Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 10

10 Feeling Safe

Clarice POV

The drive to the cottage took us through the main part of town. It really hasn’t changed at all. A few new stores but a lot of the same ones from when I was a kid. My heart starts to race a little as we approach the street I grew up on. Thankfully, the cottage is in the opposite direction. I smile when he pulls off the main road and onto a short dirt road. The cottage quickly comes into view. Besides some vines and dirt, it looks exactly like I remember it. A small porch and green shutters.

A tiny

chimney that I used to wonder how Santa would fit down to bring my presents.

A memory of my grandmother sitting on her porch while I ran around the yard with her dog, Comet, pops into my head. I chuckle to myself thinking about my grandmother naming her dog after one of Santa’s reindeer. “Can I ask what the chuckle was about,” he asks as he pulls into the dirt driveway. “My grandmother named her dog after Santa’s reindeer.” “Which one,” he asks. “Comet, the dog couldn’t sit still to save his life. His fur had a red hue, and she loved Christmas so Comet

it was.”

“My dad would definitely get a kick out of that,” he says. “Does he have a dog named after a reindeer too?” “No, but he has quite a few actual reindeer,” he says. I ignore his comment, realizing he’s teasing me. “I don’t remember your parents. I mean Chrissy is younger than me, but I don’t remember them being around town when I was a kid.” “We actually lived up north half the year when I was a kid. After I was old enough to take over the Inn, they moved permanently and Chrissy stayed with me. They do visit frequently after Christmas, but they spend most of their time at the Inn when they are here. She and I will head home on Christmas Eve since dad usually needs our help with his run,” he says.

“What kind of work does he do?” “He runs a toy factory,” he says. “Are you teasing me? First, your dad has reindeer and now he runs a toy factory. Are you going to tell me your dad is Santa Claus next,” I tease back. “How about we check out the cottage,” he asks. He slides out of the truck and, I swear he mumbles to himself about spilling secrets, but I can’t be sure. He comes around and helps me out of the truck. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” I say as he walks in front of me toward the

porch.

He turns, and I swear his beautiful blue eyes almost twinkle. “I’m not upset in the least. I have a feeling before long I’m going to be telling you all my secrets, Clarice. I just know you aren’t ready to hear them yet,” he says. He turns and makes his way up onto the porch while I’m left standing on the stone path wondering why he thinks he’ll be telling me his secrets. I shake the thoughts away and start to dig in my purse for my keys.

Just as I pull them out, the click of a lock has me looking toward the door. Nick smiles as he holds

<10 Feeling Safe

+25 Points

up what looks like a rock. “Spare key,” he says before pushing the door open. When I step onto the porch to join him, he hands me the key. I’m shocked when he reaches down and takes my hand in his. I’m just about to ask him what he is doing when he pulls me inside. “I have no idea what the floor boards are like, so I’m holding onto you just in case. I don’t want you getting hurt,” he says.

Why wasn’t my first thought to pull my hand out of his? Why? Because you like the way it feels, a little voice says inside me. I tell that voice to shut up and look around the first room. My heart breaks at how run down the place has become. A thick layer of dust covers everything. A lot of the furniture won’t be salvageable. As we move room to room, I’m consumed by guilt. This was a place that was filled with happiness and now there isn’t a glimmer of it.

When we move into what was my grandma’s sewing room, I smile for the first time. The walls are lined with pictures of me, my mother, and grandmother. I run my finger over each of them, wiping away years of neglect. I promise myself, no matter what it costs, I’ll make this the home i remember. I think about my little bean. I’m even more determined to rebuild my life here with my

child. I turn and Nick reaches his hand toward me.

I’m confused at first until he wipes tears from my cheeks. I didn’t even realize that they were falling. “We can fix this, Clarice. We can make it everything you remember,” he says. “I wish it were that easy. Some things are just too far gone to be fixed,” I say, no longer talking about the cottage.

“Then you

build new. You make what was broken even better. You make new memories that replace the bad ones, and you hold on to the good ones,” he says.

“I know I’ve said it a lot since I’ve gotten here, Nick, but thank you. I’d really like to fix this place. Take out what is broken and make it even better. Not only for me but for my grandmother.” “We will get started on it as soon as Christmas is over. Until then, you will stay with me and Chrissy,” he says. Without overthinking it, I step forward and wrap my arms around his middle. He doesn’t hesitate in wrapping his arms around me.

For the first time since my life fell apart, I feel safe. Nick makes me feel safe. How could a man I’ve known for two days make me feel safe when the man who has known me for ten years and promised to love me has me feeling anything but safe? He has me running across the country to get away from him and his betrayal? I reluctantly step out of his arms. I’m just about to thank him again when my stomach growls. “Are you up to getting some dinner at Carly’s diner,” he asks. My first instinct is to say no, because I know I’m going to run into people that know me, but if I’m really going to be living here, I have to rip off the bandaid. “Do they still have the best Salisbury steak smothered in onions and gravy?” “They do, and it is just as amazing as you remember but don’t tell Lacey I said that,” he says making me smile. “Your secrets are safe with me.” “I’m counting on it,” he says before placing his hand on my back guiding me out of the cottage. Maybe Nick’s right. It’s time to build something new, something better.

2/3

2

10 Feeling Safe

Trevor POV

+25 Points

I pull into the driveway after the sh**tlest day I’ve had at work in a long time and I groan. F**king Loretta is sitting on our porch. It’s been two days since she spoke with her cousin. I pray that’s why she is here. I can’t sleep, and I can’t eat thinking about my pregnant wife out there all alone and heartbroken, I’ve texted her so many times I’ve lost count, but she hasn’t answered once. What if she is hurt? What if something bad happened to her?

I step out of my car and walk toward the porch. Loretta smiles when I get closer, but I can’t bring myself to return it. “I hope you’re here because your cousin found something.” “I am. She flew to Colorado the same day she left us,” she says, “She left me Loretta. She never agreed to a relationship with you. She is my wife.” “She is my best friend. Even if she doesn’t want me the way I want her, I can’t lose her,” she says.

I can’t do this with her right now. My wife flew to Colorado. She wouldn’t go to her parents, would she? No, not after the way she feels about her father. It doesn’t make any sense. If her grandmother had still been alive, that would have been the first place I thought of her going. Holy sh*t the cottage. Would she really go to the cottage? She hasn’t been there since we made the trip home for her grandmother’s funeral.

I move past Loretta and push open the front door. When she steps in behind me, I want to scream for her to leave, but the only thing that matters right now is getting to Colorado. As soon as my call connects with the airport, I book a flight for first thing tomorrow morning. I call my dad, who is also my boss, and explain that I need a few days away with my wife. It’s not a complete lie. I’m still praying I’ll never have to tell my parents that Clarice left and why

The last thing I do, is pull up a list of hotels near the town. There is what I can only imagine is a tourist trap called the Kringle Inn, but they are completely booked. I call a Comfort Inn two towns over and get the last room booking it for a week. I also set up a rental car. I’m praying that’s enough time to convince my wife to forgive me and come home. When I’m finally done, my shoulders sag. “I’m coming with you,” Loretta says, reminding me that I’m not alone.

“No, you are not. I am trying to get my wife to come home, not piss her off more. She is already angry and hurt about what happened between us. Now if you want to patch things up, when I manage to convince her to come home, by all means, but you will not be anywhere near me or my wife for the foreseeable future, Loretta. Now leave.”

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