decided she couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Not in Watertown while hundreds of passengers were stranded.
The blast of icy wind nearly knocked Mack off her feet as she stepped outside. Snow whirled around her, reducing visibility to mere feet. The world beyond was a blank white canvas, the familiar shapes of cars and buildings obscured by the relentless snowfall. The biting cold stung her exposed skin, and she pulled her scarf up over her nose.
As she trudged toward the taxi stand, her boots crunched through several inches of fresh powder. The wind howled, drowning out the sounds of frustrated travelers behind her. Snowflakes clung to her eyelashes, and she blinked rapidly, squinting against the onslaught.
The yellow glow of taxi headlights pierced through the white curtain ahead, and she quickened her pace. The race for shelter was only beginning.
Chapter 2 – Holly
Holly pushed open the door of the motel, a gust of icy wind following her inside. The warmth of the small lobby was a welcome relief, but the interior did little to lift her spirits. Her eyes were drawn to a tacky sign above the reception desk—Mistletoe Motel written in garish red and green letters.
“Welcome to the Mistletoe Motel,” a cheery woman greeted her. “My name is Maude. How can I help you?” Maude lowered her reading glasses to the tip of her nose and peered over them. Her bleached perm sat atop her head like a tightly coiled cloud, each curl frozen in place, and she wore a sweater featuring a three-dimensional Christmas tree complete with actual tiny ornaments dangling from the knitted branches
“Hi, Maude.” Holly suppressed a grin as she lowered her eyes to the nametag that said Maude Mistletoe, General Manager. “I need a room for the night.” She brushed the snow from her coat. “Please tell me you have something available.”
“That depends.” Maude tapped at her computer. “We only have Room Fifteen available, and that’s because it’s temporarily been taken out of our booking system. It needs repairs,” she explained. “But considering the circumstances, we could rent it to you at a lower rate. At least you’ll have a bed for the night.”
“Great, thank you so much.” Holly breathed a sigh of relief. After being turned away from two other hotels and an inn, she was starting to worry she’d end up having to beg strangers for shelter. “I’ll take it,” she said, reaching for her wallet.
As Maude processed her booking, Holly glanced around the reception area. “So, is it always the Mistletoe Motel?” she asked. “Or do you just change the name for Christmas?”
Maude chuckled. “Oh no, it’s the official name. But the decorations don’t go up until November. It adds to the festive cheer, don’t you think?”
Festive cheer was certainly one way to describe it, Holly thought, taking in the overwhelming Christmas explosion around her. The lobby was a cacophony of clashing colors and mismatched decorations, as if Santa’s workshop had vomited all over it.
The centerpiece was an enormous artificial Christmas tree that dominated half the space, its plastic branches sagging under the weight of countless ornaments. Tinsel in every shade imaginable was haphazardly draped over the tree, interspersed with blinking lights that seemed to be having seizures rather than twinkling merrily. At the top, a lopsided angel with a slightly sinister smile presided over the chaos.
The walls, barely visible beneath the decorations, were covered in faded wallpaper featuring a random pattern of pine trees. Strings of popcorn and cranberries zigzagged across the ceiling, intersecting with drooping paper chains and several pairs of stuffed elf legs sticking out as if they’d fallen through from the attic.
Every available surface was cluttered with an assortment of Christmas knickknacks. Snow globes of varying sizes crowded the reception desk, and a collection of nutcrackers stood guard along the windowsill.
The air was thick with the competing scents of cinnamon, pine, and what Holly suspected was a liberal application of Febreze to mask less festive odors. A small radio on the desk played “Jingle Bell Rock” at a volume just loud enough to be annoying.
The two plastic chairs in the waiting area hadn’t escaped the holiday treatment either. They were draped with red and green covers, each adorned with a small wreath that had seen better days. Between them stood a tiny table offering a plate of cookies, disposable plastic cups, and a thermos.
Despite the overwhelming assault on her senses, Holly felt a twinge of amusement. There was something endearing about the sheer enthusiasm behind the decorations, even if the execution left much to be desired. It was clear that someone—probably Maude—had poured their heart into creating this winter wonderland, however misguided the result might be.
The door behind her swung open, letting in another blast of cold air, and Holly turned to see a familiar face—the woman from the airport, the one who got the last seat on the flight to Minneapolis. Her beanie and teal hair sticking out from underneath it were dusted with snow, her cheeks flushed from the cold.
Their eyes met, and Holly felt a mixture of emotions—frustration at her situation, a twinge of guilt for how she had acted at the airport, and, she had to admit, a bit of smug satisfaction. Karma, indeed.
She turned back to Maude, taking her key card. “Sorry,” she said to the newcomer, unable to keep a small smile from her face. “Last room.”
The woman looked like she was about to burst into tears. “Are you sure?” she asked Maude. “Is there anywhere else I can try? All flights have been cancelled. The airport’s closing.”
Maude shook her head. “I doubt it. By now, the hotels in town are booked solid with stranded travelers.”
“What about a rental car?” she asked, desperation creeping into her voice. “I could try driving to the next town.”
“Car rental’s closed by now,” Maude said. “And even if it weren’t, driving in this weather would be madness, but don’t worry. There is another option,” she offered. “The church is providing shelter. You’d have to sleep on the floor, but at least you’d be safe and warm. They’ll have coffee and cake too. They’re always prepared to welcome stranded travelers during storms.”
Mack nodded slowly, seeming to accept her fate. She turned to leave, and Holly was struck by how defeated she looked. A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her. Part of her wanted to relish in this karmic twist, a petty revenge for the woman’s earlier behavior at the airport. But as she watched Mack’s shoulders slump, guilt began to gnaw at her. Holly thought about her own relief just moments ago when Maude offered her the last room. She imagined spending the night on a cold church floor, surrounded by strangers, while outside a blizzard raged. It wasn’t right. Yes, the woman had been rude earlier, but did she really deserve this? Besides, she’d been rude herself, and fair was fair. She’d been behind her in the queue, and it wasn’t just Holly who needed to get home for Christmas.
Holly’s mind raced, weighing her desire for a peaceful night alone against her conscience. She thought about her parents—devout Christians who had taught her to always help those in need. What would they think if they knew she had left someone out in the cold?
With a mix of reluctance and resolve, Holly made her decision, and before she could change her mind, she called out to her. “Wait…”
The woman turned back, surprise on her face.
“Does the room have one or two beds?” Holly asked Maude.
“There’s one bed.” Maude smiled. “But it’s king-size. Are you willing to share?”
Holly took a deep breath, hardly believing what she was about to say. “Sure. It’s only one night.” She met the woman’s eyes and shrugged. “If you want.”
The woman’s eyes widened and she stared at Holly for a beat, as if gauging if this was some cruel joke.
“I mean it,” Holly assured her, then pointed to the window. A taxi was pulling up and people were rushing out. “Make up your mind before I offer it to someone else.”
“No, I’d love to,” the woman said quickly. “Thank you, that’s so kind of you. I’d be very grateful. I just…you know, after what happened at the airport, I didn’t think you’d…” She bit her lip and winced. “Anyway, we can talk about that later. I’m Mack.”
“Hi, Mack. I’m Holly.” She wasn’t looking forward to sharing a bed with her, but it wasn’t like it could get any worse, and part of her wanted to show Mack that she wasn’t a princess.
Maude let out a shriek of joy and clapped her hands together. “Now that’s the Christmas spirit!” She prepared another key card and handed it to Mack. “We don’t serve food, I’m afraid, but there’s a convenience store nearby, and I’ll ask housekeeping to bring some extra coffee, tea, and instant cocoa to your room. She’s on her break now, but she’ll be back shortly.”
“Thank you, Maude. You’ve been amazing.” Holly hesitated as she swung her weekend bag over her shoulder. “Just out of curiosity…what’s wrong with the room? Is the toilet in working order?”
“Yes, the toilet and electrics should be fine,” Maude said. “Just some damages to the interior, but nothing that will keep you from a good night’s sleep.” She leaned in, lowering her voice. “And don’t you worry about a thing, girls. Either my husband or I will be at the front desk all through the night. If you need anything at all, just come on down and we’ll take care of you.”
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Lise Gold 