Around two in the morning, I woke up parched and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water. On my way back, I noticed Mya’s bedroom door was open. Confusion turned into alarm when I saw she wasn’t in her bed. My heart hammered in my chest.
“Mya?” I whispered, checking the bathroom and every other room in the house. Nothing.
I shook Hayden awake. “Get up! Mya’s gone!”
He bolted upright. “What do you mean gone? She’s got to be somewhere.”
I was near tears. “She’s not. And my car keys are missing, too.”
We tore through the house looking for her. Then Hayden called out, “Honey, come look at this!”
There, beneath the Christmas tree, tucked among the presents, was a note in Mya’s careful handwriting:
Dear Santa,
I know it’s hard for you and your reindeer to visit every child in the world in one night. They must be so tired! So, I thought I’d help.
When you come to our house, I’ve set up a resting spot for your reindeer in the empty house across the street. I brought blankets and sandwiches—Mom’s yummy chicken ones and some vegetable ones, just in case.
You can also use Mom’s car if the reindeer are too tired to keep going. Just return it before morning, please!
My eyes blurred with tears as I read the last line. Hayden and I shared a look, relief washing over us in waves.
Without hesitating, I threw on my coat and ran outside. In the yard of the abandoned house across the street, I found my daughter, huddled in her winter coat with a bag of sandwiches on her lap.
“Mya,” I said softly, kneeling beside her. “What in the world are you doing here?”
She beamed up at me. “I’m waiting for Santa! I want his reindeer to rest before they fly to other houses.”
My heart felt like it could burst with love—and maybe a hint of exasperation. Scooping her into my arms, I whispered, “Let’s go back home, sweetheart. The blankets will keep the reindeer warm without you standing guard.”
On Christmas morning, Mya dashed to the tree with the kind of giddy excitement only a child can possess. Her eyes went round as she noticed a note propped against her gift:
Dear Mya,
Thank you for your thoughtful idea. Vixen especially loved the sandwiches, and your blankets were so cozy. You’ve made this Christmas extra magical for all of us. I returned your mom’s car—just like you asked.
– Santa
She let out a squeal, clutching the note to her chest. “Mom! Dad! Santa and the reindeer really used my blankets! And they ate my sandwiches!”
Hayden and I exchanged smiles, watching her face glow with joy.
At that moment, I realized that sometimes, the best gifts aren’t the ones wrapped in fancy paper. They’re found in the sweetness of a child’s heart and the simple ways they remind us of true Christmas magic. As Mya unwrapped her long-awaited Nutcracker tickets, I felt a surge of gratitude. For all these years, I thought I was the one making Christmas magical for her. But in reality, she managed to make it even more magical for us.