One Winter Weekend

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

O ver an hour later, Hannah was still waiting.

In Anchorage International Airport with forty or so other travellers.

Their Christmas World transfer - the so-called ‘Magical Christmas Caravan’ was late … very late.

“You can’t be serious,” a fellow airline passenger commented nearby. “How much longer are we supposed to wait? Are they going to compensate us for this debacle? It is the resort's transport after all,” the disgruntled woman asked.

She was surrounded by three miserable-looking children, while her sullen husband stood in a long line of people trying to find out what was going on.

Hannah had noticed the family on the plane earlier, but now she was getting a better look at them. They were exactly the type of people you’d expect to find on such a jaunt; happy family, blonde-haired and blue-eyed, with their cute-as-a-button kids giddy with excitement about a trip of a lifetime to see Santa.

More decidedly un happy faces surrounded the resort’s airport help desk at the moment, but there were plenty of content ones to be found elsewhere too.

A father with his son excitedly perched on top of his shoulders. A serene mother with her sleeping child, and an elderly couple holding hands while they waited for their connection.

It was everything the holidays should be about, Hannah thought; family and loved ones together at the most magical time of the year.

She had been in plenty of airports, but there was something about this one that appealed to her photographer’s eye.

The nearby pillars were like pieces of art, almost abstract; though she didn’t really know much about art except what she did or didn’t like. These were adorned from top to bottom with garlands and white lights. While elsewhere in the terminal, festive wreaths hung on hooks and there were lots and lots of fresh-smelling pine trees.

And of course, then there was the view….

Hannah had taken countless pictures in her life, some to pay the bills and many more for fun. She’d taken portraits, and even the occasional wedding when things were slow between wildlife jobs, but there was something about the outdoors that she loved most of all.

She’d spent her entire life in it after all, had hiked the Quarry trail in Auburn so many times she felt she knew it by heart. Same for the Recreational River, Blue Heron Trail and the Simpson-Reed Trail, and that was just California.

She’d zigzagged her way across America with her collection of trusty Nikon SLR cameras, but she’d never ventured this far north.

The furthest she’d been was Alberta for a wildlife safari last summer. It was those photos that had opened the door to her current opportunity.

And the reason she was in this snowy picture perfect wonderland right now.

An hour or so later, and Hannah was peering out the window of Christmas World’s transfer coach as Anchorage melted away in a sea of white.

Fresh snow had begun to fall half an hour before, which almost made up for the exorbitant wait.

But at least they were on their way now, and soon Hannah would have a warm lodge, a toasty fire and the most magical Christmas experience awaiting her.

She wondered if there really would be fresh roasted chestnuts available as advertised, and what kind of activities there would be for guests to enjoy when they arrived.

The website listed things like dog-sledding and carolling, plus places to get hot chocolate, Christmas cookies, and a myriad other festive treats.

All of which sounded amazing, especially since she was tired and in sore need of some holiday cheer after such a long travel day.

She imagined the resort town as something like from the movie, It’s A Wonderful Life, with that close-knit community feel throughout.

Yes, she was here primarily for a career opportunity, but she’d be lying if she said there wasn’t the element of living out a fantasy white Christmas too.

Hannah turned back to the window. The snow was falling harder now, and the smile wouldn’t leave her face.

She was about to have the best Christmas ever; she could feel it.

It’s like Christmas morning. The faster you sleep, the faster it arrives. Isn’t that what Mom and Dad always said?

And she couldn’t wait for it to begin.

End of Excerpt

Christmas Beneath the Stars is out now in print and ebook.