Holiday Homecoming
Special Edition in the Nashville Nights Next Generation Series
Cheryl Douglas
Copyright © by Cheryl Douglas
Smashwords Edition
Published by Cheryl Douglas
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Persons, places and other entities represented in this book are deemed to be fictitious. They are not intended to represent actual places or entities currently or previously in existence or any person living or dead. This work is the product of the author’s imagination.
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Holiday Homecoming © 2012 Cheryl Douglas
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Nashville Nights Family Tree
The Turners
Trey and Sierra Turner - Nashville Nights, Book One, Shameless
Jared and Elaine Turner - Trey’s parents
Alisa Turner - Next Generation, Book One, High Stakes
The Coopers
Josh and Lexi Cooper - Nashville Nights, Book Two, Fearless
Jay and Victoria - Josh and Ashley’s son and daughter-in-law / Nashville Nights, Book Seven, Hopeless
Mike and Tori Cooper - Josh and Ashley’s son and daughter-in-law / Nashville Nights, Book Eight, Careless
Aiden Cooper – Josh and Lexi’s son / Next Generation, Book Two, Trade Off
Brianna Cooper – Josh and Lexi’s daughter / Next Generation, Book Three, Game On
Ava Cooper – Jay and Victoria’s daughter / Next Generation, Book Eight, Blown Away
The Spencers
Luc and Marisa Spencer – Nashville Nights, Book Three, Ruthless
Nikki Spencer – Luc’s daughter / Nashville Nights, Book Five, Relentless
Ryan Spencer – Luc and Marisa’s son / Next Generation, Book Three, Game On
Evan Spencer – Luc and Marisa’s son / Next Generation, Book Four, Burn Out
The McCalls
Ty and Avery McCall – Nashville Nights, Book Four, Reckless
Anna McCall – Ty and Avery’s daughter / Next Generation, Book Five, Fast Track
Nick McCall – Ty and Avery’s son / Next Generation, Book Six, Time Out
J.T. McCall – J.T. and Derek’s brother / Nashville Nights, Book Five, Relentless
Nikki Spencer – McCall – J.T.’s wife / Nashville Nights, Book Five, Relentless
Lauren McCall - J.T. and Nikki’s daughter / Next Generation, Book Seven, Face Value
Derek McCall – J.T. and Derek’s brother / Nashville Nights, Book Six, Heartless
Ashley McCall – Derek’s wife, Jay and Mike Cooper’s mother / Nashville Nights, Book Six, Heartless
Special Edition – Holiday Homecoming
Trey Turner and his wife, Sierra, are hosting a Christmas gathering for their closest friends and family when an expected event forces them to pull together and help one of their own through a crisis. Will tragedy strike, forcing Trey to face his worst nightmare, or will this holiday be the one that helps them all to heal?
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Nashville Nights: The Next Generation Series
Chapter One
Liam Bryson walked into the master bedroom he shared with his wife, Alisa, and found her grimacing as she stood sideways, staring at her protruding stomach in the mirror. Liam thought his wife had never looked more breathtaking, but he knew the former fashion model was disconcerted by the changes her body had undergone.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, coming up behind her. Her upswept hairstyle gave him access to the smooth column of her neck, so he took full advantage, skimming his tongue over the lightly scented skin.
She trembled in his arms when he drew her earlobe into his mouth. “If you keep that up, we’re never going to make it to my parents’ house on time.”
Alisa’s parents were hosting their annual holiday party for their close friends and family, and Liam knew they all looked forward to it. Last year was their first Christmas as a couple, but he already considered the party the highlight of their busy holiday season.
“We have a little time before we have to leave,” he whispered in her ear. “Why not make the most of it?”
“Oh God, are you two at it again?”
Alisa giggled and Liam winced when his teenage daughter, Abby, appeared at the door.
“Can I help you?” he asked, turning toward her. He still found it difficult sometimes to believe the baby girl he’d raised was a young woman now.
She was attending art school in New York, and they only saw her once a month, at best. Liam would have given anything to keep her with them, but when his wife encouraged him to let her pursue her dream, he knew standing in her way was selfish. He’d made the right call because she flourished at the prestigious school. Her esteemed instructors claimed her natural talent set her apart from artists desperate to earn a living doing what they loved.
Fortunately, money would never be an issue for his daughter since his recent plans to expand his hotel chain and foray into resorts had placed him firmly in the elite billionaire’s club.
“I was hoping Alisa could help me with this,” she said, holding up the diamond tennis bracelet they’d given her for her last birthday. “I always have trouble with the clasp.”
“I’d be happy to help,” Alisa said with a smile.
Liam watched the two loves of his life, their heads bent together in concentration. His daughter had dark features, much like his, and Alisa was fair with light hair and eyes. He and his wife were different in so many ways, yet she completed him. Since they’d met and married, he found a sense of contentment he never thought possible. He spent so many years building his empire and raising his daughter that he assumed those were the only things that would ever matter to him.
Then he sat down beside Alisa on a flight to Las Vegas, and in the span of twenty-four hours, she’d made him question everything he thought he knew about what mattered. Being her husband was more important than brokering multi-million dollar deals, so he gave up the life he knew for the life they now shared in Alisa’s hometown of Nashville. He was finally living his fantasy. A fantasy he hadn’t even known he wanted until she made him realize how much he would stand to lose if he was foolish enough to let her go.
“Is your grandmother here yet, Abby?” Liam asked. His mother flew in on his private jet from San Francisco to spend the holidays with them. When he got tied up on a conference call, he’d sent his driver to pick her up.
“I don’t think so.” The doorbell rang, and Abby grinned. “I stand corrected. You guys go back to whatever you were doing before I interrupted. I’ll let Nana
in.” She winked at her father. “Take your time. I’ll just tell her you’re… busy.”
Liam tried to hide his smile when he said, “Would you just answer the door, kid?”
“I’m so glad she’s home,” Alisa said when her stepdaughter walked out of the room. “I’ve missed her.”
Watching the relationship between his wife and daughter evolve was gratifying. Abby’s mother had abandoned her as soon as she realized giving her wealthy boyfriend a child wouldn’t secure her role as mistress of his manor. His former girlfriend never even tried to build a relationship with their child, yet the bond between Alisa and Abby seemed instant and effortless.
Alisa reached for his hand. “Let’s go greet your mother.”
He brought her left hand to his lips, chuckling when the huge diamond nearly took his eye out. “You look beautiful tonight.” The conservative, long velvet dress with low cut back and scooped neckline hugged her new curves to perfection, and the sight of her, pregnant with his baby, turned him on in a way no tight, short, little black dress ever had.
“I feel like a fat—”
He silenced her with a kiss as he framed her face with his hands. He hated that she couldn’t see herself the way he saw her. “You’re gorgeous,” he said, pulling away. “And you should know better than to argue with me.”
Alisa smiled as she locked her hands around his neck. “You may intimidate everyone else, but you don’t scare me, Liam Bryson.”
“That’s because you have me wrapped around your little finger and you damn well know it.” He laughed at her smug smile. “If my board of directors could see me, totally at your mercy, they’d question whether the company was safe in my hands.”
Alisa smiled before pressing a kiss to his lips. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. It’ll be our little secret.”
Liam grunted. “Some secret. Anyone in the same room with us can tell your happiness is the only thing I give a damn about these days.”
“That, and your daughter,” Alisa said quietly, rubbing her stomach gently. “This baby is going to be the luckiest little boy or girl in the world to have you as his father.”
Liam held her tight. He fought back emotion as he remembered all of the mistakes he’d made when Abby was growing up. He missed out on so many important events because his business took him all over the world, and he questioned whether he was the parent she needed every day. He was so afraid his absence would make her bitter or resentful, and she’d throw his love back in his face as she blamed him for caring more about amassing wealth than raising her. Nothing could be further from the truth, but that didn’t ease the pain of knowing he hadn’t always been there when she needed him.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” she asked, bracing her hands on his shoulders as she pulled back to look him in the eye. “Why do you look so sad all of a sudden?”
“I was just thinking about the mistakes I made with Abby. Sometimes, I wonder if she resents the choices I made.”
“Honey, how can you even think that?” Alisa asked, cupping his cheek. “You’re her hero. Your hard work allows her to live her dream. She knows that, and she appreciates all the sacrifices you made. Believe me.”
Liam’s eyes fell to the baby Alisa carried, and he said, “I just wonder if she ever feels bitter. Her entire life, I was so focused on building the business, and then you came, and within a matter of weeks, I decided to start delegating so we could build a new life together. Do you think she wonders why I never made that kind of sacrifice to spend more time with her?” That was on his mind a lot since his daughter left for school, especially since he found out he was getting another chance to be the father he’d never been to Abby.
“Why don’t you ask her?”
He shrugged. “I’m not sure she’d be honest with me. Abby’s a sweet, sensitive girl. She wouldn’t want to hurt me.”
“And I know you would never, ever, do anything to hurt her.” Alisa placed his hand on her stomach when the baby kicked, making him smile. “You’re an amazing father, Liam. Don’t ever doubt that.”
He approached everything in his life with fierce determination, but he couldn’t help but feel when it came to being a parent that he’d fallen short. “I guess we should get out there. Abby’s going to have her grandmother convinced we’re in here…” Liam laughed when a blush stole over Alisa’s cheeks. “I’m just teasing. Come on, let’s go.”
Alisa smiled when her mother-in-law patted her stomach and greeted the baby.
Jana Bryson had insisted on coming to stay with them until after the baby was born, and although she was unwilling to admit it, Alisa was relieved to have the support. Liam could hire an army of baby nurses to help them care for the newborn, but Alisa wouldn’t trust a stranger with her baby. Jana was family, and she was already a doting grandmother who couldn’t wait to spoil their newest addition.
“How have you been feeling, sweetheart?” Jana asked, concern knitting her eyebrows. “Are you still seeing that midwife or have you come to your senses and decided to have the baby in a hospital like everyone else?”
“Mother,” Liam warned. “I told you before this is not open for discussion. Alisa wants to have the baby at home with a midwife and that’s the way it’s going to be.”
“Oh, I just worry about you,” Jana said, slipping an arm around Alisa’s nearly non-existent waist as she led her into the family room. “If something were to go wrong—”
“Nothing’s going to go wrong, Mother,” Liam said, between clenched teeth. “If you’re trying to scare us, it’s not going to work.”
“I’m not trying to scare you. I’ve been in the delivery room, young man, and I know from experience that things don’t always go exactly as planned. Even a perfectly uneventful pregnancy can result in complications during delivery. Take me for example,” she said, putting a cushion behind Alisa’s back as Alisa lowered herself onto the couch. “When Liam was born, he was breech, and I thought I could handle giving birth without the epidural.” She rolled her eyes. “Good Lord, what a fool I was. By the time I started screaming and crying for meds, it was too late to do anything about it.”
Alisa glanced up at Liam, who stood by the fireplace, glaring at the back of his mother’s head.
“Do you think you could save your horror stories for another time?” he asked. “We have to get over to the Turners’ house for the party.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Jana said, jumping up. “I brought a lovely bottle of wine for them to try. It’s from—”
“How many times do I have to tell you…” Liam drew a deep breath and slipped his hands into the pockets of his custom dress pants. “Alisa’s father doesn’t drink. He’s a recovering alcoholic, remember?”
“Oh, that’s right,” she said, pressing a manicured hand to her cheek. “Oh well, maybe Sierra would enjoy it.”
Liam rolled his eyes. “Sierra is not going to drink a whole bottle of wine by herself.”
“Well, I’m sure someone will drink it,” she said, fisting a hand on her hip.
“Yeah, me, if you keep this up.”
“Now, Liam,” she said, wagging her finger at him. “You know you’re not to over-indulge in alcohol. Remember what the doctor said after your heart attack? Everything in moderation.”
“Oh for the love of God,” Liam said, ushering his mother toward the door. “I do not overindulge in anything, but if you keep badgering me, I just might start.”
“Who’s badgering you? I’m merely suggesting…”
“Abby,” Liam said, “help your grandmother with her coat. We’ll be right behind you.”
Alisa smiled at her husband’s exasperated expression. She knew he loved his mother, but Jana was definitely a force of nature. Her opinion was the only one that mattered, and heaven help anyone who dared to argue with her.
“You really want that woman living under our roof for a month?” Liam asked, helping her up off the couch. “I may have to take up drinking.”
Alisa laughed. “Be quiet. She
’ll hear you.”
“It’s nothing I haven’t said to her before.”
Alisa slapped his chest. “Let’s get over to my parents’ house. I’ve been craving my mama’s cheese puffs all day.”
Liam looked down at her bare feet. “What shoes do you plan on wearing?”
“I’ll be lucky if I can even fit these things into a pair of shoes.” Swollen feet meant she’d had to say good-bye to her favorite designer stilettos. Another sacrifice she had to make for the sake of her baby. She couldn’t help but smile when the baby kicked her in response to her errant thoughts.
“It’s already coming down out there. The roads and sidewalks may be a bit slick. I want you to wear something with decent traction.”
Great, Uggs with an evening gown. Now that’s a hot look. Alisa glanced out the window and saw big snowflakes sticking to the windowpane. “Can you believe we may actually have some snow for Christmas? How cool is that?”
Liam laughed at her enthusiasm. “It’s pretty cool. Let’s go before your cousins eat all the cheese puffs.”
Chapter Two
By the time Alisa had greeted all of her friends and family, the pains were more frequent and more difficult to hide. She didn’t want to ruin the party or worry her husband if they were false labor pains, but she began to fear these may be the real thing. With only ten days until her due date, her midwife, Maria, told her it could happen any day, although first babies were often born full-term, if not a few days late.
Her Nana Turner sat down beside her on the sofa and patted her leg. “You look beautiful, dear.”
Alisa grimaced when the pain shifted to her lower back. “You’re sweet, but I don’t feel very beautiful right now.”
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