Broken Dreams and a Christmas Miracle
Katherine had been seeing Oliver for over a year. Their dates were so rare they might as well have been marked in red ink on her calendar—special occasions, treasured moments. He lived in Manchester, visiting her small town near Liverpool only for business trips. They had grand plans for the future, and this Christmas was meant to settle who would move where. But then, the phone rang. Katherine flinched—Oliver was calling!
“Hello, love,” she said, forcing warmth into her voice despite the chaos of her day.
But what answered was a sharp, unfamiliar woman’s voice.
“Hello there, homewrecker.”
Katherine froze, her breath stolen, her words dead in her throat.
The day had already been disaster after disaster. That morning, her office had demanded she rush in to sign a contract with foreign partners, indifferent to her plans—her salon appointment ruined, her hair still unstyled. The CEO was lounging on some sunny beach, while she muttered curses under her breath, hailed a cab, and trudged into work.
Leaving the business centre, she remembered—her dress. Her friend Emily, who did alterations on the side, had finished it for her. The dress she’d bought for New Year’s Eve now hung loose, shapeless. She preferred to believe she’d lost weight rather than admitting the fabric was cheap. She dialed Emily.
“Em, I’m so sorry—I completely forgot about the dress!”
“Katie, where have you been? I’ve been calling for an hour!” Emily’s voice crackled over the noise of a busy train station.
“Blame my boss,” Katherine sighed. “How’s the dress? Can I still pick it up?”
“Katie…” Emily’s voice wavered. “We’re already at the station. The train leaves in half an hour.”
Katherine lowered the phone, swallowing the lump in her throat. *Fine*, she thought. *No dress, no hairstyle—but it’s still New Year’s. Oliver will be here soon, and we’ll spend the night together. It’s not all bad.*
Even at twenty-six, Katherine was still a hopeless romantic, a believer in miracles. After this awful day, she clung to the hope that midnight would bring magic.
When her phone buzzed again, she flinched. Seeing Oliver’s name, she steadied herself, ready to sound bright and warm.
“Hello, love—”
“Hello there, homewrecker!” The same woman’s voice sliced through. “Did you really think he’d leave his family for you? Forget his number—or you’ll regret it.”
The line went dead, and Katherine’s mind spun. The rare meetings, the silent weekends, Oliver’s odd slips of the tongue—it all clicked into place. She staggered to the bus stop, leaning against a lamppost as the word *homewrecker* hammered at her. In an instant, her world shattered. The old year was leaving, taking every dream she’d ever held with it.
“Love, you all right?” A loud voice snapped her back to reality. A man stood before her—thick-bearded, bundled in a red coat with a faux-fur trim.
“No,” she whispered, tears threatening. “Who—who are you?”
“Father Christmas, who else?” He chuckled. “Come on, into the car—you’ll freeze out here!”
Before she could protest, he guided her to the passenger seat. As the engine rumbled to life, panic jolted through her.
“Stop! Where are you taking me? Let me out!”
Obediently, he pulled over. “Just wanted to help. Was heading to a café—thought you could use a hot cuppa. You looked lost out there. It’s almost New Year’s, and well…” He gestured at his costume.
The absurdity of it struck her, and suddenly, laughter burst from her—wild, unstoppable. It washed over the day’s pain: the ruined dress, the botched hair, Oliver’s betrayal, and now this stranger in a Father Christmas getup.
“Sorry,” she gasped between tears.
“Don’t be,” he said softly. “Old year’s taking all the rubbish with it. Things’ll get better. Take me—my best mate just bailed on our fifteen-year tradition. All because of his new missus.”
Katherine exhaled. Maybe it was the cold, maybe this odd encounter, but the weight on her chest lifted.
“Someone’s probably waiting for you,” he said, restarting the engine. “Where to?”
She gave a sad smile. “Nowhere. Empty flat, no dress, no hairstyle. Free as a bird. Dunno what to do.”
“Well then… how about we ring in the New Year together? Know a cozy spot—promises a bit of magic.”
She didn’t refuse. The thought of being alone tonight was unbearable.
At home, she changed out of her damp clothes, returned to the car with the faintest spark of hope. Inside the café, twinkling with fairy lights, she finally got a proper look at her rescuer.
“Why *are* you dressed as Father Christmas?” she asked, amused.
“Oh, that’s a long, ridiculous story,” he laughed, peeling off the fake beard. “Name’s William, by the way.”
“Katherine,” she said, shaking his hand. “Go on, then, William. I could use a funny story today.”
He ordered tea and began to talk. The conversation flowed easily, sorrow melting like snow in sunlight. Outside, fat flakes drifted down as midnight drew near.
The old year faded, taking heartbreak with it. And the new one? It gave Katherine and William the first flicker of something real—a love story born under Christmas lights.
Katherine smiled.
The miracle had come after all.
