Holiday Second Chance Romance

7 Visit with Mom and Dad

Nick POV

After I make my rounds at the Inn, I head back to my apartment. I can't take the chance of anyone seeing me disappear. Once I step foot in my apartment, I focus my mind on my parents' living room. Seconds later I'm standing near the large fireplace I loved as a kid. I can't help but smile when I see my mother sitting in my father's big red chair with what I assume is a cup of hot chocolate. "Nick, I wasn't expecting to see you today," she says. The smirk on her face says otherwise.

"We both know that's not true mother. The minute you forbid Chrissy from telling me about her visions, you knew I would be here hounding you for an explanation." "Do you want something to drink? I have some hot chocolate and peppermint schnapps," she says, motioning to her mug. "Dad must be driving you crazy already if you've dipped into the booze this early." "Oh, you know him. The closer we get to Christmas, the more he turns into a drill sargent. He wants my help, but the minute you don't do it his way, he turns into a raging a**hole that I'd like to kick in his jingle bells," she says.

I throw my head back and laugh. "You don't laugh often enough, my son. You are still so closed off after that deceitful little witch, Morgan" she says. I cringe at the mention of her name. "Come sit with me," she says, patting the love seat next to her. I take the seat, and she reaches for my hand. I've always been a mama's boy. Don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but sometimes he is hard to deal with. He would give you the shirt off his back, but my mom isn't wrong about him being an a**hole sometimes.

Chrissy and I were never given presents at Christmas. How crazy is it that the children of Santa Claus didn't get presents. Don't get me wrong. I loved giving back on the holidays even as a kid, but just once I would have liked to have gone to bed on Christmas eve excited about actually celebrating Christmas day. I promised myself that if I ever did find a woman I trusted enough to let in on my secret when we had children, they would never feel forgotten.

"Now tell me why the boy who hated hearing about the future wants to hear about his sister's visions now," she says. I roll my eyes. "Mom, I am far from a boy. I'm a grown man who is bigger than both his parents." "You will always be my little boy. Now answer the question," she says in the tone she uses when we are in trouble. "I feel drawn to Clarice. I can see how much she is hurting and all I want to do is take her pain away. Then I want to teleport to wherever her husband is and beat the sh*t out of him."

I can see she is fighting the smile. "I will ask you not to use your powers to do such things. Do you know what happened between Clarice and her dips*t of a husband," she asks, and I smile again. "How much schnapps have you drunk, mom? You are cursing a lot today." "Don't be smart. You have heard me curse before but only when it's warranted. Her husband is a piece of work, but you'll know why soon enough if she hasn't told you," she says.

"Why can't you just tell me, mom," I groan. "I can't tell you because you're right. Knowing everything that is going to happen ruins the magic of living. I'm not going to tell you why you're feeling so protective of Clarice. What I will say is, not all women are like the ho bag that betrayed you. Do you see what I did there, ho ho ho," she says. "Mom, I think you're cut off." "Oh, let her drink her husband is being an a**hat as she likes to call me," my father says as he steps into the room.

"Nicholas, I figured you would have popped in last night after your mother told me about your new guest at the Inn," he says. "Does everyone know what the hell is so special about Clarice but me? Did you call Jack too and tell him," I say throwing my arms in the air. "Watch how you talk to your mother, son," my dad says. "Oh, you be quiet. You have been an ogre all morning for far less," my mother scolds him and I smirk.

He glares at me. "As I was saying before, we were rudely interrupted, it's time, Nick. It's time to let yourself feel the magic completely. You've kept your heart guarded for far too long," she says. "Are you saying that Clarice is my one mom. She is married." "First I never said anything about who to open your heart to," she says, and I roll my eyes. Second marriage is a sacred bond between people who are loyal and committed to each other. Its not just a signed piece of paper signed by a clerk and blessed by a man of th cloth," she says.

"Is this because you want dad to be able to retire?" "Enough, Nicholas I love you, but you are so stubborn. You have turned into a grump who shuts the world out except for your family. I won't lie and say I'm not excited about the prospect of spending more alone time with my wife," he says, wiggling his eyebrows. "Gross dad. I want to pretend that Chrissy and I were magically conceived." He throws his head back and laughs and my mother giggles. "Someday your children will say the same," he says with a wink.

"As much as I would like to retire, Nick, what I want more is for you to be happy and loved. To have what I have with your mother. No one is saying that Clarice is your one because you are the only person who can decide who you pledge to. What I can say is, from the time she was a little girl she has had the best heart. Half of her Christmas lists were gifts for other people. She is the first one to help others. She is hurting, son, and if you and your sister can help her heal, then maybe you can let that ice cube you call a heart melt just a little," he says with a chuckle.

"I should have known you would have to throw a barb in there, old man." "This old man can still teach you a lesson. Don't think just because you grew into a giant, I can't knock you down to size," he says with a smile on his face. "How is everything going, dad? Is everything running smoothly?" "There is always a few hiccups, but between your mother and the elves it all works out," he says. "Don't try to butter me up now, Christopher Kringle," my mother says. "Son you might want to head home. It looks like I have to get on my knees to beg for my wife's forgiveness for yelling at her," he says with a twinkle in his eyes.

"What the hell dad?" He throws his head back and laughs. I bend down and kiss my mom on the forehead before I glare at him one more time. Two seconds later I'm standing in my living room. I nearly jump out of my skin when I see my sister sitting on my couch. "What the hell Chrissy? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?" "Oh shut up. You can't have a heart attack. We are immortal. I knew you were going to go talk to mom. What did she say" she asks.

"Chrissy, what happened to Clarice?" She looks confused by my question at first before her eyes fill with sympathy. "You need to talk to her, Nick. What happened is her story to tell? What I will say is that she is stronger than most people. I think if I was her I would be curled up in bed this morning instead of sitting behind the desk at the Inn," she says. "Why is she behind the desk? Where is Linda?"

"She came down with a stomach bug. Called me this morning that she wouldn't be in. I wanted Clarice to rest after breakfast, but she insisted she wants to keep busy. She is going to answer phones and greet guests while she works on her next book. She really is amazingly strong. I'm glad she is here, Nick. She is going to need people around her to protect her from the sh*t storm that is coming, and before you even ask I'm not telling you what the sh*t storm is. I just hope you are one of the people that protect her," Chrissy says.