Page 45 of Holiday Wishes and Tentacle Dreams
The smile dropped when Jake noticed three people standing awkwardly on the stoop behind Doren. A man and a woman, both with long salt and pepper hair, peered into the townhouse. Jake was struck by hownormalthey both seemed. She wore a blue gingham dress that reminded Jake of the Wizard of Oz. The man’s vibe was rural as well, with denim overalls and a seersucker button-down shirt.
Behind the two loomed a much taller person, their muscles standing out from underneath an androgynous tight black jumpsuit. The shocking thing about them, though, was an ugly-looking scar splitting their otherwise angelic face.
Doren blinked and seemed to remember the people with them. Extricating themself from Gram’s grip, Doren gestured to the doorway.
“This is, uh, my mother and father. And this is my father’s sibling, Ren.”
Doren’s mom froze at their words, and their father put an arm around her. Guilt welled up in Jake. His grandmother was the only person here who didn’t understand how momentous this meeting was. She couldn’t know all four of them were shapeshifting aliens, and she would never find out unless they told her.
Jake hated hiding things from her—it just felt wrong—but he understood the reasons. He hoped they would eventually choose to be honest with her.
Doren’s father ushered their mother in and held out a hand to Jake’s grandmother. “Hi. I’m Doren’s father. Call me Fern. This is their mother.”
Doren’s mother gave a tentative wave. “I’m Purl.”
Once again, Jake’s grandmother ignored their awkwardness and went in for a hug with Purl. Jake winced, but was happy to see a faint smile on Purl’s face as she hugged back, although with less vigor.
After hugging Fern, Gram set her eyes on Ren, who still stood in the doorway. Her body language transformed, and she impressed Jake as she changed tact.
“Please come in, Ren. It can get a little crowded and loud in this kitchen, so if you need to escape, just go into the living room there. If you want it darker, turn off as many lamps as you’d like.”
The wave of relief visibly passing through Ren’s body allowed Jake to unclench his muscles as well. He hadn’t expected Ren to come. According to Doren, their pibling had been ruthlesslyattacked the last time they were on the surface. Jake couldn’t imagine what they were feeling on their return.
Purl’s eyes locked onto Jake, and she pulled Fern with her as she approached. Fern’s expression was compassionate, but that didn’t mitigate the intensity of Purl’s gaze.
“You are Jake.”
Jake nodded, and the nerves came rushing back in droves. He wasn’t sure what to say.Nice to meet you, hope you don’t miss your home planet too much…
“Doren thinks highly of you,” Purl continued, folding her arms.
“I care for Doren very much.” Jake bit his lip, parsing which words would put them at ease. “And I appreciate what a big deal it is that you, uh, joined us for dinner. I’m very grateful. As is Gram.”
Purl’s face softened at his statement, although she didn’t uncross her arms. Fern, however, stepped in front of her and grabbed Jake by the shoulders.
“We are grateful foryou. Doren…we haven’t seen them so passionate and determined before.”
Now it was Jake’s turn to blush, the warmth rushing to his neck and cheeks. He couldn’t seem to form words, but he was saved by Ren, of all people, who sidled up to their mother.
“You are as kind as Doren said you were. And the two of you make quite a hot little couple.”
Oh, so Renwasn’tthere to save him at all. He was there to make it worse. Shit. Jake made desperate eye contact with Doren, who punched Ren in the shoulder.
“That’s enough of that! Now, can we assist with dinner? We come bearing pies.” Purl nodded and gestured to a brown paper bag that dangled from Fern’s hand. It was bulky, and as Fern pulled out the items inside, Jake saw why.
They hadthreemore pies. That brought the pie total for the day up to seven. And that didn’t include all of Dorothea’s pies that he and Doren had been consuming since he’d arrived in Linwood Falls.
So much pie. There was a limit to how much pie one body could take, even Jake’s.
Jake’s grandmother shook him out of his pie ruminations as she answered Doren’s question.
“No help needed, we’re ready to dig in! We put the extra leaf into the kitchen table, so there’s plenty of room. Have a seat. We can get started on rolls and sides while the turkey rests for a sec, then Jake will carve it up for us.” Carving the turkey had been Jake’s job ever since he was old enough to hold a knife.
Purl and Fern both nodded to Jake’s grandmother and took two seats next to each other. Doren grabbed Jake by the hand, hauling him down to sit across from their parents. Ren slipped in on his other side, putting Jake between the two of them.
Jake pushed back from the table. His grandmother shouldn’t bring everything over by herself, and if he didn’t?—
Shit. Too late. Her hands landed on his shoulders, holding him in place.