Road Angel

By Maxine Douglas

It's A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol-themed novella.

Lee Thomas is trying to make it home to his family in time for Christmas. Ignoring the road conditions caused by the winter blizzard, the semi-truck jackknifes on a snowy Wisconsin highway, leaving Lee close to death.

Cynamon Bradford has had feelings for Lee and his young daughter since the day she met them. Problem is, Cyn is their guardian angel and now she must convince Lee he has a life worth living.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maxine Douglas
• Release date: Dec 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223253426

Maxine Douglas

Maxine Douglas first began writing in the early 1970s while in high school. She took every creative writing course offered at the time and focused her energy for many years after that on poetry.  It wasn't until a dear friend's sister revealed she was about to become a published author that jumpstarted Maxine into getting the ball rolling; she finished her first manuscript in a month. Maxine and her late husband moved to Oklahoma in 2010 from Wisconsin. Since then Maxine has rekindled her childhood love of westerns. She has a son, two granddaughters, a great-granddaughter, and a domestic grey tabby named Simon. And many friends she now considers her Oklahoma family. One of the things Maxine has learned over the years is that you can never stop dreaming and reaching for the stars. Sooner or later you touch one and it'll bring you more happiness than you can ever imagine. Maxine feels lucky and blessed, that over the past several years she's been able to reach out and touch the stars--and she's still reaching. Maxine loves to hear from her readers. So, come on by and say "Hello"; Maxine would love to hear from you. You can catch her on: Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/maxinesbookdivas/ X: @waMaxineDouglas Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6423715.Maxine_Douglas BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/maxine-douglas

Book preview

ABOUT THE BOOK

Lee Thomas is trying to make it home to his family in time for Christmas. Ignoring the road conditions caused by the winter blizzard, the semi-truck jackknifes on a snowy Wisconsin highway, leaving Lee close to death.

Cynamon Bradford has had feelings for Lee and his young daughter since the day she met them. Problem is, Cyn is their guardian angel and now she must convince Lee he has a life worth living.

NOTE FROM MAXINE DOUGLAS

Among my favorite Christmas movies are Christmas Carol (1938) and It’s a Wonderful Life.

They are similar in many ways, but the most evident in my opinion is that our life is worth everything to those we’ve touched.

I hope I have touched yours this holiday season with a story inspired by these two holiday classics.

Merry Christmas!

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To my parents for always having us kids watch the old black and white classics even when we didn’t want to.

To my friend Carla who is always there with her welcomed frankness on everything I write.

DEDICATION

In memory of my late husband, Randy,

who spent many hours on the road behind the wheel of his rig.

I prayed for your safe return each trip and love you still.

You are now my guardian angel as you wait for me.

Chapter One

‘L et It Snow’ on this ... the radio DJ hummed through the radio. Before long I was humming along with the classic Christmas song that more than described the frightful weather.

The song truly fit snow-packed Interstate 94 which I travel weekly. With only a few days until Christmas, I dropped the last load in Gary, Indiana. Now with twenty miles to go before hitting Chicago, I can head back home to Wisconsin and my little girl. Damn if I’ll let her spend it without me again. I promised and meant every word when I promised to be there this year to watch her open presents and make snow angels in the yard.

The northwest wind whips across Lake Michigan, causing the blinding lake-effect snow I hate—the trucker’s nightmare I’ve learned to ignore.

I’m on a mission, damn it, and no stupid storm will stop me.

Still, visibility is slim, like driving through a kaleidoscope of white. The effect plays tricks on my eyes, but I squint, refusing to pull over. I’ve never allowed the weather to interfere with my job, and I’m not about to start now—especially this close to spending Christmas with my family for the first time since my baby daughter was born three years before.

She was my Christmas miracle, Isabella Mae Thomas—perfect in every way. Crystal-blue eyes sparkle even when full of sad little baby tears. Light, curly, strawberry-blonde hair falls above her shoulders, framing her round little face and chubby cheeks, giving her a cherub look. Sandi called her Bella, and I was fine with that, as long as a glittering vampire didn’t show up at our front door with a large wolf at its side.

I chuckle. Sandi would have been thrilled to have a Twilight family to look after our little angel.

I chuckle again at the thought of trying to chase both off while Sandi asks them