Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 42

42 You Knew

Trevor POV

Twenty minutes later, I’m seated in a booth in the far corner of the diner drinking a coffee when my parents step inside. Both their faces are stoic as they let the older woman behind the counter know that they will be joining me as they wave in my direction. They take the seats opposite me. My father grasps my mother’s hand, which is resting on the table. “Mom,” I start to say, but my father cuts me off. “Trevor, I have always tried my best to teach you to become a man with honor and integrity. Since the moment the nurse placed you in my arms, I have been proud to call you my

son,” he says.

“Until now, Trevor. When your mother said you called and wanted to talk, I knew this was a conversation that was overdue. I’ve had time to get my disappointment and anger under control, so I need you to really listen to me, son. You f**ked up,” he says. “I know I did, dad,” I start to say, but he cuts me off. “Let me speak without interrupting with platitudes, Trevor,” he says, and I nod. “I believe that you didn’t set out to hurt Clarice. I also believe that you love her, which makes what you did even worse,” he says.

“If you were struggling in your marriage. If you weren’t getting along, or you no longer loved Clarice, this happening wouldn’t have been such a shock to me and your mother. We would have been just as disappointed and upset by your actions, but none of those situations were true. I saw how you looked at your wife. Mom and I used to comment all the time about how in love the two of you were after spending time with the two of you. What you did was wrong and selfish,” he says.

“I made a mistake, dad,” I practically whisper. “Yes, you did, Trevor, and despite that mistake, we love you. You will always be our son, but you need to remember that mistakes have consequences. Clarice is not going to forgive Trevor. Not today and not ever. She is moving on,” he says. “She has to, dad. I can’t live without her.” My mother reaches for my hand and I fight the tears that threaten to fall. “She doesn’t have to forgive you, Trevor. This a bell that can’t be unrung. I know you’re sorry, and you realize how wrong you were, but it doesn’t change what happened,” she says.

“She forgave her father. Why can’t she forgive me? I’ll go to counseling. I’ll do whatever it takes to earn her trust back. I don’t care how long it takes. I just need you and dad to help me.” “You aren’t listening, Trevor. No one can change what’s happened or how Clarice feels. She isn’t willing to continue being married to you. You need to accept it and focus on being a father,” my father

says.

“So that’s it. I’m just supposed to accept that Clarice is not going to be my wife anymore. You are suggesting I just give up on my marriage.” “Trevor, do you really believe that we want any of this to happen? That if we thought for one second Clarice could forgive you, we wouldn’t be the

42 You KneY

first ones to encourage counseling. We love you Trevor. We know, despite what you’ve done, you love Clarice, but it’s not enough to change the fact that you cheated. Not only did you cheat, but you cheated with a woman she considered her sister even though she is a conniving b**ch,” my

mother says.

“You know what I don’t understand is why Trevor. Why jeopardize everything for s*x with a woman you don’t even really seem to like,” my dad asks. “I told you I was drunk,” I start to say, but he cuts me off. “Don’t give me that bulls*t. There is a reason they call it whiskey d*ck son. You may have been feeling no pain but you knew she wasn’t your wife. You made a choice. What I want to know

is why,” he asks again.

“All I know is that I had a client meeting and I wanted Clarice to be there. She had a book signing that night, and I was irritated that her hobby was her priority over being there for me. The client had met Clarice before and commented on how lucky I was to have such a beautiful, intelligent wife. A few drinks later, dinner was over and Loretta was there in my face. She was talking about how lucky Clarice was to have me as her husband. Telling me how selfish she was for choosing the book signing. When she put her hand on my thigh, I thought it was odd, but two drinks later she was dragging me to the bathroom.”

“So you basically f**ked up your whole life because you were having a tantrum over your wife prioritizing her own career. Writing isn’t your wife’s hobby. You are the one that encouraged her to follow her passion. You are the one that said you supported her dreams, but I guess that wasn’t really true. They were alright as long as they didn’t interfere with what you wanted. Those are the actions of a boy, not a man. You have no idea how successful your wife is, and now it doesn’t

matter,” my mother says.

“She told me the morning everything went to hell about how many books she had written and how many had been number one sellers. I felt so much guilt that morning. Not only about what had happened between me and Loretta, but about what a sh*tty husband I had become.” “That guilt is worth nothing. Doing something once is a mistake, but repeating it is a choice. So why keep doing it, Trevor? You profess you love Clarice but you kept cheating. Not only that, but then you

father says with actually suggested to your wife that she share you with her best friend,” my father disgust clearly written on his face.

I drop my head into my hands. There is absolutely no reason I kept f**king her besides her sole focus was me. The tears that started to fall earlier roll down my cheeks. A sob tears from my throat as my parents‘ words wash over me. An arm wraps around me and despite the very public setting, I cry. I don’t think I’ve cried like this since I was a small boy.

After a few minutes, I get myself under control. My father squeezes my shoulder before he moves to retake the seat next to my mother. “What do you plan to do now, Trevor,” my mother asks. “I

42 You knew

don’t have a clue, mom. I really thought there was a chance that Clarice could forgive me. How can it really be over? I don’t know how to live without her.” “We will be here for you, son, but you

are going to have to learn how to,” my father says.

Chrissy POV

Jack wraps his arms around me once everyone is gone, and we appear in my living room. I smile when he doesn’t let me go. “Do you know how s*xy you are when you are ready to protect our family,” Jack asks. “Our family, huh.” “Yes, our family. You, me, Nick, Clarice, the jelly bean, and your parents,” he says. I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. “What about your parents?” He groans before he places his head against mine.

“You are welcome to claim them, but honestly they aren’t a warm and fuzzy bunch, pixie girl. My father only cares about business and my mother is too busy pandering to his every need to be bothered with my life. Why do you think that I spent so much time with your family? I’m required to visit once a month to update my father on the business and to share dinner with them, but that is the extent of family time,” she says.

My heart aches for him. I’ve never met Jack’s parents because I’m so much younger. Jack took over for his father thirty years ago. He is nothing like the people that raised him. Despite his name and powers, he has always been warm and kind. Even when he saw me as an annoying kid, he still took the time to talk to me. When he would sit at our table for dinner he would give to me before he took food for himself, just like Nick.

“Then we will focus on the family that wants to be part of our lives. Plus, when we have babies we will have our own little family.” His eyes get big before I notice tears edging the corners. “You want to have my babies,” he says. I cup his cheeks in my hands. “I want everything with you. You are my one, Jack.” He slams his mouth down on mine the minute his name leaves my lips. His hand moves to the nape of my neck and he deepens the kiss.

I feel it all the way to my toes. His other hand moves down my side over my hip, and he cups my a**. I moan into his mouth ready to climb him like a tree when a throat clearing has us jumping apart. My head snaps in the direction of the sound and my mother is standing there with her arms crossed, her expression unreadable. “Anya, it’s good to see you,” Jack says, pulling me in front of him. At first, I think he is trying to hide from her, but then I realize he is trying to hide the fact that he is hard from her. The evidence is pressing against my backside.

“Jack, what’s new,” she asks sarcastically, looking between us. “Not much,” Jack says, and I fight the giggle that wants to escape me. “Chrissy, do you have anything you would like to share with your mother,” she asks. I tap my finger against my chin like I’m thinking. “Not that I can think of.” “Christine Noel Kringle, you better start talking,” she says. “Mom, Jack is my one, and I’m his. We plan on pledging to each other on Christmas.”

<42 You knew

Jack stiffens behind me. I turn so I can see his face and his mouth opens and closes. I turn completely, wondering why the hell he looks like a fish that just got pulled out of the ice hole. “You don’t want to pledge to me. I thought that was what the hell we just talked about?” My anger seems to snap him out of his shock. “F**k yes, I would pledge to you right now if we could. I just didn’t think you would agree to it this soon. I thought you would make me suffer for being a coward until at least next Christmas,” he says and pulls me back into his arms.

A throat clearing again has me groaning. When I turn this time, my mother is smiling from ear to ear. “It’s about time. I’d welcome you to the family, Jack, but you have always been part of it,” she says. “So you knew? Did you have a vision and didn’t tell me?” “No sweet girl, but I have eyes. I’ve known you two were in love with each other for a long time. Now I need to get back, but I wanted to check on Clarice. I heard she was worried about your brother,” she says.

“She is fine, mom. She is resting. So if you knew, does that mean dad knows.” She throws her head back and laughs. “Absolutely not. You are his little girl, and he is oblivious to the wanton looks you two have been shooting at each other. I can’t wait to be there when you tell him. Love you both, bye,” she says and she’s gone.

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