Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
NICHOLAS: NOW
“ T hat was a long time ago,” Dad chimed in.
I nodded. “Yeah, it was.”
“A lot has changed since then.”
“I agree.”
“You know when your grandfather told me that he was going to leave you Mistletoe Town, I thought to myself almost immediately how everything happens for a reason.”
“I had no idea this was going to happen. You think maybe someone could have given me a warning?”
“Like who? Noelle? Should we have used her to bring you back sooner? Because from the looks of it, she seems to be working her magic on you.”
“That noticeable, huh?”
“Son, I saw you dressed as Santa Claus. It doesn’t get more real than that.”
I chuckled. It was crazy to have this normal conversation with my father, considering how we left things between us.
“What can I say? Your baker has the power of persuasion. ”
“She sure seems to have that effect on my sons, but Felix never stood a chance, and I think he’s realizing that.”
“She’s… I don’t even know how to explain it other than she’s literally this Christmas light shining bright in my face, making me feel all warm and well… this sense of holiday spirit seems to be working its way through me whether I want it to or not.”
“You’ve always liked Christmas, Nicholas. I’ve seen your face when you were a kid. You just fought it to fight me.”
“Dad, I?—”
“No, Nicholas,” Grandma intervened, suddenly standing beside us.
We seemed to clear the room, and only we were left there with our past playing out before us.
“You need to let your father finish what he has to say,” she ordered, bringing my attention back to him.
“What is she talking about?”
“I was just about to go looking for you, but I found Felix first.”
“Is that why he told me to come say hello to you?”
“Yes,” Felix added, walking into the room with his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “When grandfather first told me you’d be taking over this town, I thought to myself, damn… even in death he was going to give you what is most sacred to him.”
“Felix, you know I don’t?—”
“That’s what makes it worse, and now you have my girl too.”
I shook my head. “She was never your girl.”
“If you break her heart again, I’ll break your face.”
At that moment, I started seeing my brother as a loved one versus someone I didn’t get along with.
“Noted,” I replied, nodding.
“Anyway,” he added. “As I was saying, the news hit me like a ton of bricks, and I’ve tried not to hate you ever since.”
“When did you?— ”
“A few years ago, I was grabbing something off his desk and his will was on the computer screen. I couldn’t help myself. There in front of my eyes was your name.”
My eyes widened.
“I never told grandfather I knew until he told us a few months ago.”
“I see…”
“Do you? Because from where I’m standing, you’re one lucky son of a bitch.”
I nodded because he was right, and I couldn’t argue with that.
“And not only do you have Mistletoe Town but you also have a thriving construction business.”
“I’ve worked my ass off for that.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“I did some research,” he shared. “I’m sure we all did.”
From an outsider looking in, I did have everything I set my mind to except one thing…
“I do have a lot, but the most important thing I don’t have is family. Do you understand how hard that’s been for me?”
“Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Grandma insisted, and I couldn’t argue with that either.
I still talked to my family. I even saw them a few times when they came to visit.
However, our relationship was strained.
At first, I changed my phone number. I mostly did that due to the fact that I didn’t want them finding me to try to change my mind. Over the course of a few months, I finally snapped out of it and called them. It was touch and go there for a minute, but now we talked every so often.
It still wasn’t good enough.
It never was .
Not holding back, I confessed, “I miss you guys. I hope you at least know that.”
“Oh, Nicholas…” Grandma pulled me into a tight hug. “I’m so happy you’re home.”
My mother made her way into the large space, kissing me on the cheek with a nostalgic smile clear across her face.
“We’ve all missed you,” she coaxed, pulling me into another tight hug.
I hugged her back. It felt good to be in her arms.
“Despite what happened, we’re very proud of everything you’ve accomplished, and now that you’re home, I’m hoping we can take the steps to move in the right direction.”
“Yes,” Grandma agreed with my mom. “Especially if you’re going to have a baby!”
“What?” Mom smiled, beaming.
What the hell is going on?
I opened my mouth to argue, but I closed it instead.
The thought of Noelle pregnant with my baby made my heart race…
“Is she pregnant?” Mom followed up, way to overly excited. “Oh, I’d love a baby in this house! We’re long overdue!”
“He just got here!” Felix exclaimed. “He can’t work that fast.”
Or can I?
Speaking of the devil, Noelle walked in with Holly beside her. My little sister wasn’t so little anymore.
“Nicholas!” She rushed over to me, wrapping her arms tightly around my chest. “I’m so happy you’re here! It’s been way too long.”
The emotions that poured out of me in that second weren’t something I expected to happen this soon, but they were unintentionally laying it on thick.
“I missed you too.” I kissed the top of her head.
Noelle stopped dead in her tracks, taking in the vision in front of her before hiding a smile behind her hand. She couldn’t fool me. It didn’t matter how nonchalant she pretended to be, I knew how much she enjoyed this.
Fully aware everything was getting to me.
Including envisioning her pregnant with my baby.
It wasn’t as if we were getting any younger, and she was my best friend. In a matter of seconds, my life with her flashed before my eyes.
Her.
Me.
A puppy.
Mistletoe Town.
A baby…
The thought of her carrying my kid stirred my dick, and I realized all too soon we needed to go.
“Let me take a picture of you guys,” Noelle ordered, directing everyone to the main Christmas tree.
She set us beside each other by age order, meaning I had to wrap my arm around my brother. To my surprise, he did it first. My sister leaned into me, and we all smiled like one big happy family.
Although there was a long road ahead of us.
The future looked merry and bright.