Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 45966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45966 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
“Couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“I don’t know what hurts worse—you not supporting me or that you don’t believe in me.”
“I just want what’s best for you. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I held my head higher.
“Your grandfather is right, Nicholas.”
My eyes narrowed, drifting my stare toward her.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do this anymore.” I stood taller. “After I graduate next…”
In four words, I changed the course of my life. “I’m leaving Mistletoe Town.”
“If you do… don’t bother coming back! Do you understand me? We’re done. You want your own life, then consider yourself a loner.”
My mouth dropped before I scoffed. “I can’t believe you.”
“Believe it.”
“Nicholas, he doesn’t mean—”
I kissed my grandmother on the cheek and got the hell out of there. My immediate thought was Noelle and how there was no doubt in my mind that she would leave with me.
Right?
I decided not to tell her right then what was going on like I usually did. Instead, I needed to devise a plan or at least some sort of dialogue of how I’d bring this up to her. It had to be the perfect timing.
Today wasn’t that day, but soon…
I’d ask her to leave with me.
Never expecting her to say no.
CHAPTER 22
NICHOLAS: NOW
“That 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.