Page 74 of Inherited Holiday

By the time we got back to the bakery, the town was packed, and I made my way through the crowd, looking for my family. I knew they’d be around. They usually like to stay close to the bakery. The Saint Clair’s had one hell of a sweet tooth.

“Holly!” I called out, finding them where I thought.

“Nicholas!” She hugged me.

We spent the next hour just hanging out, shooting the shit about nothing in particular until I pulled my brother aside for a minute.

“What’s up?” he questioned.

“I have a Christmas gift for you.”

His eyebrows pinched together. “We’re exchanging presents?”

“You knew better than that, Felix. Christmas is all about giving, not receiving.”

“Look whose heart grew three sizes.”

“Shut up and just open it,” I chuckled, handing him a box.

“You brought me a shirt?”

“You’re worse than Noelle. Just open the damn thing and find out.”

He did as he was told, coming face-to-face with what I had in store for him.

“You’re joking?” he asked with a stunned expression I’d never seen on his face.

“Not at all. Merry Christmas, Felix.”

With wide eyes, he asked, “Does Dad know?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I told him about it this morning.”

“And he’s okay with it?”

“Why wouldn’t he be okay with it? His two sons running Mistletoe Town.”

“You’re being serious?”

“Yes,” I reassured. “I don’t have the time or the desire to run the town, especially when I’m relocating my business here. Istill have projects to finish up, but I’ll start the process. I want to stay behind the scenes. I can attend the meetings and the events, but I do not need the day-to-day; that’s where you come in.”

Still with wide eyes, he added, “I can’t believe this.”

“Well, believe it.” I extended out my hand to shake his. “We’re now partners.”

He took one look at my gesture and grabbed my hand instead, pulling me into a tight hug.

I repeated, smiling. “Merry Christmas, Felix.”

“Merry Christmas, Nicholas.”

“Now, this is the sight I want to see,” our father exclaimed, walking up behind us.

He wrapped his arms around us.

It was a good feeling, and the truth was…

My heart did grow three sizes, and this was a story about a man who found joy in giving to others, especially when they deserved it. My brother knew the town like the back of his hand, so it was logical to bring him on. He worked his ass off for our grandfather.

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