An Open Window — Rick R. Reed

Two men. One Christmas Eve that changes the courses of both their lives. Henry's homeless and only wants a warm place to sleep on the coldest night of the year. A forgotten open window in a darkened house entices Henry inside with the promise of warmth and comfort. He knows it's bad, but he promises himself he'll be out before the owner wakes on Christmas morning. Except he oversleeps and the homeowner, Jim, discovers a bearded stranger sawing logs under his dining room table. When the shock and the drama that ensues dies down, Henry and Jim discover that they might have found, quite unexpectedly, the Christmas miracle they'd both been longing forlove and home. A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar "Stocking Stuffers."