Later that day, Chloe and Sandy bundled up and went outside to play in the snow. The sun was shining much brighter, and Chloe had a funny feeling that the roads would be cleared even sooner than they expected.

“Let’s build something out of snow,” Chloe suggested.

“Sure,” Sandy said. “A snowman?”

“Maybe,” Chloe said. “Or we could build a snowcastle. You know, like a sandcastle, but made of snow.”

“That sounds cool,” Sandy said. “Oh! What if we built Santa’s village? With little cabins for the elves?”

“And a barn for the reindeer!” Chloe exclaimed. “And we can decorate everything with pebbles and pine needles—”

“And bits of ribbon,” Sandy said, laughing. “Since Elsa is strictly an indoor cat.”

“Love it,” Chloe said. “I might even try to build Santa’s sleigh.”

The girls were quiet as they went to work, packing snow into the shape of tiny houses and roads. After a while, Chloe started speaking.

“You made my Christmas wish come true,” she said, staring at the snow in her hands. “Charlie’s going to be okay, and it’s all because you figured out what was wrong with him. I don’t know how to thank you, Sandy. I’ll never be able to thank you enough.”

“Thank me?” Sandy asked in surprise. “You don’t have to thank me for anything. I’ve been…”

Sandy’s voice trailed off, but Chloe stayed focused on the snow she was sculpting. She didn’t look at her… and she didn’t say a word.

“Let’s just say I’m not proud of myself,” Sandy said. “I wish I could start the trip over again and do everything differently. I’m sorry I was so mean. And I’m sorry I ruined the trip.”

“You definitely didn’t ruin it!” Chloe said right away. “You figured out what was wrong with Charlie.… You bought him an awesome new collar.… We had so much fun shopping and snow tubing and taking selfies at the party.… I mean, I did.…”

Chloe glanced up just in time to see Sandy smiling at her.

“I did, too,” Sandy said. “Anyway, I just wanted to tell you… next time, it will be even better.”

“Next time?” Chloe asked. “Do you know something I don’t know?”

Sandy shrugged. “I just figured we’d all take another trip sometime. My mom is obviously crazy about your dad.”

“And he feels the same way about her,” Chloe said. “Obviously. So when do you think our next trip will be?”

“Well…” Sandy began. “Presidents’ Day weekend is coming up. I wish it could be sooner, though.”

“What about Martin Luther King Day? That’s next month,” Chloe suggested.

“Or how about New Year’s?” Sandy joked. “That’s, like, next week!”

As the girls laughed, they heard the sound of a pickup truck driving over the gravel back roads. Chloe realized it was the first vehicle she’d heard since the storm hit. “I wonder who that is,” she said. “Maintenance crew, maybe?”

“Maybe,” Sandy said. “Too bad they have to work on Christmas.”

The girls went back to building their snow village.

“You know,” Chloe said, “the roads must be better if a truck…”

Just then, the truck appeared. It was as bright and shiny as Rudolph’s nose. And it was driving toward Mistletoe Cottage.

Sandy stood up abruptly as the truck parked on the side of the road.

“Do you—” Chloe began.

“Dad!” Sandy screamed joyfully. “Dad! Dad! You’re here!”

A tall, bearded man stepped out of the truck. His smile was identical to Sandy’s as she ran through the snow and catapulted into his arms.

“Merry Christmas, baby girl!” he said as he squeezed Sandy in a bear hug.

The sight of Sandy and her dad, reunited for Christmas, made Chloe want to cry happy tears.

“Chloe!” Sandy exclaimed. “Come meet my dad!”

“Hi, I’m Jason,” Sandy’s dad said.

“Chloe is Tom’s daughter,” Sandy explained. Then her smile fell.

“What’s wrong, Sandy-Crab?” Jason asked. Chloe tried not to giggle at the nickname, which—sometimes—suited Sandy perfectly.

“I’m—Dad—Mom said you shouldn’t come,” Sandy said awkwardly. “I’m sorry—I don’t—”

“Don’t give it another thought,” Jason told her. “Your mom and I talked last night, and I talked to Tom, too. They invited me for Christmas dinner if the roads were clear enough to drive.”

“They did?” Sandy exclaimed.

Jason nodded. “But I told them not to tell you—just in case I couldn’t make it through,” he said. “I didn’t want to disappoint you. Not on Christmas.”

“You could never disappoint me,” Sandy told her dad. “I’m sorry, though… we already opened presents.”

Jason kissed the top of her head. “That’s okay—I didn’t bring any, since I didn’t have some for everybody. That doesn’t mean I came empty-handed, though. You girls want to help me carry in these groceries? I’ve brought everything we need for a Christmas feast!”

“Thank goodness!” Chloe exclaimed. “Otherwise I think we were going to be stuck eating butter.”

“It’s a long story,” Sandy said when she saw her dad’s confused look. “Let’s go inside and meet Tom. I think you’ll like him.… He’s really nice.…”

Chloe grabbed a grocery bag and trailed behind Sandy and Jason. As she watched them laughing together, she realized that now Sandy’s Christmas wish had come true, too. The bright star we saw last night must have had extra Christmas magic, Chloe thought.

A smile spread across Chloe’s face as she remembered what her dad had said about how his family had changed, in ways he had never expected: not ruined, not broken, but different. Bigger.

And impossible to imagine any other way!