Chapter 1
A soft snowfall blanketed the earth that late night Christmas Eve. The stillness of the evening was broken only by the occasional car that went through the sleepy suburban neighborhood. Julie McPherson heard a car go past as the crunching of the tires against the icy pavement broke the silence. Soon, the sound faded into the distance until it was quiet once more.
"Probably someone coming home from a party," Julie mumbled to herself sadly.
She was tired but not sleepy as she continued to read her romance novel. It was a story of a woman who lost her love as a teenager only to find him once again through extraordinary circumstances. Julie loved romance novels as she tried to put herself into the character of the heroine. Their love lives were as exciting and romantic as hers was dull and uneventful.
It had been a long time since she had a man in her life and the prospects of her shedding her singleness was rapidly losing its luster.
At thirty-two, she had begun to realize that her time was running out to be a mother, something she wanted in the worst way. Orphaned as a small child and with no other family to take her in, Julie was shuttled from orphanages to foster homes and back until she turned eighteen and was turned out to fend for herself. She worked her way through college and was now an accountant for a successful financial firm in the city. Her occasional dates, while nice, never developed into the kind of relationship where she would be swept off her feet and live happily ever after. Very rarely did she ever turn down a date, hoping each time for that romantic spark to light her heart.
At first, she thought it just bad luck that Mr. Right wasn't falling into her lap, but after years of dating and no success, she started to look within herself for possible reasons. Julie never considered herself beautiful and to a point, she was right. She had a pleasant face, a trim body, and she thought she was as witty and charming as the next girl. It had to be something else, something from within her that stopped her dearest dreams from happening. Marriage and motherhood was something she felt she had to have, something that was owed her since she grew up so alone.
There were a few male prospects at her workplace, some of whom she dated, but most of them showed no interest in her except for friendship. Just my luck, she thought to herself grimly as she cast the book aside. Most women would love to have male friends who wanted nothing more than that, but she wanted more. She did like a few of them quite a lot, namely Tom Johansson in payroll and Derek Farmer in advertising, but both were the quiet, reserved type and neither had asked her out. Sure, both had conversed with her during work hours occasionally, but it never went further than that.
Her female friends tried many times to hook Julie up with dates and she trusted them explicitly in their choices. Only a few, however, lasted more than a few dates. When she felt that the relationship wasn't going in the direction she wanted, she would break it off. Only one relationship in the past four years lasted more than six months and she regretted giving up on that one. He had been a brother of one of the secretaries and Julie was head over heels from the start. Keith was everything she had ever wanted in a serious relationship; good looking, funny, and smart. And he loved her. He was everything except marriage minded.
Keith was truthful with her from the start, stating he wasn't sure about marriage and didn't know if he ever would be. Julie accepted it at first, hoping he would change his mind in the future. When their first anniversary came and went and there was no sign of him even thinking about marriage, Julie decided to cut her losses. That was six months ago and sometimes she still wished they were together. At least she wouldn't be alone during the holidays again.
It was almost midnight when she decided to flip on the TV. "It's a Wonderful Life" was about to begin on one of the cable channels and she always loved to watch it. In her mind, it was the perfect Christmas movie. As the movie played, Julie curled up in a ball on the sofa and pulled an afghan over her. Soon, sleep overtook her as the sounds of the movie became distant until they were no more.
Chapter 2
Julie woke a short time later as she heard, no felt, a presence in the room that wasn't there just minutes before. The TV was still on, although a commercial was playing. She lifted her head from the arm of the couch and through her drowsy fog saw a tall figure near her small decorated tree. He was putting something on it, tenderly placing an ornament lovingly around a lower branch. Dressed in a bright, flowing green robe, she could see he was elderly, having a white beard and a weathered, lined face. He paid no attention to her as he continued his work.
Julie was alarmed, but immediately felt no fear from him. His eyes were bright, his face kindly, and she knew instinctively he would not harm her. Surely, I must be dreaming, she thought.
"Who are you?" she asked softly.
The old man stopped and turned his attention to her, smiling as he did. "I am many things to many people," he replied in a melodious voice.
"Are you a ghost?"
"Some think I am. Others think I am a spirit."
"Who do you think you are?" Julie asked.
The old man laughed. It was a hearty, loving laugh that filled her living room. "I am whomever you want me to be."
Julie thought this over for a minute as he waited patiently. This is one great dream, she thought. I hope it doesn't end too soon. "Why have you come to me? What have I done to deserve your presence?" Julie sensed something important was about to happen to her. What is was, she didn't know.
The old man said nothing, but glided to her. He slowly knelt down and placed his hands over her golden locks. His touch was gentle and soft, yet very warm. Warmth seemed to radiate from his hands as they stayed upon her head. A few minutes went by before he removed them and stood up again.
"You have had a very sad life and you are not happy. Is that not so?"
"You know much about me."
"Ah, little one," he said softly. "You feel no one will ever love you and that you will never bring a child into this world."
"Yes," Julie replied softly, her head down. How could he know all this? Tears of sadness began to fall down her cheeks.
The old man reached forward and lifted her face. "Ah, little one, do not cry. I have something for you."
He moved away from her and with great effort knelt down heavily on the floor next to a small, brown sack.
"I don't think there's anything in that sack for me," Julie said solemnly.
"Ah, that is where you are wrong, my dear," he said, his piercing blue eyes blazing at he looked at her. "Things that I bring are not always as they seem." From the sack, he extracted an ornate pocket watch. He held it in front of his face and smiled. He swung it gently back and forth as he continued to smile.
Julie's heart sank when she saw what he held in his hand. A pocket watch. What good was that to her?
The old man let the sack fall and he glided back to her. "This is no ordinary watch, my dear. It will let you see things as they were, as they are, and what they could be."
"I....I don't understand," she stammered.
"I will show you what you do not see," he said gently. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," she said softly.
"Come, my dear. Touch the watch and we will begin your journey."
The watch lay in his hand, palm upwards. The old man looked at her impassively, waiting for Julie to make up her mind. Slowly, tentatively, Julie touched the watch. As soon as she did, the old man's free hand swiftly clamped down upon hers. Bright light escaped between the openings of their fingers as great warmth greeted them. The old man smiled at her and nodded, his white hair flowing as everything around them darkened until the only light seen was emanating between their hands.
Chapter 3
As if watching a play, Julie saw her life unfold before her. She witnessed her birth in the bright, sterile delivery room to a crying mother and proud father. The only way she knew it was they was from the one photo of them that she was given when she was small. She cherished that photo as it was her only link to family. Julie still kept it in her Bible and would gaze upon it from time to time.
Next, came the funeral of her parents. Julie was but six at the time. She recognized the smell of roses and the hushed tones of the visitors, though there weren't many. Julie had long ago tried to forget that horrible time of her life and thought she had done so successfully. Now, all of her emotions were ripped raw as she relived the ordeal all over again.
"I don't want to see this," she cried, trying to cover her eyes.
