Lily, 17, is heartbroken when her stepmom, Karen, secretly cancels her flight on Christmas. Fate has other plans. An ironic series of circumstances leaves Karen stranded, humiliated, and exposed for her scheme, making her Christmas anything but joyful.
Last Christmas was supposed to be amazing. Life isn’t always fairy tale, right? Especially with a stepmom who barely tolerates you.
Let me, seventeen-year-old Lily, share my Christmas turmoil. After a peaceful divorce, my dad married Karen two years ago. We didn’t bond as much as he wanted.
Karen made it apparent I didn’t match her beautiful mixed family dream from the day she entered my life.
“Lily’s too much like her mother, Tom,” she said. What did you think? That we’d instantaneously bond and be the perfect mother-daughter pair? She’s stubborn at heart.”
She was right.
I lived a little apartment twelve hours from my dad since then. Karen got me to leave despite his objections. She wanted me gone.
I wasn’t mad. I lived closer to my mom, my new school was better, and my dad’s aunt owned the building. Clara often brought wonderful casseroles and pastries.
My monthly payments from my parents and my part-time job at a hairdresser kept me afloat. Living my best life.
Dad invited me to Christmas with them, giving me hope. I didn’t want to spend the holidays alone while Mom was at a meditation retreat in Nepal.
I booked my travel early because driving 12 hours seemed awful. Gifts were wrapped and packed. I added a bottle of my dad’s favorite bourbon.
“Lily, why am I buying you bourbon?” Aunt Clara raised an eyebrow.
“For Dad! Christmas gift, promise! Being underage prevents me from getting it.”
Yes, she bought it and wrapped it in thick kraft paper.
“Here,” she entered my apartment. The bottle should be unopened when you get to your dad’s.
Leaving a dish of cookies, she giggled and went.
After waiting for Christmas, Karen arrived at my house saying she was on a work trip and needed a place to stay.
“Lily,” she replied, bringing her luggage in. “I need a few-day spot. Business, not vacation. Continue studying or whatever. Keep the coffee machine full, and I’ll do the rest.”
It was odd for her to crash at my little one-bedroom. What might I do? Say no and anger Dad?
Pass.
I reluctantly let her stay.
Karen started off weirdly lovely. Her admiration of my holiday decor was surprising considering she typically mocked it.
On the second night, Karen offered to cook dinner, shocking me.
“I’ll be back from my meeting soon,” she added. Dinner’s on me. Would garlic buns and grilled fish sound good?
“That sounds great. Thanks, Karen!”
I wondered if she was trying to reconcile.
No, she wasn’t.
My Christmas Eve morning was full with anticipation. My flight was in the afternoon, so I checked my bags, put on my coziest sweater, and waited for Clara to drive me to the airport.
“See you home?” I asked Karen while lacing my boots.
“Yeah,” she said, staring at her laptop. My flight is tonight. Lock up and bring the keys.”
I arrived at the airport. Then everything fell apart.
The airline clerk frowned at her computer as I gave her my ticket.
“I’m sorry, Miss Carter,” she said. “Your flight canceled.”
I blinked, confused.
“What? Canceled? By airline?”
She tilted her head to watch the TV.
“No, ma’am, all flights are on time,” she said. “But yours was canceled online two days ago.”
Heart plummeted.
What the heck?
Not touched my ticket. No online check-in. Nothing. I called airline assistance and they validated my account as the canceler. A investigator could estimate who used my laptop two days ago.
I’m devastated.
At the airport, suffering from the betrayal, my phone buzzed.
Merry Christmas! Ours will be beautiful without you! Clara has your keys.
The text slapped. She harmed me. Karen sabotaged me.
Her “kind” behavior was a Christmas deception to keep me from Dad. Furious, I called my dad but got voicemail.
Anger and hurt lingered for hours. I could have gone home, but numb. Not knowing what to do.
My Christmas sucked. However, my phone buzzed again about 9 p.m. Unknown number.
Your plan worked. Stuck at the bakery. Lily, get me now—it’s cold!
Karen’s screaming voice filled my thoughts as I stared at the text.
What plan? I did nothing! I was curious.
I’m bound. Good luck, Karen. Walk away.
I returned home.
Next morning, I pieced together Karen’s terrible night and saw gold in the irony.
It happened as follows:
Karen bought Christmas dinner sweets at a nearby bakery after I departed for the airport. Karen parked her rental car illegally in a tow-away zone.
Why me?
For easier memory, my dad gave us identical phone numbers with one digit difference. Karen only remembered mine, and fate was funny.
In addition, Karen thought I undermined her by calling the tow business after learning about the canceled flight.
My dad contacted me after attempting to reach Karen all night. Worry filled his voice.
“Lily, shouldn’t you be here?” he asked. “Where’s Karen?”
“You haven’t heard?” My enjoyment was scarcely concealed. “She’s probably at the bakery or tow yard.”
Lily, what are you talking about?
Spilled everything.
Flight cancellation, Karen’s text, and her situation.
“You’re joking,” Dad said. “She canceled your flight?”
“Yep,” I said. “Nobody else could have done it. And now she pays.”
Silence followed by a sigh.
He said, “Lily, there’s something you need to know. “Weeks ago, Karen said you shouldn’t come for Christmas.”
I froze.
“What?”
She preferred ‘us.’ I expected her to recover when she visited you for business. I never expected her to do this.”
You knew she didn’t want me there, Dad? I requested.
“I thought I could fix it, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I wanted this Christmas to be special for you both. Mom was away, so I had to make it good for you. I doubted Karen would go so far. I ignored it after we spoke.”
“You thought brushing it off would help?”
His quiet sufficed.
“I’m booking the next flight,” he insisted.
Karen looked like life had torn her up when she arrived home hours later after bumming a tow truck ride.
Karen crawled to my bathroom, cleaned up, and fell asleep on the couch. My dad arrived after his flight when she woke.
“You canceled her flight?” he demanded without greeting.
Karen froze, her face colorless.
Tom, I asked for family time without…
Without my daughter? he snapped. “You tried to break our relationship by ruining her Christmas. Who would do that to a teen? Lily is a child forced to grow up fast by you!”
Karen stammered, making excuses, but it was too late.
“Pack your bags,” Dad ordered harshly. Enjoy Christmas anywhere you choose. But not here. Staying with my daughter.”
For once, Karen was silent. She gathered her belongings and fled, bowing in shame.
As for me?
Dad booked our flights home, insisting Karen wouldn’t be there. We had hot chocolate, dessert, and laughed at the absurdity of the celebration.
And Karen?
Licking her wounds and facing a large fine, she spent Christmas alone in a hotel.
Poor luck. Sometimes fate acts fast.