Page 12 of Christmas Replay (Majestic Falls: Christmas Spice #4)
Alissa
Ten Years Later
“Are you open?” he asked as he walked in the front door alone.
“Only for just a few more minutes,” I admitted, smiling at the handsome young man heading toward the counter. “What can I get you?”
“A hot chocolate and a cookie,” he insisted, grinning back.
“Well, you’re in luck.” I snagged the last snowman cookie I’d saved especially for him and slid it onto a plate, handing it over to him. “Why don’t you go have a seat, and I’ll bring your cocoa right over.”
“Thanks, Mom!” Joey said happily, taking his cookie to the table by the fireplace.
“Where’s your dad?” I asked, my brow furrowing as I looked at the door. I’d expected Cliff to be right behind our son.
“He’s on the phone.” Joey rolled his eyes. “Impotent client.”
“Important,” I corrected him, biting back a giggle.
“You don’t know,” he mumbled.
I barked out the laugh I’d been trying to conceal and shook my head at our seven-year-old son.
He was way too smart for all of our goods.
His vocabulary had always been off the charts, probably because his father never shut Joey out of the room during conversations about his day.
Granted, Cliff never shared violent or confidential details with either of us, but we did talk in generalities and Joey had picked up some pretty big language skills along the way.
Seven years living with one of the most successful lawyers in the state would do that for a kid.
“Hey!” Cliff said as he walked into the shop, smiling at me as I carried over a coffee for him and our son’s cocoa. “You ready to hit the road?”
“Almost,” I agreed. “I just need to clean up a few things and lock it down for the break.”
It was Christmas Eve, and we were heading up the mountain for a much needed two-week vacation. It seemed like we were all busier and busier every year, and I was exhausted. Though, being pregnant again wasn’t helping.
“Are you okay?” Cliff asked, concern in his tone.
I turned back and smiled at him, nodding. He didn’t know about the baby yet. I planned to tell him and Joey both on Christmas morning. But hiding my exhaustion and continuing to work ten-hour days was definitely taking its toll.
My little shop had exploded with business a few years ago, and we were actually thinking of expanding and opening a second location on the other side of town.
The local paper had run a story about a holiday drink I’d invented, and people were traveling for miles to get themselves a taste of Christmas in a cup.
It had done wonders for our sales, but we were about at our breaking point for capacity.
The my guys stayed at the table together while I cleaned and unplugged and stored away anything that needed it. Finally, I was ready to leave and grabbed my coat.
“Santa knows what house we’ll be at, right?
” Joey asked as we walked out to the car together.
“He’s not going to drop my presents at our place here, is he?
” Though I loved the place near the falls where we fell in love, Cliff and I still had our place in town.
After our first winter together, when we’d spent more time at my apartment than at our place on the mountain due to the weather, we’d created a home together in the living space above his offices.
“He’s a pretty smart guy,” Cliff assured our son. “I think he’ll figure it out.”
“Are Grandma and Grandpa already there?” he asked. Our seven-year-old was a never-ending font of questions.
“Yep. Got here yesterday,” Cliff told him.
“Do you think they brought me presents, too?”
As Joey got into the car and buckled himself, I looked at Cliff over the roof. I’d been so distracted with the store and the baby on the way that I’d forgotten to pack the gifts hidden at the house.
Cliff smiled as he took in my panicked expression.
“I took care of it,” he whispered. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I blew out a sigh and nodded again. “Just tired. Thank you.”
“Anything for you,” he promised.
We got into the car together, and as he sped off toward our Christmas haven, I exhaled happily.
For most of my life, Christmas was something I’d never looked forward to. But since the first time Cliff had walked into my store, every year had gotten better and better for me. For us. In fact, I looked forward to the holidays now, something that I never thought I’d experience again.
I looked at Joey in the backseat and smiled softly. He was staring out the window, his gaze locked toward the sky as if searching for a sleigh that might soar overhead.
“Happy Christmas, my darlings,” I said, turning from our son to my husband and back again.
“Merry Christmas, Mommy,” Joey answered, fighting a yawn.
“Merry Christmas, babe.” Cliff reached over and took my hand in his, resting our entwined fingers on my thigh.
Merry Christmas indeed.
Thank you for reading!