All I Want For Christmas

Chapter 5 - A Call From Home.

Six Years Later...

Olivia's P.O.V.

It's been said that a strong man or woman doesn't become strong overnight but rather they gain strength over a period of time after overcoming all of the things that had put in their path which was meant to destroy them and it's so true.

I didn't become the Olivia I am today overnight but rather over the past six years as I grew as an adult and became stronger and more confident whilst overcoming all of the goals I had set for myself and every obstacle that had been put in my path in order to get to where I am today, not only as a person but also in my career as well.

After I had completed four years in college and received my associates and bachelors degree in culinary arts, I then travelled the world visiting many different countries such as England, Italy, Russia, France etc to receive further training and learn all about their sweet delicacy's so that I could master my craft and be the best baker that I could possibly be.

After I was done touring the world, I returned back to New York where I opened up my own shop specialising in all different styles of sweet treats from every day breakfast delicacy's such as bagels and croissants to cakes ranging from cupcakes and muffins to specially designed cakes for events such as birthdays, christenings, weddings etc.

It wasn't easy to start my bakery all on my own from scratch but I managed it and after having a slow start, business eventually picked up and now we're booming, so much so that I had to hire quite a few employees both front and back to help me not only with selling our baked goods but also with helping me to bake them, then there's the guys who handle the business and financial side of it and the rest who work hard day and night to promote us in every way possible.

It's been one of the biggest challenges of my life but it was all worth it, especially now as I stand here with one of my old classmates from college as we go through her list of requirements for her perfect wedding cake.

"So, let me see if I've got this right, Devin, you want an eight tier, red velvet wedding cake with white chocolate ganache, roses coated in edible gold leaves and numerous different sizes surrounding each tier and you also want each tier to be shaped like a four leaf clover with similar gold decorated roses decorating the edges of the base, have I got that right, Dev?"

"Yes and don't forget our initials on top in Swarovski crystals"

Devin said with a huge smile.

"How could I forget that?"

I say with a smile as I made a couple of notes on my notepad.

"Thanks for doing this for me, Ollie, you don't know how much it means to me to have you make my wedding cake"

"Well, it's only fitting since I'm the one who set you and Elton up, Dev, besides, who else would you have called to bake you a grand wedding cake such as this?"

I ask Devin with a slight smirk and she giggled.

"Touché, Ollie"

Devin and I then went over a few more details for her wedding including a cupcake tower and also a station for several different chocolate fountains with a variety of sweet treats to dip into them.

I wasn't sure if I should include the latter option on my list of hires when I first opened my bakery because I didn't know if people were still interested in them but I quickly realised they were after my third major contract and I learned that they were just as hot in 2025 than they ever have been.

"See you around, Ollie, don't forget you and Demi are invited to my bachelorette in the new year"

"Are you sure you want us there, Dev? you do remember what happened at spring break during our freshman year of college?"

I ask her and she giggled.

"That's exactly why I want you guys to come, you two are so much fun together, especially when there's tequila involved"

She says with a huge smile whilst winking at me.

"Bye, Ollie"

"Bye, Dev"

I say with a smile whilst shaking my head.

After bidding goodbye to my friend, I headed upstairs to my private kitchen were I got to work on some cupcakes I've been making for a well known celebrities pre Christmas, Christmas party.

I don't know who the celebrity is but what I do know is that they're an A list movie star who has been working in Hollywood for several years and he along with his wife have got a major sweet tooth, so they wanted the best baker in town to bake them some delicious sweet treats and they came to me after secretly taste testing some of my work through a mystery buyer.

It's crazy to think that my creations will be displayed proudly at a celebrities event but what's even crazier to me is that even though this is the first time, it won't be the last time because this is just the foot in the door to the celebrity world for my little business and if other celebs at this party love my work then there's a huge chance that they may hire me one day to.

It's honestly crazy.

Knock!!, Knock!!, Knock!!.

"Miss Redwood"

"How many times have I told you Camille that my name is Ollie, not Miss Redwood?"

I ask my secretary without taking my eyes off the cupcakes I was icing.

"Oops, sorry Miss...I mean, Ollie"

Camille says with a slight chuckle as I fake glared at her.

"What can I do for you, Miss Reed?"

I ask her and she burst out laughing before composing herself.

"Your mom is on line one, she said she needs to talk to you ASAP and that, in her words you'd better get your sweet ass on the line before she sets nana Lucy onto you'"

Camille says whilst perfectly mimicking my mom's accent and I chuckled.

"Oh no, not nana Lucy"

I said with a smile as I finished piping the buttercream on the final cupcake and put the tray in the fridge.

Lucy is my mom's mother and she's a freaking menace to society.

Her real name is Elizabeth but she insists that we all call her Lucy and has done for the past sixty years because apparently when she was in her late teens, my late grandpa Joe told her that she looked the spitting image of Lucille Ball who my nana loves, so she forced everyone she knew to call her Lucy instead of her god given name.

Some people find it strange but we don't because it just goes to show how crazy and unique my nana is, even for an almost eighty year old woman.

"Tell her there's no need to threaten me with Lucy, I'll be there in a minute"

"Ok"

Camille says before leaving.

I then let out a sigh as I took off my gloves and cleaned up my station.

I've been expecting this call from my mom ever since December first hit a week ago and right on cue she calls me on the seventh day just like she has for the past six years.

I haven't spent a single Christmas with my family since 2018, my parents and my older brothers tried to get me to come home for Christmas they year that I left for college but I couldn't because everything was still so raw and painful for me.

As pathetic as this may sound, I was still madly in love with Colton and the pain in my heart was still pretty intense whenever I thought about not only the betrayal but also him happily moving on with Chelsea and their baby and I refused to witness it in real time while I was still weak, so I decided to stay away from Boulder to avoid all of the hurt.

Unfortunately, I had slowly turned into the cowardly lion over the years because even after I had grown stronger mentally and emotionally and had also convinced myself that I no longer loved or cared for Colton and Tyler, I still couldn't find it in my heart to go home, so I spent the past five years alone at Christmas and this year is gonna be no different.

After washing my hands and taking off my apron, I left my private kitchen and headed down the hall to my office where I sat down in my chair and answered the call.

"Thanks, Camille"

"You're welcome, Ollie"

Camille says before hanging up.

"Hey mom, how are..."

"Four minutes and thirty two seconds, that's how long it took you to answer my call, Olivia Amelia Redwood"

My mom angrily cuts me off as I let out a sigh and smile.

"I'm a busy bee, mom, you know this"

"Too busy for your own mother, Ollie?"

My mom asks me and I once again sigh.

Two sighs in less than thirty seconds, that's gotta be some kind of record.

"Well, I'm here now mom, so what can I do for you?"

As if I don't already know.

I thought to myself as my mom let out a breath before she said something which took my breath away because even though both she and my dad, as well as my three older brothers have spent the past six years begging and pleading for me to come home for Christmas, this year sounded different.

It sounded formal, almost like she wasn't asking me to come home and she wasn't begging and pleading with me like she normally does, no she was downright demanding that I do as she says.

"It's time for you to come home, Olivia"