"Mommy, I'm going to be late for school." Emily cries out to her mother Lexi.

"I'm sorry honey, I overslept. It won't happen again."

"Mommy will you be able to pay for our Christmas excursion today? It was supposed to have been paid by last Friday. Miss Holloway says if it's not paid by tomorrow I won't be able to go."

"I will see if I make enough on tips today, okay Emily. Now, put on your jacket it's freezing outside."

Lexi zips up her jacket and tightens the hoodie. She tries to peer out the window of the door, but the cold created a fog on the glass making it impossible to look outside. They stepped outside into the frigid air and they could feel the cold seep into their bodies chilling their bones. Lexy felt like walking right back into Castle Inn, the Motel they were staying at. She grabbed Emily's hand and practically dragged her down the road.

"Come on Emily, we've got to hurry up or you are going to be late for school." She is almost jogging to keep up with her mother. It seemed much colder today. As they exhaled their breath turned the icy cold morning air white. Her nose and cheeks were red because of the cold.

They are both quiet, busy with their own thoughts. The only thing you can hear is the crunch of their footsteps in the snow and the occasional car driving past.

At the school gate she turns Emily to face her and bends down to look her in the eyes.

"Honey, remember after school to go directly to Mrs Kennedy. I will come and get you after work. And please listen to her and do your homework."

"Yes, mommy. Are you going to be home early tonight?"

"No, honey. I'm working double shifts. It's Christmas season and we're staying open later. They need me to work. But it's good. It's a little extra money for us. I will be able to buy you a nice Christmas present."

"Mommy, please don't forget the money for the excursion."

"I won't honey. I'll see what I can do. Now, off you go to class. I love you." She says and kisses her on both cheeks and watches while she walks into the school building.

Lexi turns around and walks in the opposite direction towards the diner she works at. Tears starts streaming down her face. She tries to wipe them away with the thick gloves she's wearing. The tears makes her eyes blurry and she stumbles over a rock she didn't notice.

She's already ten minutes late for the breakfast run. "I bet Thomas will have a lot to say about that." He is going to deduct an hour's pay again. She can't afford this. This means she's going to have to work late on Sunday as well, to make up the money. She always tries to leave early on Sundays. That is the only time she has to spend with Emily.

She neared the diner and could see the bright red garlands with flashing lights hanging in the windows. She loved working at the diner. It had a cozy homely feeling.

When she entered, joyful Christmas music were playing. It made her feel much better. Hope flamed up in her heart again. Christmas were a time of hope and miracles.

She had this exciting feeling in her tummy in spite of the hardship she had to endure the last seven years. She believed something good was going to happen.

A tall beautifully decorated tree stood near the counter with a huge silver star on top and a wreath with big candles decorated the one end of the counter.

Just as she was looking at the star, "The First Noel" started playing. "Wow, what great timing!" She said to herself. Oh, how she loved Christmas carols. She started singing along.

The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

"You're late!" Thomas shouts at her.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Yea, yea. You've got customers waiting. Get to work."

The only person that makes working at 'The Lamp Post Diner' unpleasant, is Thomas. He runs the place for his father. Mr Hetherington had a heart attack three months ago, and has been recovering at home.

He pays the occasional visit to the diner to see if everything is running smoothly. Oh, how she prays that he gets well soon. Everybody misses him at the diner. He is such a heartfelt, warm and caring man. Thomas is nothing like him. He is hateful and hard and can be harsh sometimes.

In a small town like Lake George, NY, there aren't a lot of opportunities for someone without an education. If you have a job, you must do anything in your power to keep it. Especially if you've got a seven year old growing girl.

Lexi never takes tea time nor lunch. She keeps going because she needs the tips. The extra money keeps them afloat.

Some days she doesn't eat because she saves the money to pay their rent. Emily needs a lot of things for school. And she's growing so fast. She almost can't keep up with buying new clothes.

She is trying to save up for a deposit on an apartment, but it is going really slow. There is always something that needs to be bought or paid or repaired. Things she doesn't plan on.

Three weeks ago, Emily's school shoes broke beyond repair, and she had to buy a new pair. She overslept twice and lost two hours wages.

She had to buy Emily a new jacket because her old one were too small. It didn't even want to close. Just after she bought the jacket the teacher started asking for their Christmas excursion money.

She almost had all the money when Emily got sick. She had to use the excursion money to buy some medicine.

She's almost saved up enough for the excursion again. She prays it's going to be a good day. She doesn't want to disappoint Emily. God knows she has done so, so many times.

"Hey, best friend! How are you doin?" Annie shouts from the kitchen, it makes Lexi laugh. Annie is about the only jolly person around here. She always makes her laugh. She definitely always brightens the day.

"Hey, Annie! I thought you weren't coming in today."

"What? And leave you alone to deal with that pain in...." She doesn't finish the sentence because Lexi shows her to be quiet as Stan is just behind the corner.

"Shhhhhhhh..." Lexi laughs while pressing her index finger to her mouth.

"Oh, don't mind him. He won't dare to mess with me. Late again, huh?"

"Yeah! I stayed up late again last night. I only went to bed at about 3 o'clock."

"Phew, that's a bit late, don't you think?" Annie asks with worry in her eyes.

"Yes, I know. I have to finish all my jewelry orders before Christmas. I want to buy Emily something special this year."

"Lexi, Emily shouldn't be your only concern. You must start thinking about yourself. You won't be able to make her happy if you're not happy. Life is what you make of it."

"Hey, are you getting all sentimental on me?"

"Yes. And you know I'm right."

"You are. I just need some more time."

"It's been more than seven years since Peter died. How much more time do you need?"

"I don't know. It's getting more complicated by the day. Sometimes I feel I can't handle it anymore. Then I think of Emily, and I pick myself up again."

"Are you two going to stand around and chat all day or are you going to serve your customers?" Thomas asked from behind them. Lexi drew in a sharp breath and left to go put on her uniform. As she entered the ladies locker room, she heard Annie say: "No, Mr Scrooch, we are going to serve our customers."

It's almost the end of her second shift, and Lexi is really nervous because she hasn't made enough tips to pay for Emily's Christmas excursion yet.

It's twenty past ten. The diner was very quiet today. She still needs half the money for the excursion.

"I think we will close at ten thirty. It must be the cold weather that's keeping everybody indoors tonight." Thomas said while standing at the counter.

Lexi felt her knees go limb. She walked over to a corner booth and sat down. Tears were burning her eyes. "What am I going to tell Emily?" She whispered to herself. She covered her face with her hands and forced her tears to stay behind her eyelids.

She felt for the pin that held up her hair and pulled it out. She rolled it round and round in her fingers. Her grandmother gave her the old pin. Whenever she felt hopeless and alone she would sit looking at it. As if to draw some strength from it.

"It's our family's only Heirloom left. Keep it save Alexandra." Her grandmother said when she gave it to her on her deathbed.

She knows the pin is not worth anything, but she kept it all these years. It kind of gives her hope. She doesn't know why, but it does. She moved in with her grandmother when she was six months pregnant with Emily.

Peter had died just a week prior to that, in a terrible car accident. He was on his way to work when a truck lost control and collided head on with Peter.

She wanted to die along with him when they came to tell her at home. She loved him so much and didn't know how to continue living without him.

Her grandmother convinced her to move in with her so that she could help support Lexi with the baby on the way.

Emily was only ten months old when her grandmother died. She was still mourning her husband when she died.

Lexi lost her grandmother's house a year after that because she couldn't keep up with the mortgage payments. She moved into a smaller apartment near the diner where she got a job.

She soon discovered that she couldn't afford the apartment and care for a baby. That's when she decided to move into a cheap motel. At least she could pay the rent and care for Emily. She's been struggling to keep food on the table ever since.

Mrs Kennedy, an old friend of her grandmother's were a big blessing from God. She owned a Day-Care centre in town near the diner. When her grandmother got ill and couldn't look after Emily anymore, she offered to look after her for half the normal Day-Care fees.

"Are you okay miss?" A kind voice startled her from her daydreaming.

"What?" She asked in a small quivering voice.

"You're crying. Are you okay?" He asked with a softness in his eyes she hasn't seen since her grandmother's death.

"Oh.... yes I'm fine. Thank you Sir. Just missing my grandmother." She said with a faint smile while holding the pin up for him to see. "She gave it to me before she died."

"That's interesting. It's a beautiful pin."

"Yes, it is."

"Well, good night miss! Perhaps I'll see you around?"

"Sure. Good night, sir." She found the old kind man strange, but didn't pay much attention to him and got up to get ready to go home.

After she got dressed she headed for the door.

"Lexy, are you okay? I saw you crying earlier when that gentleman spoke to you." Thomas asked from the counter just before she touched the door to go outside.

"I'm fine Thomas. I just missed my grandmother a lot today." She said. He was busy counting the days takings when he spoke to her.

"If you wait a couple of minutes I will give you a ride home."

"Really?" She asked in surprise. Thomas hasn't treated her nice since she refused several times to go on a date with him.

"Yes!" He said softly. "I'm not the monster you think I am Lexy. You know I like you. You're the one that's been pushing me away."

Without thinking she lashes out at him: "You have a hell of a way to show me you like me, Thomas."

"You haven't made it easy on me. I've tried many times to approach you. But you keep pushing me away. I know you loved Peter very much. We were best friends. I just wanted to be there for you when he died." He said a little too loud.

"I know, I'm sorry." She said softly with lowered eyes. "It's just.... I wasn't ready to see anyone else yet. I missed him to much."

He came around the counter and stood in front of her: "It's been over seven years Lexy. You have got to move on. You don't want to let anybody in. You don't have to do this on your own."

"I know. It's just so hard. It feels like I'm cheating on him." She said with tears running down her cheeks.

"Hey, don't cry." He said softly while wiping the tears away with his thumbs. "Please, Lexy. Give us a try. I promise I won't push it. I'll take it as slow as you want me to."

"Okay Thomas. But promise you will give me some time."

"I promise." Is all he said and embraced her in a hug for a while.

After he cashed up he gave her a lift to Mrs Kennedy to pick up Emily.

Lake George is a beautiful town. When you approach it at night, it appears as a glowing jewel set amidst the dark surrounding peaks. She usually likes the view when walking home, but with the winter snow it is very cold. She really appreciates the lift tonight. It means she won't be so cold and tired from carrying Emily home.

"I didn't know you picked her up so late." He said worried.

"It's my only option. I can't afford a car to drive around or a nanny to look after her. I don't earn a lot. You keep on deducting every minute I'm late."

He didn't say much after that. He helped her carry Emily to her bed. She walked him to the door, he hugged her and left.

She was surprised he didn't want more than a hug.