Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 24

24 Do You Want to Talk

Clarice POV

I wasn’t prepared to see my mom today. Especially after seeing my baby for the first time. She is

just as beautiful as she always was, but she has aged. Sadness blooms in my chest as eyes just

like mine stare back at me. She makes no move to stand, and I feel frozen in place. That is until

Nick’s voice breaks me out of my shock. A feeling of overwhelming sadness washes over me when I realize how much I’ve missed her. The feeling has tears streaking down my cheeks and a lump forming in my throat.

I turn needing Nick more than I’ve ever needed another person in my life. I bury my head in his chest and, before I realize what’s happening, I’m being carried out of the diner. I tighten my grip on Nick when I hear the truck door open. I don’t want him to let me go. I cry harder when I realize not only isn’t he letting me go, but he is holding me while I cry about missing my mom. Trevor never would have done this.

He would have been embarrassed that I made a scene. He never would have picked me

up and

comforted me in front of strangers. This man loves me. I don’t need to hear him say it to know I’m right. He has known me a few days and I don’t feel an ounce of doubt when he says that I’m his one. I feel how much he loves me in everything he has done. He has protected me at every turn. He has shared who he truly is with me. The tears finally stop, and I pull back looking into Nick’s

eyes.

The love and concern I see has me moving to get closer to him. I need to feel him all around me. I need him to kiss me so I can show him how much I feel for him. I’m falling in love with this man. Hell, if I’m honest, I’m in love with him already. I would never have thought it was possible, but it’s true. As crazy as it sounds, since I’m not even divorced, it’s true. When we are both breathless, I break the kiss, remembering we are still in the diner parking lot. He reaches up and cups my

cheeks.

“As much as I love that you just kissed me like I’m the only man on the planet, should we talk about what just happened in there,” he asks. I go to move off his lap, but he moves his hand to my hips. I turn so I’m not straddling him and lay my head against his chest. “Do you think I was wrong for cutting my mother out of my life because of the choices she made? Am I a bad person, Nick?” “You could never be a bad person. You love your mom and seeing her hurt by your father’s actions wasn’t something you could watch happen. I think you are asking the wrong question, love,” he says, “What do you mean?”

“You can’t change the past, Clarice. The question you need to ask yourself now is if you want to change the future. Do you want to talk to your mom, Clarice,” he asks. I think about the question for

24 Do You Want to Talk

a long time before I finally answer honestly. “I do, but I don’t want my dad there.” “Can I ask your another question, and I want you to remember that I am always at your back,” he asks. I nod and he tightens his hold on me. “Before you found out that your dad cheated, what kind of dad was he,” he

asks.

I think back to when I was a kid. About all the time I spent with my dad. The answer is he was a good dad and a good husband, but it doesn’t change what he did. “He was a good dad, but” I start to say, but Nick interrupts me. “Did you know that your mom left him for a year,” he asks. I sit up straight looking at him like he’s crazy. “Who told you that?” “Your dad talked to Chrissy after your left the day he came to the Inn. He told her after you left that your mother had left him for a year,”

he says.

“Why didn’t she call me? I would have come home to support her. I would have been there for her.” “From what he told Chrissy, your mother blamed herself and your father for you leaving. She blamed herself for putting up with his bulls*t, your father’s words, not mine. She felt losing you was her punishment for being weak,” he says. I sob and Nick wraps his arms around me. I know Nick says I’m not a bad person, but right now I don’t feel like a very good one. My mother was hurt by my father and by me.

Nick POV

Her tears kill me, but I know she needs to work through all she is feeling. When she starts to quiet, she tries to climb off my lap, but I don’t let her. “Nick, I need to talk to mom,” she says. I wipe her tear–stained cheeks with my thumbs. “I agree, but I think you should talk with her back at the Inn from the nosy town folk,” I say, and she giggles. “Why don’t I go back inside and invite your mom while you stay here?”

away

you will let “My dad,” she starts to say, but I grab her hand. “I’ll tell him you’re not ready yet, but him know when you are.” “Thank you, Nick, for taking care of me and helping me navigate this. It means everything to me,” she says. “You mean everything to me. I want you to be happy, Clarice. If you can have your mom back and forgive your dad, that’s great, but if you can’t, then at least you won’t wonder.”

She presses another kiss to my lips and I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. I set her on the seat next to me and slide back out of the truck. I make my way back into the diner and toward the back booth. My heart breaks a little seeing Clarice’s mother being comforted by her dad. They both need each other. Without asking, I slide into the booth across from them. “Nick” her father says. “I am here to extend an invitation for dinner to Evie.”

His face falls but his hold on his wife tightens. “Clarice would like a chance to sit down and talk to you. I think it would be better back at the Inn, where it would be more private. Is that something you would want?” “Yes,” she blurts out, and I chuckle. Despite the sadness in his eyes, he smiles at

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24 Do You Want to Talk

his wife. “Andrew, Clarice isn’t ready yet to talk, but she will be. She just needs to take this at her own pace.” Tears well in his eyes and he nods.

“Nick, is Clarice alright? Andrew said her husband cheated on her. She must be devastated. Is that why she came back,” Evie asks. “She will be. She is one of the strongest women I know. I let her tell you everything tonight.” I stand and Evie reaches out for my hand. “Thank you for taking care of my baby girl, Nick” Evie says. “You never have to thank me for that, Evie. She is important to me.” “I can see that,” she says with a warm smile.

I make my way back through the diner and step outside. My eyes zero in on my truck. Not actually the truck but the woman standing outside it. “Clarice, please just open the door. We need to talk. I’m not going away until you talk to me. I’m your best friend.” I stalk toward the truck, trying to get my anger under control. “What the f**k do you think you are doing?” Loretta’s head snaps toward me, and she takes a step back. I look at Clarice to make sure she is alright, and she gives me a reassuring smile.

“You were warned to stay away from my girl. Now leave. Go back to the pr*ck who chose to betray the best thing that ever happened to him for someone who pales in comparison.” “How f**king dare you? You don’t even know me. Besides, she is still married to Trevor. She isn’t your anything,” she practically screams. “What the hell is going on here?” I turn in time to see Evie and Andrew heading toward us. “Loretta, what’s going on,” Evie asks.

“Evie, it’s so good to see you,” she says, moving toward Clarice’s mom. “She is the one that screwed Clarice’s husband.” Loretta’s steps falter and Evie looks between us. “I can explain, Evie,” Loretta says. “I believe Nick told you to leave. There isn’t a damn thing for you to explain,” Evie says. When I look back at the truck, Clarice is solely focused on her mother and I smile.

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