Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 69

<69 Family and Secrets

69 Family and Secrets

Clarice POV

+25 Points

“Anya,” I say as I get to my feet. “Hello sweetheart,” she says as she comes to stand in front of me. “What are you doing here? Is everything alright? Is Nick alright?” “He is sad that you’re not there for his first run with his dad. He tried to deny it, but I know my son. So I’ll ask again why you have to choose between him and the rest of the family,” she says. I look toward my father with concern. She is going to reveal more

than she should if we keep talking in front of him.

“Anya, let’s not do this here.” “He is your family, Clarice, and family doesn’t keep secrets,” she says. “What are you saying? I thought no one could know who Nick really was,” I practically whisper. “They aren’t just anyone, Clarice. They are important to you, which means they are important to Nick and important to all of us. So who do you choose,” she asks. I look back at my dad, who is clearly confused by our conversation.

“I don’t. I want all my family together for Christmas.” “That’s a very good answer. Chrissy and Jack are already in the dining room. Let’s go give everyone the short version so we can get back before Nick and

Chris leave,” she says. I launch myself at her, wrapping my arms around her. “Thank you, mom.” “You don’t

have to thank me for wanting your happiness, Clarice. You are my daughter now as much as Chrissy is.

Chris and I knew there was no way we could keep you from your family at such an important time of the

year. Besides, I want to have my grand babies with me every holiday and so do your parents,” she says.

I sob because I hadn’t even thought of that. If they hadn’t done this, our children would never have had a

Christmas with all three sets of their grandparents. When I pull back, she wipes the tears off my cheeks.

“Come on, let’s go tell everyone the good news,” she says. She wraps her arm around me, and we turn back

toward the dining room. My dad stands and takes my hand. When we step back into the room, everyone

looks confused.

I know it’s because Jack and Chrissy are here. I had told them that they had left with Nick. My dad presses a kiss to my head before he retakes the seat next to my mom. “Anya, is everything alright with Nick,” my mother asks, concern clear in her voice. “Besides that, he is missing our Clarice. He is perfectly fine,” she says. “I assure you she is missing him too. That’s why Andrew pulled her aside. She should really be with him. We can all get together after the holiday,” my mother says, and I smile.

“That won’t be necessary, mom. We are all going to go and be with Nick and Chris until they leave.” “What do you mean until they leave,” Alexia asks. Trevor is practically vibrating in his seat. “Please tell me that you are going to tell them. I didn’t know how the hell I was going to keep this huge secret from them,” he says. “Now what if I wasn’t going to tell them, and you just said that,” I say, keeping my face serious. His eyes get big as he looks from his parents back to me.

“Anya said, I can tell them, so you are off the hook.” “Tell us what. What exactly is this huge secret you’ve been keeping from us,” Thomas asks. “Nick is the next Santa Claus. Anya is Mrs. Claus. Chrissy has visions because she is the princess of Christmas. Jack is the real Jack Frost. Your turn, Trevor.” “Nick is rubbing off on you,” he says. I smile because he is right. “Simone is a fairy. She and I are destined to be together. We completed our bond last night,” he says. I swear none of them have blinked or moved a

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muscle since I started speaking.

+25 Points

“Mom and dad, say something.” “I’m not sure what you want us to say. None of that can be true. Santa Claus isn’t real. He is a character made up to sell toys,” my father says. “Ooh, I’m telling my dad you said that,” Chrissy says, and I giggle. My dad goes to open his mouth just as snow starts to fall over his head.

Everyone’s eyes go wide as they stare at the little storm swirling around my father. “Alright Jack, enough of the little demonstration. We really need to get going,” Anya says.

“Going where,” my mother asks. “To the North Pole, of course. Nick and Chris are getting ready to leave. Jack, you can take Alexia and Thomas. Chrissy, you can take Evie and Andrew. Which means I’ll be taking

Clarice and Trevor,” Anya says. Trevor stands and rounds the table. Anya smiles when she sees that

Trevor’s cast is gone. “I see you’ve completed your bond with Simone. She healed your leg,” she says.

“She did and yes we did. She is amazing,” he says. She offers him her hand. He takes it without hesitation. Seconds later, we appear in the familiar living room. I smile when my parents look like they still don’t know

what to make of what just happened. Before I can say anything, I’m wrapped in strong arms. I turn and

look up into Nick’s beautiful eyes. “I can’t believe you’re here. Thank you, mom,” he says, emotion causing a

tremble in his voice.

“I can’t believe I’m here either. I can’t believe my parents are here, and we are all together. This is the best Christmas ever.” “How is this happening,” my mother whispers behind me. “It’s happening because your very special daughter was always meant to be part of our family. Anya and I both agreed that she deserves to be surrounded by her whole family for the holiday. She shouldn’t have to choose to spend it with just us,” Chris says as he steps into the room. I smile seeing his suit for the first time.

I can’t stop the giggle. It’s a red snowsuit like children wear for sledding. It’s nothing like the pictures that are plastered everywhere this time of year. For the first time, I really look at Nick and he’s wearing the same one. “Nice suit,” I say, and he smirks. “You were expecting the get–up that the humans show in the Coca–Cola ads. We would freeze are a**es off if we wore that as high as we fly,” he says. “I can’t believe this,” Alexia says before she turns to Trevor.

“Simone is really a fairy, and you are with her now” she asks. “She is and I am. She will be here tomorrow for Nick and Clarice’s pledging ceremony. We won’t have a pledging ceremony with her being a fairy, but I do plan to marry her,” he says. “This is a lot of information. Are you sure this isn’t a dream,” my dad asks. “If this was a dream we wouldn’t all be having it, Andrew. I think its safe to say what’s happening is real,” my

mother says, and I giggle.

“As much as I would love to sit and explain our family history, I will leave that to my beautiful bride. We really must leave if we want to ensure we don’t miss any children of the world,” Chris says. Nick pulls me back into his arms and lowers his head, pressing a soft kiss on my lips. “I love you Clarice. I’m excited about spending this time with my dad, but I’ll miss you. I can’t wait until the morning when you are officially

mine,” he says.

“I’m already yours. Now go make sure every child gets to believe in my husband for another year.” He presses one more quick kiss before he turns to join his father. Chris is just pressing a kiss on Chrissy’s head before releasing his hold on her. He opens his arms to me and I rush into his embrace. “Merry

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69 Family and Secrets

Christmas, my daughter. We will see you all very soon,” he says before he presses the

forehead.

A mix of emotions wars inside me as we follow them outside. Pride, love, sadness, a

catches in my throat when we step out into the cold and snow. A large red sled with

hitched to the front sit a few feet away. “Holy f**k, he really is Santa Claus,” Thomas s

laughing as Nick and Chris climb into the sleigh. Two minutes later, the reindeer start

open space covered with snow before the sleigh lifts off the ground. “Holy sh*t my sc

Claus,” my dad says and I smile. “Yes he is.”

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Christmas, my daughter. We will see you all very soon,” he says before he presses the

forehead.

A mix of emotions wars inside me as we follow them outside. Pride, love, sadness, ¿ catches in my throat when we step out into the cold and snow. A large red sled with hitched to the front sit a few feet away. “Holy f**k, he really is Santa Claus,” Thomas laughing as Nick and Chris climb into the sleigh. Two minutes later, the reindeer star open space covered with snow before the sleigh lifts off the ground. “Holy sh*t my s Claus,” my dad says and I smile. “Yes he is.”

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Christmas, my daughter. We will see you all very soon,” he says before he presses the same kiss on my

forehead.

A mix of emotions wars inside me as we follow them outside. Pride, love, sadness, and wonder. My breath

catches in my throat when we step out into the cold and snow. A large red sled with eight huge reindeer hitched to the front sit a few feet away. “Holy f**k, he really is Santa Claus,” Thomas says. We all burst out laughing as Nick and Chris climb into the sleigh. Two minutes later, the reindeer start to run toward a huge open space covered with snow before the sleigh lifts off the ground. “Holy sh*t my son–in–law is Santa Claus,” my dad says and I smile. “Yes he is.”

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