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

“It’s okay, Mack. I’m here. Everything will be better from now on, you’ll see.” I rubbed his back slowly up and down, giving him a chance to regain control of his emotions. I kept whispering promises in his ear, things that I hoped would soothe and give him hope.


After a while, he calmed down and stepped back, wiping his face and sniffling. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time. It was midnight. For once, I could say the words without rancor.


“Merry Christmas, Mack.” I smiled softly at him. “Welcome home.”


He laughed. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Charlie, and thank you.”


When I returned later that morning to take over for the day, Mack greeted me with a shy smile


“I got some, yeah. I’ll get more later.” I took off my jacket and gloves and sat at the desk. “All quiet last night?”


Chapter 11