'' I thought your Sugar Cookie Truffle Balls definitely would've won, and maybe you can make them for me sometimes, ''says Liam being all flirty with her right now, loving that they just competed with each other in something. It shows them more things that they have in common as their start of something has a lot of spark and very different interests between one another.''Thank you; our cookies had something in common though, we both used Sugar Cookies, which shows that we both love them ''says Hazel.
'' I don't we just used it for the base of it,'' states Liam spilling the tea and being honest to her that way; he isn't ever caught in a lie when Hazel bakes him what she thought was his favorite; when it never was.'' I am thrilled that you were honest with me; that was one quality that every guy that I have ever been out with never did, and told me just what they thought I wanted to hear every time ''says Hazel. For once, a guy has told her the truth?
Could Liam be the one for her?
''Honesty & truth is what good relationships are about, or the beginning of new ones like the possibility of ours ''states Liam even though he knows that he still has a long way to go with progress on everything that he has been going through physically & mentally knowing that there will be a light at the end of this dark tunnel. As he is currently still finding the way out, to where every time Liam tries just leads to dead ends.''I think you are the first guy to say that before to me, now thinking of it, I don't think neither my dad nor Mitch ever mentioned it to me ''states Hazel thinking to herself maybe that's why she has never got close to finding her missing piece of the puzzle.
''I totally agree, so what's up next for the list of traditions?'' asks Hazel, curiously loving being part of another family's Christmas Eve traditions, seeing that she is not very fond of the ones her own family does? Nothing has been the same ever since her mom died when she was twelve.''Three words Singing Christmas Carols''says Liam, thinking back on how incredible his late wife could sing; she blew each house away with Zoey's most talented gift, which was her voice.''Well, in that case, I will very much attempt to sing along with everyone, but I do have to warn you, that I am not a very good singer. Seeing that no one has ever heard me sing before, I mean no one, not even my family, which says a lot ''says Hazel. She remembers the last time that she ever sang, was when she was an angel in her school's Christmas Show back in KIndergarten.
''Oh come on, you can't be that bad, even I don't have a great singing voice; I used to lip-sync and let everyone else's voices act as my singing voice, ''states Liam trying to make Hazel feel better when he is a singing goddess.
''What are you talking about, dad? You used to blow everyone away, with your incredible singing voice, 'tells Thomas as he overhears his dad and Hazel's conversation. Not knowing that, he threw his dad completely under the bus and was always told to tell the truth. Liam then thinks to himself, ''thanks buddy, for telling Hazel something that I was just telling Hazel to make her feel less bad about her singing voice''.Once Thomas is out of the room, Hazel then looks at Liam ''why would you lie to me?'' asks Hazel when she shouldn't be judging him when she is doing the same thing to Liam. When she lied about the fact that her family is sick and unable to celebrate Christmas with her own family.'' I don't know. I guess I just thought if I did that then, maybe it would make you feel better about singing in front of people, and perhaps just get over your fear of thinking you can't sing, ''states Liam.
'' I don't get you; first you say that honesty & truth is what good relationships are about, and then you lie straight to my face; I mean, who does that?'' questions Hazel. as she is should truly be taking her advice. She should be preparing herself for when Liam finds out the truth about why she is here because we have seen how Liam is when people are dishonest with him? ''Your right. I did say that, and I am sorry, I shouldn't have lied to you; there is something that I am going to share with you, that I haven't shared with anyone else, not even my family. If I tell you what it is, you can't say to anyone ''states Liam being very serious.
'''I promise what is it?'' asks Hazel curiously, wanting to know every detail and is honored that he is sharing something with her, that he hasn't told this to anyone else. Not knowing the reason behind all of it, which is something that Hazel will find out very shortly? ''Let's go outside and talk about it, as he heads out the front door. Hazel follows him wondering what it is?'' Although she can't put her finger on it to why Liam doesn't want her to tell his family this deep dark secret?''Okay, you ready ''asks Liam making sure none of his family is around.
''Yes, what is it? You are kinda scaring me right now?'' asks Hazel unsure of why he is making sure no one is around or why Liam said that she can't tell anyone what he is about to say?''Thomas was not mine and Zoey's first child ''states Liam revealing something that he has been keeping inside of him for so long. To where the guilt has been pretty much eating himself alive.''What do you mean? Are you saying that Zoey was actually pregnant three times instead of two?'' states Hazel curiously wanting to know more details seeing from what she was told from Abby & Liam when she first arrived in their beautiful all-year-round Christmas town of Peppermint. ''We were in our first year of university when Zoey found out that she was pregnant, both of us weren't ready to be parents. Nor did Zoey want anyone from Peppermint to find out that we had sex before marriage, so I saved up the money that I had earned at my part-time job. That way Zoey could get an abortion to avoid telling her parents that their precious daughter had gotten pregnant. She also made me promise that I would never tell anyone not even my parents, and the fact that I now just told means that I have now just broken the promise,I made to my late wife. Over almost seventeen years ago that I have kept this inside, which I guess means that I no longer have to keep it inside anymore. I can't however ever tell my parents though, not because I am afraid to mostly, unsure of what both of my parent's reactions would be if they however ever found out that lovely secret after just knowing. About another potential second grandchild that they could have met ''states Liam.
''Your secret is safe me, I also feel honored that I was the first person, you felt comfortable sharing that with ''tells Hazel as she can see her and Liam's relationship slowly growing before her eyes. Yes, it might be going slower than she expected but is also worth the wait of a slow-paced of something and yet exciting. Involving a widowed heart that still needs to take time to heal, after everything Liam's heart has been through his heart is worth the time & patience.
''Come here'' states Liam as he bends down and kisses her deeply and this time meaning to kiss her for real this time and not mistakenly at the moment. Hazel continues to deepen the kiss between her and Liam, thinking how much things between them have grown in the past few days. To go from barely speaking to now kissing at his parent's house on Christmas Eve.''Liam what was that song that Zoey loved to sing when we all sang Christmas carols around the neighborhood?'' asks Caroline as she sees her son-in-law kissing another woman that isn't her daughter which is very shocking to her right now.
''White Christmas and Caroline this is Hazel, as he then looks at Hazel, this is Zoey's mom Caroline Davis''says Liam wondering what his late wife's mom is thinking about right now.'' It's nice to meet you I have heard a lot about your daughter, and she sounds like she was a great person, who cared about this town and helping the community ''says Hazel feeling very uncomfortable right now as Caroline is just staring at her not saying a word.''Yes was as well as Liam's wife and Thomas's mother which will never change or be replaced by anyone, not even you ''states Caroline.
''I'll be right inside why don't you go get us some hot chocolate ''tells Liam to Hazel that way he can speak to Caroline alone about how cold she is being to Hazel.'' I can only think about what my sweet Zoey is thinking right now if she were looking down, seeing her husband kissing another woman after being with her for eighteen marvelous years. I mean clearly, you need professional help it's a good thing that you finally listened to your parents and sister on attending a Grief Group for Widowers. Maybe it will make you think about the wonderful woman that you married almost twelve years ago ''states Caroline.
''You know what Caroline, yes your daughter was the love of my life for almost eighteen years, and I miss her every day and have struggled to accept the fact that she is gone. However I am not replacing her and you know that, so does your daughter and we have always said that if something happened to one of us, and if we did happen to find love again that we would be happy. For the other person ''says Liam.
As they see someone that they don't recognize walk up to them,'excuse me but is there a Hazel Mcknight here I have been tracking her GPS on her phone and it shows that she is here?'' asks Mitch.
''Yes she is right inside, but before I let you inside? May I ask who you are then a form of identification?'' asks Liam protectively as he protects the new woman that he has developed feelings for along with protecting his little boy not to mention his family inside.
'' I am Mitch Mcknight Hazel's older brother, as he pulls out his wallet from his back pocket and hands It to Liam. As he Liam opens Mitch's wallet and sees his name Mitch Mcknight on his driver's license,'' why are you here?'' asks Liam curiously wanting to know seeing that Hazel said her dad was sick and canceled plans for the holidays.''Well, when Hazel didn't show up a few days ago to our family home in San Francisco for Christmas everyone started to worry ''says Mitch revealing the truth upon Hazel's lie.
''She said that your dad was sick and that you all canceled plans for the holidays, which is why she asked if she could spend Christmas here with my family. That way she wouldn't be alone ''says Liam as he is extremely confused right now on what's really going on?''Well, our dad never canceled, hate to break it to you man but Hazel lied in order to spend more time with you, I do however need to learn more about you, seeing that I can understand what my little sister sees in you' 'states Mitch being an overprotective big brother,
Hazel then sees Liam walk in the door, and also sees Mitch behind him. ''Why would you lie?'' asks Liam to Hazel?