by Lacey London
‘Have you had your dinner already?’ My mum asks, frantically stirring the gravy.
‘We have not.’ Owen admits, leaning against the wall. ‘Harper and Harley were making Eve vomit all morning, so we’re holding out until later.’
‘Oh, no!’ I turn to face Eve, who is sticking her nose into the gravy boat. ‘I’m guessing you’re feeling a little better now?’
‘Actually, I am.’ Near salivating, she looks at the turkey mournfully.
‘Then stay. Join us.’ Oliver motions to the table and throws Owen a beer.
‘We couldn’t impose on you like that…’ Eve shakes her head and hands a card to Gina.
‘We already did!’ Marc chips in, as he tries to stop MJ from taking crackers off the tree.
‘We would love it if you would join us. There’s more than enough to go around...’ I look at the Lakes hopefully and let out a squeal when they eventually give in.
‘I want a cracker!’ MJ screams, stamping his little feet in a temper.
‘Just let him have one.’ I shout over my shoulder, as I put out two more place settings.
As soon as the words escape my lips the other kids demand one too. Desperately trying to calm them down, Marc snatches a bunch of crackers off the tree and hands them out like treats. I watch their faces light up as they rush around to find pulling partners.
‘Has everyone got a cracker?’ Marc yells, as the kids nod back at him. ‘One… two… three!’
A series of bangs erupt in the living room and the rest of us dash over to see what they have won.
‘What’s this?’ Picking up a satin blindfold, Madison holds it to her eyes.
‘I won dice!’ MJ declares, grabbing a set of pink dice with lips on them.
‘Where did you get these from?’ Gina asks, taking one of the crackers and squinting. ‘Ann Summers Couples’ Crackers. A real treat to warm up those cold nights…’ Her voice trails off as a dawning realisation appears on her face. ‘OK, that’s enough of the crackers. Come on, hand them over.’
Blood rushes to my cheeks as I help Gina to cover the x-rated surprises. ‘Janie!’ I hiss, shoving all evidence of them into the bin. ‘Why the hell did you get those?’
‘What?’ Not even bothering to get out of her seat, she picks up the box and cackles loudly. ‘You never said they were for the kids…’
I turn around to apologise to Gina when I notice her pocketing the dice.
‘I’m just going to take these…’ Without a hint of blush, she slips the blindfold into her pocket as well and flashes Marc a wink.
Resisting the urge to throw up, I offer my dad an embarrassed smile as he dashes back into the kitchen. Thankfully, the kids are now too consumed with their gifts from the Lakes to even notice Janie’s unfortunate mix-up.
‘Alright…’ My mum shouts from the kitchen. ‘Dinner is served!’
Almost immediately, a dozen little feet charge over to the dining table, each one wanting to be the first to dive into their seats.
‘It all looks amazing!’ Gina gushes, grabbing a sprout from her plate and popping it into her mouth. ‘Well done, guys!’
As the rest of the gang congregate around the table, Oliver grabs me by the wrist and pulls me into our bedroom. With Pumpkin at his heels, he leads me to the bed and motions for me to sit down.
‘What’s going on?’ I let out a nervous laugh as he hugs me tightly before producing a tiny black box.
My skin prickles as I remember Noah’s slip up last week. A forever ring.
‘I know Noah’s already given the game away with this one, but he did choose it, so I guess it was to be expected.’
Carefully pulling back the lid, he holds out a beautiful gold ring. Three stunning diamonds shine up at me and I clasp my hands over my heart.
‘You see these three? They represent our past, our present and most importantly, our future.’ I let out a gasp as he pulls out the ring and slides it onto my right hand. ‘The first two have been pretty amazing and I have a funny feeling that our future is going to be the best one yet.’
I look into his eyes and feel tears spill down my cheeks. Suave is where it all began for my little family and in a strange twist of fate it now holds the key to our future in a way that I never dreamed possible.
Hearing laughter and happy chatter drift out of the dining room, I lean forward and pull Oliver towards me. Life is an awfully great adventure and ours isn’t ending here. We are about to embark on a whole new journey together. For us this isn’t the end, it’s only just the beginning…
A snowflake’s journey doesn’t end where it lands…
The End
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@thelaceylondon
Have you read the other books in the Clara series?
Meet Clara Andrews
Book One
Meet Clara Andrews... Your new best friend!
With a love of cocktails and wine, a fantastic job in the fashion industry and the world’s greatest best friends, Clara Andrews thought she had it all.
That is until a chance meeting introduces her to Oliver, a devastatingly handsome American designer. Trying to keep the focus on her work, Clara finds her heart stolen by Michelin starred restaurants and luxury hotels.
As things get flirty, Clara reminds herself that inter-office relationships are against the rules, so when a sudden recollection of a work’s night out leads her to a cheeky, charming and downright gorgeous barman, she decides to see where it goes.
Clara soon finds out that dating two men isn't as easy as it seems...
Will she be able to play the field without getting played herself?
Join Clara as she finds herself landing in and out of trouble, re-affirming friendships, discovering truths and uncovering secrets.
Clara Meets the Parents
Book Two
Almost a year has passed since Clara found love in the arms of delectable American Oliver Morgan and things are starting to heat up.
The nights of tequila shots and bodycon dresses are now a distant memory, but a content Clara couldn't be happier about it.
It’s not just Clara things have changed for. Marc is settling in to his new role as Baby Daddy and Lianna is lost in the arms of the hunky Dan once again.
When Oliver declares it time to meet the Texan in-laws, Clara is ecstatic and even more so when she discovers that the introduction will take place on the sandy beaches of Mexico!
Will Clara be able to win over Oliver’s audacious mother?
What secrets will unfold when she finds an ally in the beautiful and captivating Erica?
Clara is going to need a little more than sun, sand and margaritas to get through this one...
Meet Clara Morgan
Book Three
When Clara, Lianna and Gina all find themselves engaged at the same time, it soon becomes clear that things are going to get a little crazy.
With Lianna and Gina busy planning their own impending nuptials, it’s not long before Oliver enlists the help of Janie, his feisty Texan mother, to help Clara plan the wedding of her dreams.
However, it’s not long before Clara realizes that Janie’s vision of the perfect wedding day is more than a little different to her own.
Will Clara be able to cope with her shameless mother-in-law Janie?
What will happen when a groom gets cold feet?
And how will Clara handle a blast from the past who makes a reappearance in the most unexpected way possible?
Join Clara and the gang as three very different brides, plan three very different weddings.
With each one looking for the perfect fairy-tale ending, who will get their happily ever after...
Clara at Christmas
Book Four
With snowflakes falling and fairy lights twinkling brightly, it can only mean one thing - Christmas will be very soon upon us.
With just twenty-five days to go until the big day, Clara finds herself dealing with more than just the usual festive s
tresses.
Plans to host the perfect Christmas Day for her American in laws are ambushed by her BFF’s clichéd meltdown at turning thirty.
With a best friend on the verge of a midlife crisis, putting Christmas dinner on the table isn’t the only thing Clara has got to worry about this year.
Taking on the role of Best Friend/Therapist, Head Chef and Party Planner is much harder than Clara had anticipated.
With the clock ticking, can Clara pull things together - or will Christmas Day turn out to be the December disaster that she is so desperate to avoid?
Join Clara and the gang in this festive instalment and discover what life changing gifts are waiting for them under the tree this year...
Meet Baby Morgan
Book Five
It’s fair to say that pregnancy hasn’t been the joyous journey that Clara had anticipated. Extreme morning sickness, swollen ankles and crude cravings have plagued her for months and now that she has gone over her due date, she is desperate to get this baby out of her.
With a lovely new home in the leafy, affluent village of Spring Oak, Clara and Oliver are ready to start this new chapter in their lives. The cot has been bought, the nursery has been decorated and a name has been chosen. All that is missing, is the baby himself.
As Lianna is enjoying new found success with her interior design firm, Periwinkle, Clara turns to the women of the village for company. The once inseparable duo find themselves at different points in their lives and for the first time in their friendship, the cracks start to show.
Will motherhood turn out to be everything that Clara ever dreamed of?
Which naughty neighbour has a sizzling secret that she so desperately wants to keep hidden?
Laugh, smile and cry with Clara as she embarks on her journey to motherhood. A journey that has some unexpected bumps along the way. Bumps that she never expected...
Clara in the Caribbean
Book Six
Almost a year has passed since Clara returned to the big smoke and she couldn't be happier to be back in her city.
With the perfect husband, her best friends for neighbours and a beautiful baby boy, Clara feels like every aspect of her life has finally fallen into place.
It’s not just Clara who things are going well for. The Strokers have made the move back from the land down under and Lianna is on cloud nine – literally.
Not only has she been jetting across the globe with her interior design firm, Periwinkle, she has also met the man of her dreams… again.
For the past twelve months Li has been having a long distance relationship with Vernon Clarke, a handsome man she met a year earlier on the beautiful island of Barbados.
After spending just seven short days together, Lianna decided that Vernon was the man for her and they have been Skype smooching ever since.
Due to Li’s disastrous dating history, it’s fair to say that Clara is more than a little dubious about Vernon being ‘The One.’ So, when her neighbours invite Clara to their villa in the Caribbean, she can’t resist the chance of checking out the mysterious Vernon for herself.
Has Lianna finally found true love?
Will Vernon turn out to a knight in shining armour or just another fool in tinfoil?
Grab a rum punch and join Clara and the gang as they fly off to paradise in this sizzling summer read!
Clara in America
Book Seven
With Clara struggling to find the perfect present for her baby boy’s second birthday, she is pleasantly surprised when her crazy mother-in-law, Janie, sends them tickets to Orlando.
After a horrendous flight, a mix-up at the airport and a let-down with the weather, Clara begins to question her decision to fly out to America.
Despite the initial setbacks, the excitement of Orlando gets a hold of them and the Morgans start to enjoy the fabulous Sunshine State.
Too busy having fun in the Florida sun, Clara tries to ignore the nagging feeling that something isn't quite right.
Does Janie’s impromptu act of kindness have a hidden agenda?
Just as things start to look up, Janie drops a bombshell that none of them saw coming.
Can Clara stop Janie from making a huge mistake, or has Oliver’s audacious mother finally gone too far?
Join Clara as she gets swept up in a world of fast food, sunshine and roller-coasters.
With Janie refusing to play by the rules, it looks like the Morgans are in for a bumpy ride…
Clara in the Middle
Book Eight
It’s been six months since Clara’s crazy mother-in-law took up residence in the Morgan’s spare bedroom and things are starting to get strained.
Between bringing booty calls back to the apartment and teaching Noah curse words, Janie’s outrageous behaviour has become worse than ever.
When she agreed to this temporary arrangement, Clara knew it was only a matter of time before there were fireworks. But with Oliver seemingly oblivious to Janie’s shocking actions, Clara feels like she has nowhere to turn.
Thankfully for Clara, she has a fluffy new puppy and a job at her friend’s lavish florist to take her mind off the problems at home.
Throwing herself into her work, Clara finds herself feeling extremely grateful for her great circle of friends, but when one of them puts her in an incredibly awkward situation she starts to feel more alone than ever.
Will Janie’s risky behaviour finally push a wedge between Clara and Oliver?
How will Clara handle things when Eve asks her for the biggest favour you could ever ask?
With Clara feeling like she is stuck in the middle of so many sticky situations, will she be able to keep everybody happy?
Join Clara and the gang as they tackle more family dramas, laugh until they cry and test their friendships to the absolute limit.
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