Whispers Of The Heart

Chapter 17 - Confronting Shadows

CLAY'S POV:
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Our peaceful nap is interrupted by a knock on the door. There's a brief pause before the door creaks open, and Anne's head pops in.

"Good morning, sunshines," Anne greets us with a soothing tone and a radiant smile that seems to never leave her expression.

I offer a smile in return, appreciating Anne's warm presence. George, on the other hand, raises his head to look at her, letting out a groan.

"Come on, George. Time to get up," I playfully say, grabbing a pillow and lightly hitting it against his head.

Anne chuckles, her gaze shifting towards me. "You two have slept through the entire day. It's almost dinnertime," she remarks.

My eyes widen with surprise, and I quickly sit up. "Wait, what time is it?"

She glances at the clock on her wrist and replies, "It's almost seven."

George rises from the bed and leaves the room, making his way towards the bathroom located at the end of the hallway.

"I suppose you're not hungry?" Anne inquires, and I respond with a smile, shaking my head to indicate that I am not currently hungry.

"The lunch was absolutely amazing. I believe I'm full enough to last the entire week," I express with a smile.

She laughs and fixes her hair slightly. "Well, tell George that when you get down, we'll open the presents."

I nod, and she playfully winks at me before making her way downstairs. I take a moment to check my phone and notice some texts from Nick, wishing me a Merry Christmas. I tell him thank you and wish him Merry Christmas before George enters the room, joining me.

"Your mom said that it's time to open the presents," I inform him, noticing his nod with a forced smile.

I can see that the smile is forced so I reach out and gently take hold of his hand before he opens the door to head downstairs. "Georgie, it's gonna be okay. I'm here with you," I reassure him, and he responds by embracing me in a heartfelt hug.

I become nervous too.

As we make our way downstairs to the living room, I notice Todd occupying the same spot as before, seemingly unmoved. Anne, on the other hand, is seated cross-legged on the couch. George and I settle down on the floor, positioning ourselves in front of them, ready to open the gifts.

"I think it's a great idea to start with Clay's presents since he's our guest," Anne suggests, and a smile graces my face as I appreciate her thoughtfulness. The nostalgic feeling of my childhood fills my heart with warmth.

"I and Clay actually decided that we're gonna give gifts to each other tomorrow morning," George says and Anne nods.

"Well then, I'll give you a gift from me and Todd." She smiles and hands me a gift bag.

With a smile on my face, I peer into the gift bag and discover a forest green sweater, a scented candle, and a bottle of cologne. Charmed, I first take out the candle and inhale its delightful aroma. The scent of vanilla fills my senses, creating a comforting and inviting atmosphere.

"Mmm, it smells amazing!" I exclaim, unable to contain my excitement. I pass the candle to George, eager for him to experience the pleasant scent. As he takes a whiff, a genuine smile graces his face, filling my heart with joy. Seeing his happiness brings me huge joy.

Next, I take the bottle of cologne from the gift bag, intrigued by its strange shape. I open the bottle and spritz a small amount onto my wrist. The scent is pleasant, reminiscent of a classic cologne. Once again, I share it with George, who leans in to sniff my wrist, confirming my opinion.