Page 55 of Inherited Holiday

“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.”

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