Page 2 of Inherited Holiday

“Then you’re going to be responsible for all the children and their families not getting the Christmas experience your family has lived up to for decades. You want that guilt hanging over your head?”

“What the hell?” I stared at him in disbelief. “What am I, Santa, now?”

“Yes, sir.” He adamantly nodded. “The town is now your responsibility. Without you, it won’t run.”

“That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone who has no idea how to run that town to begin with. Especially just a few days before Christmas. This is ridiculous! You’re telling me my grandfather expects me to drop everything I’ve worked so hard for, for what? A town I hate and a holiday I can’t stand.”

“Yes… Mr. Saint Clair, we’re all aware of your distaste for a joyful time, but it’s what your grandfather wanted.”

“And my family? My parents? My siblings? What do they all have to say about this?”

“They agree.”

I jerked back, more confused than I was before. “You have got to be kidding me.”

“As I said…” He gestured to the envelope in my hand. “You’re due in Mistletoe Town this afternoon.”

He quickly turned and left, closing the door behind him. I don’t know how long I sat there in a state of shock. I was mostly pissed that my grandfather was getting the last word on an argument that made me leave Mistletoe in the first place.

I growled in frustration as I ripped open the envelope to read what his last words were to me. As soon as I saw the four sentences in big, black, bold font, I scoffed in disagreement and threw the paper in the middle of my desk.

There it lay, mocking me…

All I want for Christmas is for my grandson to finally come home.

It’s time, Nicholas.

Mistletoe Town is yours now, don’t disappoint me. It’s what your grandmother wants.

“Fuck… of course he’d pull that card,” I rasped to myself, pressing the intercom button for my secretary, Sarah, down the hall. “I will need you to clear the rest of my week.”

“Mr. Saint Clair, you have?—”

“I know.”

She hesitated for a second as if she knew where I was going with this. I never canceled work. Come rain or shine, I always met my commitments. I was a workaholic, and I preferred it that way. Honestly, staying busy kept me sane. Like my grandfather constantly reminded me, “A body in motion stays in motion.” That was my regime.

Sarah questioned, “What do I tell them?”

Leaning my head back against the leather chair, I stared up at the ceiling. “I have an unexpected family emergency.”

She lightly gasped. “Does that mean?—”

“Yeah…” I deeply sighed.

“I’m going back to hell.”

CHAPTER 1

NOELLE

The first time I met Nicholas Saint Clair, I was fourteen years old, and he was fifteen. After years of living overseas with my dad while he was on active duty in the military, he was finally able to retire, and we moved to Mistletoe Town, where all your Christmas dreams come true.

My mom passed away when I was six, and I couldn’t wait to move to a place where I’d suddenly feel her presence everywhere I went. My mom grew up in this town and dreamed of moving us there once my dad retired. Even after her unexpected death, my father followed through with their plan.

At first, I thought it would be an issue for him, but I think it helped heal him. Now he spent most of his time traveling, but something about this town just brought out the best in people. From the moment I stepped off the airplane, I fell in love with everything about Mistletoe Town.

Everything, and I do mean everything, about this Hallmark place was magical.

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