Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 31

31 Meeting Santa

31 Meeting Santa

Clarice POV

25 Points

I can’t stop the giggle when Anya wraps her arms around me and we disappear. When I open my eyes again, we are standing in a large living room with a huge fireplace. Stockings with Chrissy and Nick’s name hang on the mantle. Before I could really take in the rest of the room, Nick appeared. I laugh when he pulls me into his arms. “Stealing my girl is not cool mom,” he says. “She isn’t just your girl. She is my new daughter,” Anya says. I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face.

“Anya, you can’t keep running away, or I can’t apologize properly,” a deep voice says. Nick groans and rolls his eyes. “Dad, please don’t talk dirty when I’m here,” Nick says just as Santa Claus steps into the room. Holy sh*t, he does not look like any Santa Claus I’ve ever seen or imagined. Besides his short trimmed white beard, he looks like a slightly older–looking version of Nick. He is wearing a red T–shirt that is taut across his muscular chest and a pair of fitted jeans.

He could be Nick’s older brother. How is it possible that Santa Claus is hot? “Clarice, should I be worried that you are practically drooling,” Nick growls into my ear. Thankfully, no one else hears him but me, but it doesn’t stop my cheeks from flaming. “Chris, come meet our new daughter,” Anya says. “Clarice Martin, I haven’t seen you since the year you turned twelve and stopped believing. You stopped waiting up for me to come,” he says. “I’m sorry Santa.”

“You don’t have to apologize, Clarice. Please call me Chris or dad. Most children don’t believe as long as you did. You were always on the nice list and every Christmas list you ever sent me had more presents for others than yourself. You are very special. You have no idea how happy I am that my son has finally met you,” he says. He leans in like he has a secret to tell me. “He isn’t exactly the most jolly person. It’s kind of a requirement for this job,” he says, and I giggle.

“You weren’t so jolly before you met me either, In fact, your mother’s nickname for you was Oscar. So I guess like father like son,” Anya says. Chris reaches out and pulls Anya against him. Whatever he says into her ear has her face as red as mine was a few minutes ago. “Still in the room,” Nick says. “Of course you are. You have been a” he starts to say, but Anya covers his mouth with her hand. Was Santa Claus just going to call Nick a c*ckblock? No way would he say that.

“Christopher Kringle do not be crude in front of our new daughter,” Anya says. “My apologies, Clarice. My son forgets that, despite our ages, his mother and I are not dead,” he says and I giggle again. “How old are you,” I blurt out. He smiles and offers me his hand. He places it in the crook of

I his elbow and starts to lead me out of the room. “On December tenth of this year I turned four hundred and fifty,” he says. My steps falter because I can’t have heard him correctly.

He steadies me and I look at him. He has the same twinkle in his eyes that Nick does. “You are four hundred and fifty years old,” I say back to him and he chuckles. “I am. Anya is younger than me, but

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31 Meeting Santa

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we have been married for a very long time. I was very lucky to find her when I was sixty, and she was thirty,” he says. “So that means Anya is four hundred and twenty?”

“Yes, it does. I know this is a lot to take in Clarice, but I promise you that you will never have to worry about my son hurting you intentionally. Once we are pledged to our one, we couldn’t look at another even if we wanted to, but I assure you he won’t,” he says. “I know he won’t. I love Nick and I know he loves me. I trust him, Chris.”

“Good, I was a little worried he didn’t have any game left after the elven witch betrayed him. I’m glad to know he didn’t let her completely freeze his heart,” he practically whispers. I realize that he has led me to what could only be his office and we are alone. I smile when I see a huge list that says Naughty and Nice. He leads me over to a large comfy green chair sitting in the corner of the . office. He takes the matching one across from me. “Can I ask you something, Chris?”

“Of course you can” he says. “Nick and Chrissy have told me a little about Morgan, but there is something I don’t understand. How did she not know that Nick was meant to be the next Santa Claus? I can’t imagine an elf wouldn’t be thrilled to be the next Mrs. Claus. I’m freaking out, and I’m not magical.” He chuckles as he rests his hands on his lap.

“When you have more children, your first–born son will be Santa Claus,” he says. My heart sinks thinking about the baby growing in my belly. He or she will never have the chance to follow in Nick’s footsteps. “Clarice, you were beaming a few seconds ago, and now you look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You’re worried the baby that is a blessing to this family won’t be treated as an heir because he doesn’t share Nick’s blood,” he says.

I nod and Chris reaches out, placing his hand on mine. “Has Nick explained what happens when we pledge to our one?” “Not yet. He had planned to, but then we spent time with my parents.” He offers me a warm smile and squeezes my hand. “I’ll let Nick tell you the specifics, but I will tell you something that most people don’t know. My great–great–grandfather was not a direct descendant of St. Nicholas. His mother was already pregnant with him, just like you when she pledged to his

father.”

“Her husband had died tragically and my great–great–great grandfather met her by chance. They fell in love and pledged to each other before she gave birth. When the baby was born, he was a perfect mix of his biological father and my grandfather. The pledging had given him our bloodline. So you see, if that baby in your belly was a boy, he would be the next Santa Claus after Nick,” he

says.

“Are you saying the baby in my belly is a girl?” “I’m sorry, Clarice. I shouldn’t have told you without making sure you wanted to know. I hope you aren’t to upset with me. I just wanted you to understand that the baby in your belly is as much my bloodline as Nick and Chrissy are,” he says.

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31 Meeting Santa

125 Points

I squeal and jump out of my seat, launching myself at him. The door to the office bangs open, and I look at a concerned Nick. “What the hell is going on,” he asks as he stalks toward me. He pulls me into his arms as tears stream down my cheeks. “Why the hell is she crying? What did you say to upset her,” he says, glaring at his dad. “Hey, don’t glare at him. He did nothing wrong. I’m not upset,

I’m happy. We’re having a little girl, Nick. We are having a daughter,” I say, and he lifts me off my

feet.

“Christopher, you told her without me,” Anya save her voice laced with irritation. “I had to my love. She was worried about our grandbaby feeling left out,” he says, winking at me. “Now my daughter in law asked me a question and I think you should be the one to answer it, Nick. How did Morgan not know you were the next Santa Claus,” he says. I look up at Nick expecting him to be upset, I

asked, but instead he is smiling.

“Then, after you tell her that she needs to hear about the pledging Nicholas,” Chris says. “Yes, dad,” Nick says. “Come on. Let’s get something to eat while Nick tells Clarice the story of the greedy elf that thought she was trading up,” Anya says. Nick sets me on my feet as his parents walk out of the office first. “Are you sure you’re alright? You aren’t upset, my dad told you about the baby,” he says, pressing his hand against my belly.

“No, I’m not. I’m fine Nick. Actually I’m amazing. I’m with you and my new in–laws are Mr. and Mrs. Claus. We are having a little girl. If i didn’t know I was awake I would think I was dreaming.” He leans down and presses a firm kiss on my lips before he pulls back looking into my eyes. “I love you, Clarice.” “I love you too. Now tell me about the stupid elf that screwed up royally.” He throws his head back and laughs before he leads me out of the office.

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