Page 47 of Holiday Wishes and Tentacle Dreams

Gram won, but only by a hair.

Purl and Fern appeared flabbergasted by Ren’s personality emergence, although they said nothing about it. The only one who was unsurprised was his grandmother, since she’d nevermet Ren before now and didn’t have Jake’s knowledge of their past. As far as Rhonda knew, this was how Ren had always been.

When the sun had well and truly set, and no one could even consider having more pie, it was time for Doren’s parents to go.

They all exchanged hugs at the door, and Purl shocked them all with her enthusiastic embrace of Jake’s grandmother. When they separated, Purl had tears in her eyes. She looked down at the diminutive woman with gratitude.

“Thank you for welcoming us into your home. We live an isolated existence, and we have our reasons for it. We’ve experienced some horrible behavior. But you’ve shown us warmth and kindness, and proved how good a human can be.”

Rhonda reached out and grasped Purl’s hands in hers with a fierce strength. “I don’t know what you’ve gone through, or why, but there’s nothing more important than family. When I saw how happy Jakey is with Doren, there’s no question. You’re welcome here anytime. You’re one of us now.”

Purl nodded mutely, and Jake’s heart swelled with pride and gratitude. For all the shitty things that had happened to him, his grandmother had been an incredible gift in his life.

Jake embraced Purl and Fern as well. Now that they had relaxed around him, they exuded warmth and care. The final button of the entire exchange was Ren and Rhonda’s hug, which was marked by raucous laughter and some whispering that definitely seemed like the making of mischievous plans.

“This friendship is an absolutely terrible idea,” Doren whispered to him as they watched, a hint of amusement in their voice.

Finally, Purl and Fern headed off with Ren in tow. Doren and Jake finished washing up the dishes and putting away the leftovers even as Gram napped away in her rocking chair.

“She had a lot of wine for someone in her seventies,” Jake whispered to Doren as the alien finished drying a large serving dish.

“I heard that,” Gram croaked from the living room. “Get in here, you two.”

Doren glanced at Jake, a question in their eyes, but Jake just shrugged and went in. He’d long ago stopped trying to predict what his grandmother was up to.

Jake and Doren settled down side by side on the loveseat, upholstered in a fabric of oversized tropical flowers on a beige background. Persuading her to update her furniture was a lost cause. It didn’t matter if it had a few holes or if the springs were giving up the ghost, Gram wouldn’t get a new couch until the old one collapsed into dust.

“I got you two a Christmas present.”

“That wasn’t necessary, Rhonda,” Doren said, shifting in their seat.

Gram pointed a crooked finger at Doren, wearing a lopsided grin. “Now,youdon’t call me Rhonda. You call me Gram.”

The smile that broke out on Doren’s face was the purest thing Jake had seen in a very long time. Whenever Jake forgot how lucky he was, he just needed to remember that smile. He didn’t know what his chubby, depressed ass had done to deserve someone like Doren in his life, but he wouldn’t take it for granted.

“Gram,” Doren said in a low, sweet tone. “If I’d known, I’d have arrived bearing gifts.”

“Don’t be a dumbfuck,” she said, rocking back and forth in malevolent glee. “Christmas gifts aren’t about an exchange. It’s not tit-for-tat. Christmas is about finding something that would put a smile on the other person’s face, or make them laugh, or even make them cry. Something so they feel loved and cared for. We’re not keeping tally.”

“Okay…” Doren still wore a sheepish look, and Jake squeezed their hand. His grandmother didn’t care at all if she got a single gift. She adored giving them.

“Jakey, fetch that one right there from under the tree.” Gram gestured to a medium-sized silver box wrapped in matching silver ribbon. It sat on top of a small pile of other gifts Jake assumed were for her…boyfriends?

He shivered at that thought, then shook it off, grabbing the box and placing it in Doren’s hands.

“You open it,” Jake whispered, putting his arm around Doren’s shoulders.

As Doren tugged on the bow, the ribbon slipped apart. Gram had always been excellent at wrapping. Doren removed the top and parted the tissue paper protecting the gift.

Sitting there in Doren’s lap was a Christmas ornament. It was an arch with a miniature landscape underneath. A sandy beach with a wooden chair perched on it. Santa lounged there on the beach chair. Maybe asleep?

Across the arch in bright gold letters were written the words: “Love Has No Season.”

Jake’s throat closed up, and he blinked to wash away the tears welling up in his eyes. His grandmother might swear like a sailor, but she was perfect where it counted. Love. Family. Home.

Doren was similarly affected, their voice shaking as they spoke. “Gram, this is exquisite. It will adorn the tree we erected at the beach house.”

“I’m glad you like it, sweetie.”