Jace

Holidays at home were always a treat when we were all home. Unfortunately, my brothers had to leave since their coach was a certifiable douche and only allowed them to visit for a few weeks.

To cheer my parents up, I enlisted Jules to help me get them into the Christmas spirit. We played Christmas songs while decorating the house with the Christmas decorations in the basement.

I lugged the pre-lit tree upstairs and assembled it in the living room before the picture window. Jules carried totes of tree decorations upstairs and set them beside the tree while I figured out how to get the lights to work. You had to connect wires so the entire tree lit up. You would think the manufacturer would make things easy on us. Nope. They chose to make life difficult.

"Jace, only half the tree is working," Jules said.

I looked at the tree in annoyance. "I can fix that." I unhooked the wires and messed with them. "How about now?"

"The top part has lights."

"Hang on. Now?"

"The bottom part has lights."

"Hold on."

I unplugged the lights and plugged them into a different spot.

"Let there be lights!"

"Thank god." I slid out from underneath the tree and stood up.

"Why don't your parents just hang lights on their tree?"

"They used to string lights on the tree until the bulbs kept burning out. Dad said it was easier to assemble a pre-lit tree. I don't know for who because that was a pain in the ass."

Jules giggled while removing a tote lid and pulling out the garland. We draped the garland on the branches until it was all on them. Next, we moved to the bulbs and ornaments.

Music played in the background while we decorated the tree. Last Christmas started playing. I started singing along with it until Jace joined me. Then, he pulled me to him and danced with me.

While dancing and singing along to the song, we didn't hear the front door open and close.

********
Bradley

Hazel and I came home to hear music playing. We entered the house and closed the door to see Jace and Julia dancing and singing along to Last Christmas. We watched them and smiled as they enjoyed themselves.

It took them a few minutes to notice us standing there, watching them. Then, they stopped dancing and shifted in their spots.

"You didn't need to stop on our account," I said.

"We weren't aware we had an audience," Jace said.

"It shouldn't matter if you have an audience or not. Never stop dancing with the woman you love." I removed my coat, hung it up, and pulled Hazel into my arms.

Hazel and I moved around the living room while we danced to the Christmas music. Hazel giggled while I showed her my dance moves. When the song ended, I dipped her before kissing her and releasing her. We walked toward the Christmas tree.

"I see you dragged the tree from the basement," I said, grabbing an ornament and hanging it on the tree.

Hazel and Julia grabbed bulbs and hung them on the branches.

"We wanted to surprise you and Mom since Dallas and Braydon had to leave," Jace said.

"Yeah, but we understand," I said.

"I don't think you do."

"What do you mean?" Dad knitted his brows in concern.

"Did a lawyer look over their contract before they signed it?"

"Of course. We wouldn't let your brothers sign a contract without having an attorney read it."

"Did you know they have a clause in their contract requiring them to see the coach's therapist?"

"What?"

Jace nodded. "Their coach is pushing Braydon to drop Jayden and see the team's therapist."

"Braydon hasn't mentioned anything to me or your mom." I shook my head.

"Braydon wasn't supposed to tell me anything since they signed an NDA agreement with the team. I told them I wouldn't tell you anything about it."

I rubbed my forehead. "Jace, I wish you wouldn't have told them that."

"It was the only way to get them to talk to me. Dallas is trying to break the contract without paying a hefty fine."

"Good thing I met with Darby when she was home,"
Julia said, walking to her bag, pulling something from it, and handing it to me.

I took the paperwork and unfolded it. "What's this?"

"It's Dallas and Braydon's baseball contract. I spoke to Uncle Grayson and asked if he would look it over. He's waiting for your phone call. Merry Christmas, Bradley." Julia smiled.

My brows lifted in surprise. I wrapped an arm around Julia and hugged her before leaving the living room with Hazel to call Grayson.

None of us knew that this phone call would lead to a lengthy legal battle with the baseball team Dallas and Braydon were on. It would also cause unnecessary stress and problems for Braydon, causing certain family members of the Harpers to get involved.

******
Jace

I engulf Jules with an enormous hug. My girl was terrific in every aspect. We finished decorating the tree and moved on to the house. Afterward, we had to help her family decorate.

Dad and Mom accompanied us to Jules's house to help decorate it in return for the favor. We arrived to see Dexter on the roof, stapling strings of lights to the shingles.

"What are you doing?" Jules asked.

"I'm rigging lights on the house," Dexter said.

"Why?"

"So Santa can find our house." Dexter gestured at the lights on the roof. "This is his runway. His sleigh will touch down and reach the chimney."

"Did you forget we stopped believing in Santa? We're not eight!"

"Pumpkin, you're never too old to stop believing in Santa."

Jules rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Marla came outside with a tray of mugs of hot cocoa for everyone. We took a mug and blew on it before sipping it.

"Mom, will you tell Dad that Santa doesn't exist?"

"Sweetie, let your dad believe in a fat man in a red suit who enjoys performing a breaking and entering." She sipped her hot cocoa.

Jules rolled her eyes as I chuckled softly before my thoughts drifted to Dallas and Braydon. My brothers had missed so many holidays with the family since they turned pro. At least when we were in college, they came home for the holidays.

I ducked out from decorating to head to the chapel. I pulled in front, got out, and jogged up the steps until I reached the front doors. I opened a door, entered, and walked toward the manger setup on the front stage. I stood with my hands in my coat pockets and looked at the manger display.

"Most people assume Jesus was born on December 25. He was born in the summertime," Uncle Oliver said.

I glanced at Uncle Oliver. "I still remember when Mercedes smacked Jordin with a baby doll."

Uncle Oliver rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me."

"That was the Christmas my dad didn't think he could keep me until Kayden told him he could."

"I remember. You had an impact on Jordin. He yelled at your dad about not keeping you."

I nodded in remembrance of that day.

"What's wrong, Jace?"

I looked at Uncle Oliver. "My brothers are in trouble."

Uncle Oliver knitted his brows in concern.

I shook my head. "I can't tell you what's happening, but it's not good."

"God is faithfully yours."

I looked at Uncle Oliver.

"Whatever happens, have faith that God will help you and your family to weather the storm."

"What if we can't weather the storm? Then what?"

Uncle Oliver placed a hand on my shoulder. "Trust me. You will with the right help."

I hope so.

*******
Julia

After Mom ordered Dad to get off the roof before he broke a bone, we decorated the tree. Jace left to take care of something. He said he would tell me later.

While decorating, someone knocked on the front door.

Dad answered it and stepped aside as Uncle Grayson entered. "What are you doing here?"

"Bradley called me to check out a contract for his boys. I knocked on his door, but no one answered. So I figured I would check here," Uncle Grayson said before approaching Bradley and Hazel. "Do you have the contract on you?"

"No, but I can get it," Bradley said.

"I want to see it."

Bradley nodded and left to get the contract. Ten minutes later, he returned and gave it to Grayson.

Grayson read through it. "Sonofabitch," he huffed out.

"What's wrong, Uncle Grayson?" Dad asked.

Uncle Grayson flipped through pages until pointing to a part and showing us. "The contract has a clause in it. If Dallas and Braydon don't fulfill five years of it, they will pay back every cent they have received. The owner will also blackball them from playing on another team. Essentially, they can kiss their career goodbye."

Bradley and Hazel's brows lifted in shock.

"Oh, and the coach earns a percentage of their salaries. Who the hell created this contract?"

"An agent said the owner had the contract drafted. We contacted your office to have you review it. Your assistant said you approved it," Bradley said.

Uncle Grayson held the contract up to us. "I can assure you I never saw this contract. If I would have, I would have advised your sons not to sign it."

"What do we do now?"

"Let me see if I can find a way out of this contract. How many people know about this contract?"

"Only our family, Julia, Darby, and Emerald."

"Good. Do not tell anyone you have seen this contract or that I have it."

Bradley and Hazel nodded before Uncle Grayson left with the contract in hand.

What people fail to understand about contracts is there's always a loophole. However, the loophole would cost Jace's family and cause a family member to intervene.