Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 83

83 Babies All Around

Clarice POV

It’s still surreal to be here at the castle surrounded by fae. I was a little shocked when Simone asked us to return to the kingdom to have dinner with her father, Jared, and Noreen. I hope that he stays true to his word. I know how it feels to miss out on time with your father. Speaking of my father, he looks like he is a goldfish in a bowl as we make our way through the castle. Both women and men pass us by with iridescent wings. “Evie, are you sure I’m not dreaming,” he whispers to my mother.

I giggle and Nick pulls me tight to his side. “I think seeing the fairies is even more of a shock for your dad than learning you were marrying Santa Claus,” he says into my ear. “I think you’re right.” We are led into a huge banquet hall with a long table set up in the middle. As soon as we step inside, Simone and Noreen

are out of their chairs and heading in our direction. Simone pulls me in for a hug while Noreen hugs

Chrissy.

Once they release us, they swap. “Mona told me you got to see the little princess today. Maybe our kids

will be fated to each other. She will be queen of the fae one day,” she says, teasing me. “No boys until she

is at least thirty,” Nick says, and Trevor nods his head in agreement. Noreen throws her head back and

laughs. We all take our seats and I notice Simone’s father is seated next to her. After we are all seated, she and Trevor stand. “I want to thank you all for joining us today,” she says.

“First I want to introduce you all to my father, Simon. Dad, this is Anya and Christopher, Nick and Clarice, Jack and Chrissy, Thomas and Alexia, and Andrew and Evie. They are my family,” she says. He stands, and I can see he is fighting tears as he wraps his arm around Simone. “I will never be able to thank you all enough for being there for my daughter when I wasn’t. I’ve made many mistakes and I hope in time she will forgive me. You may not be fae or family by blood, but you are family just the same,” he says.

“This kingdom will always welcome you. I also have a gift to celebrate the joining of our families,” he says. Four young women step into the banquet hall each holding a wine flute filled with a shimmery liquid. They place one in front of my parents and Trevor’s. “I cannot give you the gift of living as long as the fae or the Kringles, but I can give you the gift of time. This elixir will give you more time to spend with our family. More time with our grandchildren and great grandchildren,” he says. My heart is racing.

My parents will live longer. They will get the chance to not only see my children grow but possibly theirs. I watch as four of the most important people in my life drink the elixir that is a gift of the former fae king. I gasp and so do most of the others around the table. My mother is beautiful, but she looks exactly as she did when I was a child. The elixir looks like it turned back time.

Without overthinking it, I stand and round the table. Simon turns to face me. I wrap my arms around his waist. “Thank you for doing this. I’ve lost so much time with them because of my father’s mistakes and my own stubbornness. You gave me that time back, and I am so grateful.” He wraps his arms around me and presses a soft kiss to my head. “I consider you my daughter as much as I do Noreen and Chrissy. I know what it is to wish for more time. It is the least that I can do to repay the love you gave to my daughter when she felt alone in the world,” he says.

<83 Babies All Around

+25 Points

He releases his hold on me and Trevor hugs him next. I retake my seat next to Nick and my mom. “I don’t

know if Trevor and I can top that, but I’m going to try,” Simone says with a chuckle. “We found out today we

are pregnant with twins.” The table erupts into congratulations. The joy is palpable in the room. It’s hard to

believe how much has changed in just a short period of time. I really thought that losing Trevor was going

to break me, but instead it set everything that was meant to be in motion. The pain of that short time is

long forgotten, replaced by the joy of this moment. The happiness of being with Nick. The future that was

always meant to be mine.

Anya POV

We appear in our living room. The festivities of the evening are long over. It’s just me and Chris. He didn’t

seem to notice how quiet I was during dinner. I guess I’m still in a bit of shock after the vision I had this

afternoon. I might have fibbed when Simone asked if I had a vision that she was pregnant. I saw her and

Trevor holding two perfectly identical little girls. I had already slipped about Clarice. I wanted Simone to have that moment when the doctor says you’re pregnant.

“So do you want to tell me what’s going on, my love, or do I have to torture it out of you,” he says, wrapping

his arms around me tightly. “There is nothing going on. Everything is perfect. We are going to have three

beautiful grandbabies. Both of our children have found their ones. Life couldn’t be more perfect than it is right now!” “Torture it is,” he says. He reaches down and throws me over his shoulder before making his

way to our room.

“Christopher Kringle put me down right now. There is absolutely nothing wrong.” Before I can say more,

he tosses me on our bed. “Anya, we have been together for over three centuries. I know when something is bothering you. Now tell me why you were not the first one drinking fae wine and dancing all over the palace about our new grandbabies,” he says. Tears roll down my cheeks. Chris quickly sits next to me on

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