It's the middle of a very cold December, and Charlie Mayburn is in desperate need of a seasonal night manager at his self-storage facility. When he comes across a résumé from his childhood sweetheart, Lonnie "Mack" McDaniel, he’s beyond surprised. Mack left right after high school, determined to see the world and abandoning both Charlie and their small town for greener pastures. So what’s he doing back twenty years later? As he's desperate and Mack is the most qualified applicant, Charlie hires him on the spot, along with leasing him a ten-by-ten unit. Mack does good work, but something’s off about him. He's very secretive, often bedraggled, and has holes in his well-worn shoes. Definitely not the clean-cut Mack Charlie grew up with. When Charlie discovers, quite by accident, that Mack has been living in the storage unit he rented -- in the middle of winter -- he takes matters in hand. He offers Mack a place to stay, no strings attached. It takes some doing, but Charlie finally gets Mack to tell him how he ended up homeless. The tale almost breaks his heart, but Charlie is determined to take care of his long lost friend, no matter what. Perhaps this Christmas, both men can find their way through old hurts and forge a new beginning, with good will for all.

And Good Will to All

Out of curiosity, I asked, “So, was there anyone special in your life before that shit storm you went through?”


Mack shrugged. “No one steady. I don’t know that I’m relationship material, or even friendmaterial any way. I can barely take care of myself. I mean, look at me now.”


I waslooking—real hard, too—and I wanted to take him in my arms and never let him go.


Instead, I said, “I think you’re being too hard on yourself, Mack. You’re a survivor, and you should be proud of that. Anyone would be honored to have you as a friend. No one will think less of you because of the difficulties you’ve been through—least of all me.” I cleared my throat and got up from the table. “Time for work. Don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll do them later.”


“Wait,” he said before I left the kitchen. “Does this mean you consider me…a friend again?” He watched me with an undecipherable expression.


I smiled. “Always, Mack. You will always have my friendship.”


Chapter 8