Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 12

12 What Hurts More

Clarice POV

I knew I shouldn’t turn my phone back on, but I did it anyway. Call after call from Trevor and Loretta

flood my phone. At least a hundred messages pleading with me to come home or call them, but that isn’t what has tears rolling down my cheeks. Five messages from my mother–in–law and two from my father–in–law asking if I’m alright and begging me to call. Did he tell them what happened? Alexia and Thomas have treated me like their own daughter since the moment I met them.

As if my thoughts conjure them, mom flashes on the screen. I notice Nick out of the corner of my

eye standing a few feet from the table. He looks angry but I don’t think its directed at me. Just as

he slides in across from me, I decide to answer Alexia’s call. “Hello,” I say, trying to keep the pain

from my voice. “Oh, thank god you answered. I was so worried Clarice. It’s not like you to cancel

our plans or not answer my calls. What’s going on,” she asks.

“Have you talked to Trevor, Alexia?” There is a long pause before she speaks again. “What’s going

on, Clarice? You haven’t called me, Alexia, since you were dating my son,” she up to the

says. I look

sky and take a deep breath. Nick startles me by taking my free hand in his. I meet his eyes, and he squeezes my hand, offering me support. “Clarice, are you still there?” “I am. I left Trevor, Alexia.” A gain there is a long pause. “Mom, you call me mom. No matter what my id**t of a son did, you

will

always be my daughter,” she says.

A sob escapes me as I grip the phone. Before I realize what’s happening, Nick is on his feet and taking the seat next to me. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, letting me know he has me.

“What did he do, Clarice,” she asks. “He has been having an affair with Loretta.” I leave out the part

about him asking me to be part of their arrangement. “Are you sure,” she asks. I know she isn’t calling me a l*ar, but I need her to know this isn’t just a misunderstanding.

“I walked in on them talking about it, mom. In fact, they wanted me to allow Loretta to join our marriage as a third.” “What the f**k,” she screams. I can count on one hand how many times I’ve heard my mother–in–law curse and I don’t ever think it was the F word. “Clarice, where are you,” she asks. I hesitate, and she must realize I’m not ready to tell her. “I would never tell him where you are after what he has done, but if you don’t want to tell me, I understand. Just tell me your safe,” she

says.

“I’m safe mom. I’m staying in my hometown. I can’t be anywhere near him or her right now. There is no coming back from this mom. I can’t be with a man who would not only betray me, but do it with someone I consider my sister.” “I understand, but I meant what I said, Clarice. You are my daughter, no matter if you are with my lying, cheating son or not,” she says. I notice the corner of Nick’s mouth rise in a slight smile at what he had just heard. “Do you need anything? I can send

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money,” she says, but I cut her off. “No, I have the book money. I’ll be fine. I love you, mom. Tell dad I’m sorry and I love him too.“”

“I will not. You have done absolutely nothing wrong. If I know my husband, our son is the only one that is going to be sorry.” I debate on telling them about the baby but decide they deserve to know. They have done nothing wrong. I look at Nick, knowing he is about to hear my secret too. “Mom, I have to tell you something, but you can’t tell Trevor. I will eventually, but I’m not ready to tell him yet.” “I promise you nothing you tell me will be repeated to him. He doesn’t deserve to know anything after what he has done to you.”

“The day I found out, I had planned to tell Trevor I was pregnant.” I expect Nick to unwrap himself from around me and retake his seat, but instead his hold tightens on me. A sob rips through the phone and I hate I’m not there to wrap her in my arms. This should have been a happy moment for

both of us.

dad.” “Clarice, I hear talking in the background before Thomas asks who is on the phone. “It’s me, why is Alexia crying? I can’t get a word out of her. Are you alright? Are you hurt,” he asks, his voice laced with worry. “I’m safe but I left Trevor.” “What did he do,” he asks, anger evident in his voice.

“He cheated on me with Loretta.” It still stings to say it out loud, but I’m done protecting him from his actions. I’m going to kill that little ba**ard. How dare he do this to you,” he says. “You can’t kill him dad. He is still your son. Please hug mom for me. I hate that this is hurting you both.”

“Only your beautiful heart would be worried about us after what our son did to you,” he says. “His actions have nothing to do with the two of you. You have been amazing parents. I’m going to block him and Loretta, and I’ll leave my phone on, so I will get your calls going forward.” “You are sure you’re safe,” he asks. “A friend from back home offered me a place to stay until I can get my grandmother’s cottage fixed up. She and her brother have been amazing.” “What about your parents, Clarice? I know they are the reason you never went back before,” he asks. ‘I’ll be fine dad. If I run into my father, I’ll deal with it. Besides, he has no reason to step foot inside the Inn I’m staying in.” “Alright, but if you need anything you call me immediately,” he says in his dad voice. “I will. I love you, dad.” “I love you too Clarice. No matter what, you are my daughter. I promise you that my st*pid son is going to regret what he has done for the rest of his life,” he says. After promising to call, we say our goodbyes.

Without a second thought, I turn and bury my head in Nick’s chest and cry. He pulls me close and rubs circle on my back as I cry. Why does being in his arms make the pain more bearable? No matter what he makes you feel, Clarice, he is just being a friend, and you are still pregnant with your soon–to–be ex–husband’s baby. So get a grip, I tell myself. I just wish my heart would listen.

Trevor POV

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I just finish putting my last toiletries into my suitcase when my phone rings. Dad flashes on the screen and I quickly answer it. He doesn’t usually call me this late unless it’s important. “Hey dad, what’s up?” “Get your a** to our house now,” he says, and cuts the call. I look at the phone like it’s a snake that just bit me. I don’t think he has ever spoken to me like that. What the hell did I do to piss

him off?

My heart sinks. Did he talk to Clarice? No, her phone is still off. I know I didn’t screw anything up at work, at least I don’t think I did. F**k, I don’t need this right now, I throw on a pair of sweats and a T–shirt and make the twenty minute drive to my parents‘ house. I make my way up the path and the door opens before I even reach the porch. My father steps out first, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so angry.

Without warning, he launches himself at me, landing a solid punch to my jaw, knocking me onto my a**. “Thomas stop! This is not the way,” my mother screams. He backs up and wraps his arm around my mother, who looks like she has been crying for hours. “Come inside, Trevor. We need to talk,” my mother says. My father leads her inside, and I scramble to my feet. My heart is beating so fast it feels like it’s going to beat right out of my chest.

They have to have talked to Clarice. My parents love her and I f**ked up. When I make it into the living room, my father glares at me. “Don’t sit down, you won’t be here long,” he says. “I don’t understand,” I start to say, but my mother cuts me off. “Don’t you dare play f**king dumb,” she practically screams at me. I’ve never heard her raise her voice. “Mom, I made a mistake.” “A mistake is forgetting an anniversary or birthday, not f**king her best friend,” she screams.

“There is nothing you are going to say right now that will justify what you have done to Clarice and in case you haven’t figured out who we’re backing right now, it’s not you,” my father says. “Dad,” I say and he stands. “Don’t dad me. I never thought I could be so disappointed in my own son. I have always taught you how to treat women, especially your wife, and you do something like that to her. I can’t even imagine what you were thinking.”

“I thought she would want Loretta to be part of our relationship. I love Clarice. I should have talked to her before.” My mother stands halting my words. She moves until she is standing in front of me. I’m not sure what I expected, but her slapping me is not it. “Don’t you dare say that this was anything but selfishness. You are going to leave and not come back until I can stomach to look at

you.

You are my son and I will always love you, but I don’t like you even a little right now,” she says.

“I promise you, mom, I’m going to Colorado tomorrow, and I’m going to bring my wife home. I’ll beg for her forgiveness on my knees if I have to.” “How do you even know that she is in Colorado,” she asks. “You’ve talked to her. You know where she is, don’t you?” “She did and you won’t be bothering her. I’m revoking your days off,” my father says. “Dad, she is my wife. I can’t lose her. I need to go to Colorado.” “I guess you should have thought about that before you cheated on her.

12 What Hurts More

I’ll expect you at the office bright and early tomorrow morning. Now leave,” he says.

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