Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 70

70 Christmas Morning

Evie POV

+25 Points

This is unbelievable. If we weren’t all here experiencing the same thing I’d definitely believe I was dreaming. The first time I got to see Clari outside the diner, I knew that look in her eyes. I had it on my own face so many times. Seeing my daughter like that brought back my own pain. I had hoped she would never

feel the pain of being betrayed, but she had. She had, and she was so much stronger than me. I could see that in her eyes too. I know Nick was part of it but most of it was my baby girl’s strength.

Now to find out that she is not only happy and moving on but that the man she plans to spend the rest of her life with is the next Santa Claus is definitely surreal. “How about we head inside and have some of my

special hot cocoa? I’m sure you all have a lot of questions,” Anya says and Clari giggles. I guess she knows

what’s in the special hot cocoa. Andrew takes my hand in his, and we all follow Anya and Clari inside. I

take in more of the house now that the shock has worn off. Well, at least a little.

It’s tastefully done in greens and reds. The Christmas decorations are subtle but beautiful. It looks like it

belongs in the book Twas the Night Before Christmas. Anya leads us into a large sitting room with multiple

large chairs and love seats. Andrew and I sit on a plush burgundy love seat near another fireplace. A

woman around our age steps into the room with a tray filled with mugs and a bottle of peppermint

schnapps. “Clarice, it’s so good to see you again,” she says, handing her the first mug.

“It’s good to see you too, Winnie. Winnie, these are my parents, Evie and Andrew,” she says, motioning

from where she is seated in a large red chair next to Anya. “These are also my parents, who are also

Trevor’s parents, Alexia and Thomas. That man sitting in the big green chair is Trevor, the baby’s father

and my best friend,” Clarice says.

I can see tears welling in Alexia’s eyes hearing Clarice speak so kindly about her son. Her capacity to forgive just makes me even prouder to be her mother. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you all. We love Clarice dearly. She has definitely improved Nick’s grumpiness,” she says as she passes out the spiked cocoa. After

a few sips, I look at Anya. “Can I ask a few questions? I know Chris said you would tell us about your

family history, but I have questions about what happens in the future?”

“Of course you can, Evie. I know this must be a lot for all of you to take in. You can ask me anything.

Letting you all in on the secrets is because your family. I told Clarice, family doesn’t keep secrets,” she says. I smile feeling the sincerity in her words. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“How about if I tell you a few things, and then we will build on that,” she asks. I nod, as does everyone

around me. “How old do you think Nick is,” she asks. I look at Clarice and she smirks. He is a handsome

young man. I know he is older than Clarice but not by much. “Thirty–five,” Alexia blurts out. “Not even

close. Nick is eighty,” Clarice says with a huge smile.

“Bullsh*t, he can’t be a day over forty,” Thomas says. “How old do you think I am,” Anya asks. “Oh no, we never guess a lady’s age or weight. My mother taught me that,” Andrew says, and I giggle. “I promise! won’t be upset at your guesses,” she says. “A hundred years old although you don’t look a day over forty.”

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<70 Christmas Morning

+25 Points

I appreciate the compliment, but not even close, dear Evie. I am four hundred and thirty,” she says. “Holy sh*t. Are you immortal,” Alexia asks.

“No, we just live a very long time. Once Clarice is pledged to Nick, she will, too,” Anya says. “What about

the baby? The baby in her belly is biologically Trevor’s. Will she outlive her child,” I ask, panic settling in

my heart. I don’t want that for my daughter. Clarice comes over and sits on the edge of the love seat,

wrapping her arm around me. “No, she won’t outlive the baby. She will always be biologically Trevor’s, but

the moment Nick and Clarice pledge, she will become Nick’s daughter too. She will be born with the

Kringle blood in her veins. She will live as long as any children that Nick and Clarice have,” Anya says.

I fight back tears of relief before I realize she said she to describe the baby. I look up at Clarice, and she

smiles down at me. “It’s a girl. My baby is having a girl.” “Damn it. I did it again. I’m sorry, Clarice, but I’m so excited we are going to have a princess to spoil,” Anya says. “It’s alright Anya,” Clarice says. “Will she have to live here once they pledge,” Andrew asks. Anya smiles and shakes her head.

“Nick will need to be here daily to make sure that the elves stay on task, but they can live wherever they like. Nick will just teleport home when he is done. When it’s close to Christmas, we can bring you all here to spend the holidays. There is plenty of room so you won’t miss Clarice or the kids when they need to be here for their father’s big trip,” Anya says. This is more than I could have ever hoped for in our daughter’s life. Knowing my daughter is happy and that we will get to be in her life is more than I ever thought we

would have after the years we missed out on.

Nick POV

When the sled finally lands, I expect to be exhausted, but I’m not. I’ve eaten enough cookies to be on a sugar high, but that is not what has me jumping off the sleigh and dashing for the house. “Aren’t you going to help with the reindeer,” my dad calls out to me. I look back in time to see him handing the reigns to Bart, his head elf. He is as eager to see my mother as I am to see Clarice. I step inside and follow the sound of

laughter.

I smile when I see Alexia, Thomas, Winnie, Evie, Thomas, and my mother sitting around the table. “Nick your back. How did everything go,” my mother asks as she gets to her feet. “Everything was perfect. Gifts were delivered in record time and no child will be disappointed when they wake up this morning.” “I had no doubt that it would be perfect Nick. I’m so proud of you,” she says and wraps her arms around my

middle.

“Hey, go get your own girl,” my father says from behind me and my mother giggles. I press a kiss to the top of her head before she steps out of my arms. I laugh when she launches herself at my father, who doesn’t greet anyone before he carries her down the hallway to their room. I say good morning to my new parents before my beautiful mother–in–law, Evie, shoos me away. I make my way down the hallway and press the

door open to our room.

Seeing my beautiful bride fast asleep holding my pillow has warmth spreading across my chest. I pull the small box out of my pocket and set it on the nightstand. I shrug out of my suit throwing it on the chair. I climb onto the bed slowly and slide in next to this woman who owns me. Her eyes fly open and they settle on me. “I fell asleep,” she says, practically pouting. “Of course, you fell asleep. It’s early Clarice. The sun is

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barely up. I didn’t expect you to be awake.” “I wanted to be awake for Santa Claus. I wanted to greet you and tell you how proud I was of you,” she says.

“Then I wanted to give you your first Christmas gift,” she says. I wipe away the tear from her eye. “My love, we will have many Christmas mornings together. You are pregnant and you need your rest. I know how proud you are of me. Remember you picked me so you could say you are married to Santa Claus, I say with a smirk, and she pinches me. “Besides, you can still give me my first Christmas gift. I have something for you too.”

She rolls out of my arms and turns to the table next to her side of the bed. She hands me a long box wrapped in beautiful red with white snowflakes on it. Emotion clogs my throat as I rip the paper and open the box. A handsome leather bracelet with intricate designs rests on tissue paper. “Turn it over,” she says, resting her cheek against my arm. “From your one” is burned into the leather. The tears roll down my cheeks. “Thank you, Clarice. I love it. Can you help me put it on?”

She helps me and I press a firm kiss on her beautiful lips. “I love you. Now it’s your turn,” I say grabbing the box off the nightstand. I hand it to her, and she vibrates with excitement. I picture her as a little girl opening her presents on Christmas morning. I imagine our daughter with her mother’s beautiful eyes and tiny nose opening the presents I bring her and our other children after my run. She squeals as she holds up the locket. I help her open it. It holds three pictures. One of each of us and the ultrasound picture in the

middle.

She sobs and launches herself at me. “I love you Nick. Thank you for loving me and for giving me this beautiful gift,” she says. I pull her onto my lap and hold her in my arms. In a few hours our lives will be connected forever, and I can’t wait to say I do. She is the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

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