Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 84

84 Baby Girl

Nick POV

+25 Points

I definitely smile a lot more now. All it takes is to think of my beautiful wife. From the moment I saw her the first time, she was mine. It may have taken me a day or two to realize it, but I knew in my heart before ! insisted my sister tell me about her vision. Watching her belly grow round with our daughter has made me fall more and more in love with her every day. I talk to my princess every night so she knows my voice. I tell her about our family, the elves, and being Santa. She kicks and responds to my voice as Clarice runs her hand through my hair. It’s my favorite part of the day. Well that and making love to my wife.

I still love to say my wife. The pledging was amazing, but watching Andrew walk Clarice through the snow surrounded by our family was a close second. I thought she would want a ceremony in a church, but instead she insisted that being surrounded by the trees, snow, and family was more spiritual than sitting in any pew. She wore a beautiful ivory dress that made her look almost angelic. “Nick, everything is on schedule. Toy development has five new toys we will be working on for the coming Christmas and the list is more nice than naughty,” Bart says.

“That’s good to hear Bart. I’m going to head inside and talk to my dad before I head home.” “Alright Santa,” he says with a smirk. “Bart,” I say in warning, but he is already practically skipping toward the barn where the reindeer are resting from their practice flight earlier. After Clarice has the baby, I plan to take her on a ride with me. Hell, maybe we can even christen the sled. I step into the back door and make my way down the hallway.

My steps falter when I hear my mother sobbing. “Love, no one is going to be upset with you. You did nothing wrong. I know this is the hormones,” his words trail off. “Christopher Kringle, if you say one more time that my hormones are making me weepy, I’m going to ask my son to take you for a sled ride over the ocean and dump you off,” she says. I fight the laugh that wants to escape me. “Oh, you don’t mean that, my love. First, you love me too much. Second, then you would have to do all the late–night feedings without me,” he says.

Feedings, what the hell is he talking about? “Anya, it may be a bit of a shock, but I promise you that everyone, including Nick and Chrissy, are going to be happy to have a little brother or sister,” he says. Holy sh*t, my mother is pregnant. My father’s right but I’m still in shock. “Chris, Clarice is about to give us our first grandchild, followed closely by Simone with two more princesses. This is supposed to be there time,” she says.

Before she can say another word, I step out in the open. My father notices me first and a smile spreads across his face. My mother turns and I notice for the first time she has a small bump. “Nick, when did you get here,” she says. “I got back about an hour ago from my ride, and then I toured the factory with Bart.” I see her shoulders relax. I’ve never seen my mother like this. She is normally so fiery, just like my wife.

I do not like it. I step further into the room. Before she can stop me, I pull her into my arms. “I’m thrilled to be a big brother again, mom. I hate that you thought you had to hide this from me, from us. I won’t lie, it was a shock, but in a good way.” “Thank you, Nick. That means so much to me. It was a shock to me and

84 Baby Girl

+25 Points

your father, but he seems to be doing better with it than I am. I’m so happy to be having this baby, but I just never expected it to happen when I’m about to become a grandmother,” she says.

“The girls are going to be excited. They love you, mom. Besides, now you can make Chrissy babysit when you want to have alone time with dad like you did to me when she was a kid.” She slaps my chest and I press a kiss on top of her head. “I love you, Nick. You, your sister, and now this baby has been the biggest blessing to me and your father,” she says. “Well, now that you aren’t a grump anymore,” my father says, and my mother glares at him.

“I kid, my love. Nick knows he is a good boy,” my father says with a smirk. “I haven’t been a boy in some time, old man.” “Oh you two. Nick, Winnie made your favorite cookies. Do you want a few before heading back to the house,” she says. “Mom, when I have ever turned down cookies.” She chuckles and I follow her to the kitchen. I smile when I think about the house we built behind the Inn.

It’s got six bedrooms and I plan on trying to fill them all. When I told Clarice that she just smiled. “Of course we will. We have the twins and this little one, so that’s three already,” she said, teasing me. “What has that cheeky smile on your face,” my mother asks. “Thinking about my beautiful wife.” My phone vibrates in my pocket. I smile when I see the word HEART on the screen. “Hi Clarice. I’m just grabbing some cookies that Winnie made, and I’ll be home.”

My smile fades when I hear her curse. “Clarice, what’s wrong?” “It’s time, Nick. I didn’t want to bother you, but the contractions are seven minutes apart, and they aren’t letting up,” she says. I drop the bag in my hand before even telling my parents what’s happening and teleport back to the house. I find Clarice leaning over the table rocking her hips back and forth.

“I’m here sweetheart. Let’s get you to the fae kingdom. I’ll call Trevor so they can meet us there.” We decided after Simone and her father finally talked and proclaimed us family, that Clarice would give birth where there were healers. I know she will do fine, but I feel better knowing they can help if needed. We appear in the lobby of the hospital. The nurse smiles when she sees us. “Clarice, I take it is time,” she says just as Clarice growls through another contraction.

If I didn’t know any better I would swear she had a little wolf in her. She notices my smile and she glares at me. “I’m in agony, and you are smiling,” she says. “Of course not Clarice. I was thinking about you

growling.” “If I might suggest, Mr. Kringle try not to anger your wife while she is in labor, and she has

powers,” the nurse whispers. I nod and I lift Clarice into my arms. We follow her down a long hallway.

When we reach the large room, I lay her gently in the middle of the bed.

After a few minutes, the door flies open and Trevor followed by a waddling Simone step inside. Simone immediately moves to the opposite side of the bed and bends to kiss Clarice on the forehead. No words pass between them, but it’s like they have a whole conversation with just their eyes. Trevor moves to stand behind Simone. I can tell he’s nervous and doesn’t know what to say.

When he finally gathers himself, he moves closer to Clarice and takes her hand in his. “Thank you, Clarice, for making me a father. For bringing our daughter into the world. For loving me and Simone. For being willing to share this amazing moment with not just me but with Simone. I hope you know that we want you and Nick there for the birth of our daughters. You will be as much their mother and father as we are,” he

84 Baby Girl

says.

+25 Points

Tears edge my beautiful wife’s eyes before another contraction hits her. Once it passes, Trevor bends and presses a kiss on her forehead. I’m not sure how much time passes when the healer steps into the room. I pat Clarice’s forehead with a damp cloth and then he moves to the end of the bed. “Clarice, I’m going to check to see how dilated you are. Hopefully, it will be time for you to push so we can welcome our princess into the world,” he says.

She nods, and I hold her hand while he checks. He smiles wide before two nurses enter the room. There is a flurry of activity before he speaks again. “You are at ten centimeters, Clarice. It’s time to push. I know you’re tired, but you are in the home stretch,” he says. She glares at him and he chuckles. I’m about to warn him not to piss her off when she groans as another contraction hits. “Alright Clarice, I want you to push with the next contraction,” he says.

Twelve pushes later, the sound of a strong cry fills the room and my beautiful daughter is laid on Clarice’s chest. She has a head full of hair and, the best I can tell, it’s a perfect match for Clarice’s. She has ten

fingers and ten toes. I press a kiss on her head after Trevor does. Simone bends and wraps Clarice and

our daughter in her arms. Something whispered passes between them and Simone has tears in her eyes

when she stands up.

“Trevor and I will go with her to protect her while they get her cleaned up. We won’t leave her side,” she

says, laying her hand on her own swollen belly. Everything in me hates the thought of them taking her, but I

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