Chapter One

A Call No Child Wants to Answer

The clock had just turned to two o’clock when the phone jolted Elizabeth awake. The light from its screen filled the room. With her heart racing, Elizabeth snatched it from her nightstand. A picture of her brother, Johnathon, wearing a Santa hat was displayed on the locked screen. With her heart racing, Elizabeth answered. Johnathon, what’s wrong?

He took a deep breath, as if to muster up the courage. It’s Mom, he said quietly.

What’s wrong?

Samuel, Elizabeth’s husband, pulled himself up to Elizabeth’s side. What is it? he asked.

Shhh! Elizabeth ordered. She quickly turned her focus back to the call. Is she okay?

No, she took a tumble on her way to the bathroom. Honestly, Beth, she’s not looking good. The doctors said they are going to do some scans and x-rays to make sure there isn’t any damage, but they fear the end is near. Her body is tired and ready to go. Elizabeth started to cry. Beth, can you get your family and bring them down? I know it’s a week earlier than what you’d planned.

I can come after I get the kids off to school.

Beth, Johnathon said. I don’t know how much time we have with her. She may not make it much longer. She may not make it by the time the kids get out for break and I know she will want to see them one last time.

I...I...I don’t know if we can do that. They have school... Elizabeth trailed off.

Samuel turned on the light and began to dress. Tell him we are packing and on our way.

I— Elizabeth began.

I heard and I will see you soon. I am going to call the rest of the family. Be safe.

Elizabeth hit the end call button and looked at Samuel. Is she okay? he asked.

Some tests are being run to be certain, but she is weak. Johnathon fears this may be the end.

Start packing and I will get breakfast going.

What about school and work? Maybe I should go and see how things are first. I mean, this could just be a tumble and that’s all. Elizabeth was concerned for the kids, not because of missing school, but because of seeing their grandmother in less than good health. She wanted them to remember her as the strong woman she was and not as weak and feeble.

The kids haven’t missed a day yet and I am sure we can get them caught up when we return. I have plenty of paid leave that needs to be used. Even if I didn’t, I would take this time off. This is your mom we are talking about.

I know. I’m sorry. I just—

No need to explain. Let’s just focus on getting things ready. I will call work from either the road or the farm. You can do the same for the kids and school.

Okay.

Elizabeth did not say anything more. She went downstairs to the garage and retrieved the family suitcases. Since the boys were younger than the girls, and couldn’t do their own packing, Elizabeth crept into their room first. Using the light from the hallway, she grabbed enough clothes for a week’s stay. She let them sleep for a few minutes longer and made her way to the girls’ room.

Nudging them, she said softly, Come on girls, you need to wake up.

Slowly opening an eye, Kaitlyn asked, Do we have to?

Afraid so. We need to take a trip to see Grandma.

Kaitlyn jumped to her knees. Grandma! Her excitement continued to rise. Does that mean we get to miss school? As if missing school were magical words to her sister, Jessie jumped out of bed.

Yes, but I will need you both to pack clothes. I do not know how long we will be gone, but take enough for a week.

In a pitch so high that Elizabeth was certain dogs blocks away could hear, Kaitlyn squealed, A week with Grandma!

Maybe. Now hop to it. Your father is making us breakfast and then we will go.

The girls did as instructed. Elizabeth got dressed and then woke the boys. Just over an hour after Johnathon’s call, they were in the car and heading toward the farm.

Chapter Two

A Welcome Home

By the next afternoon , all four of Sara’s children, all sixteen of her grandchildren and her two great-grandchildren, were gathered at the family farm. The smell of fresh baked cookies, gingerbread, rolls, chicken and a host of other dishes, filled the homestead. The only person missing was Sara herself. She was still in the hospital and awaiting orders to be released. Elizabeth and her siblings decided to not overwhelm her at the hospital and baked all her favorite dishes to welcome her back.

With the others baking, preparing the tables and making the most of their time together, Johnathon and Elizabeth made the long car ride to pick up Sara. What they were going to see would not be easy, but Elizabeth knew it would be easier for Johnathon, since he had already seen her. Living on the property adjacent to the family farm and running the business, Johnathon had seen their mother every day for decades. It had been several months since Elizabeth had seen her. With four kids from preschool to fifth grade, it was difficult to get away.

Every year they made three trips, and every other year, a fourth was added for Thanksgiving. This year they had gone to her in-laws’ for Thanksgiving, so it had been just over four months since she had seen her mom.  At that time, her mother was as energetic as ever, still entertaining guests on the farm, baking, and shipping orders. She had been in such high spirits, that she would swear her mother was in her twenties again. Elizabeth knew this was not the mother she would see this time.

Her mother was the strongest woman Elizabeth had known. Weather, injury or even a cold couldn’t keep her down. She didn’t have a memory of her mother that didn’t involve working. Her mom would work while on a vacation or while watching a family movie. She was always researching ideas for the general store, purchasing items or even finding a new recipe to try for the bakery.

The first twenty miles seemed to take a lifetime. Not a sound came from the cab of the car. Neither one of them spoke and with the radio turned off, all Elizabeth could hear was the sound of the wind rushing over the car.

Would you have a place for me on the farm? Elizabeth asked, breaking the silence.

As though curious about her question, Johnathon asked hesitantly, What do you mean?

Samuel is getting tired of his job and we are in a position where we can sell out and move. I hated leaving here, but we didn’t have a choice at the time.

With Mom— He stopped talking as though about to say something and changing his mind. Mom hasn’t been able to do much besides baking, so it has forced me to hire a few extra for the season. I wouldn’t feel like firing them so soon, but come January, I am certain that I can find a place for you.

What about Samuel?

Samuel too, if he wants.

Perhaps we can turn this place into a one hundred percent family-run farm again.

It was Mom’s hope that we do that.

The rest of the drive was filled with conversation of days past. Elizabeth told every story that made Johnathon look the fool and he did the same to her. They laughed to the point of tears and then cried at the thought of the days to come. All joy and sorrow ended as they pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Both of them were quiet. Elizabeth wondered if they were making themselves numb inside so they would not burden their mother with their emotions.

They walked to the front doors and then inside to the elevator. In her room on the third floor, they were greeted by their mother and her nurse. Elizabeth dove at her mother and gave her the best attempt at a hug as possible.

Oh my dear Beth, always the emotional one, her mother said while trying to hug back.

Trying not to laugh, Elizabeth replied, I got it from you.

As sharp as ever, her mother retorted, Oh, of all the things you get from me, that is not one of ’em.

Johnathan pulled the nurse to the side. Anything changed since I last spoke to the doctor?

Nothing. No broken bones or internal bleeding. She just seems a bit weaker than before.

Johnathan nodded. Thank you.

Take care and call if you need anything. As much as your mother has done for this community, there isn’t a soul here who won’t jump to help.

The nurse left and Johnathan grabbed the wheelchair. Come on, he said with a smile. You two can bicker back and forth on the way home.

Won’t be no bickering. It will be me winning. Their mother may have been weak of body, but she was still sharp of mind.

They were about to turn into the farm when their mother pleaded, "Slow down. I want to see it one last time.

Mom, there will be more chances once we get you back on your feet, Elizabeth said.

When the car came to a halt, Sara opened the door and began to get out. Her kids quickly jumped out after her.

Mom, you should not be out like this, Johnathon cautioned.

She paid no mind to him. I remember when we picked out the name, Christmas Town. I was devastated to find the name was taken, so your father cleverly added, ‘A North Pole Experience.’ He labored for weeks on our first sign. It had to be just right.

All three of them looked up at the arch leading into the homestead. Two stone pillars sat on the sides of the road that was two lanes wide. They rose ten feet in the air and supported an arch that rose several feet higher. Iron metal work encased a wooden sign displaying the name of the farm. Christmas Town mirrored the arch and underneath was A North Pole Experience, in a straight line. A soft white glow illuminated the sign. It was a simple, but elegant look that provided a welcoming experience right from the start.

Come on Mom, let’s go home. Everyone has prepared a meal and they are anxiously awaiting your arrival.

She nodded and they began up the road. As they drove, Sara turned her head to gaze out the window on her right. Instead of seeing an empty field, she saw an overgrown lot and her car parked on the side where she slept the first night on the farm. A quarter of a mile up there was a fork in the road. She remembered when she first took the road to the right and came upon a rundown shop that seemed to belong in a horror movie rather than on a Christmas tree farm. The road still led guests going to the farm, and taking the road to the left led to the bed and breakfast. It had been the original landowners’ home. It was