Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
JAKE
“Are you my grandson’s paramour?” Gram asked with a giggle. “You have such pretty eyes!”
Doren’s skin turned a bright shade of pink as they stuck out their hand. “Uh, hi, yes, I’m Doren. I am courting Jake.”
“Ooh, courting!” Taking Doren’s hand, Jake’s grandmother didn’t bother to shake it, but pulled them over the threshold and into an intense hug. Over her shoulder, Doren made eye contact with Jake, their face tinged with terror. He couldn’t help but smile at their expression.
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 how normal they 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 ruthlessly attacked 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 for you. 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 Ren wasn’t there 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 had three more 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.
“I’m the host, Jakey. You chat with Purl and Fern.”
“Gram—”
She smacked his bicep, and although it was playful, it still stung. “I’m not so old I can’t carry over some fucking potatoes. Stay here until it’s time to do the turkey.”
Jake sighed and pasted on a smile. Doren’s parents didn’t need to see his frustration at his grandmother, who, at this moment, was pouring a rich-looking red wine into everyone’s glasses without bothering to ask if they wanted any.
Doren’s two parents stared at him. Did they feel as awkward as he did? Meeting the person your child loved—love? Was it love?—for the first time was a big deal. It was up to him, and instead of making small talk, he chose to say something meaningful.
“Thank you.”
Purl and Fern glanced at each other, clearly somewhat confused. Doren just squeezed Jake’s thigh, giving him a jolt of confidence. If this perfect human—sorry, alien—was by his side, he could do anything.
“I know it was a big deal to come here. I’m thankful you made the trip.” Jake turned to Ren, whose face was unreadable. “Especially you, Ren. Doren has told me…this is a tremendous gift that you’ve given me today, and I won’t forget it.”
Ren’s eyes held such an intensity that it felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. Jake maintained eye contact despite the pressure, not wanting to appear regretful of what he’d said. He’d meant it.
The scar spanning across Ren’s face, although painful-looking, gave them a ruggedly handsome look. After a moment, a small smile crept onto their face.
“I guess it was unusual. For me. But when Doren told me about you, I decided…” Ren glanced at their parents, a mischievous glint in their eye.
“My brother and his bondmate weren’t planning to come, so I insisted I’d be going with or without them.
They were too worried about me to let me make the trip alone. ”
From his other side, Doren barked out a laugh, even as Fern and Purl glared at Ren. Purl shook her head. “We have been manipulated on all sides. Except by you, Jake. You’re my new favorite.”
Smiling at her words and relieved Purl and Fern weren’t too offended at being exposed, Jake took a sizable gulp of red wine. It was an Argentinian Malbec, and when the spice hit his tongue, a pleasant warmth spread through him.
Gram coughed as she put the last of the side dishes down and found her place at the head of the table. “Well, I don’t know what all this drama is about, but Jake has the right idea. Let’s drink up!” Holding her full wine glass aloft, her raspy voice filled the townhouse. “To new family!”
Ren didn’t hesitate, lifting their glass and downing the whole thing. Purl and Fern shrugged in unison and picked up their glasses to take a sip. Doren did the same, even as Ren was pouring themself another drink.
Which triggered a memory of Doren’s drunk sibling on the morning he found out about all the alien stuff.
“Whatever happened to Bard?” Jake asked. “I’m surprised they didn’t come down as well.”
Uncertainty was written across Fern’s face as he responded. “I’m not sure. They’ve been pretty cagey of late. We haven’t seen them in a week. It’s not unusual for Bard to head off on their own, but this is a longer period than typical for them.”
“Bard’s fine,” Ren said, making their way through their second glass of wine at a somewhat slower rate. “They’re just dealing with a stupid crush on that…” Ren trailed off as they glanced over at their parents before finishing. “They’re working through some shit.”
“Ren!” Purl shot Ren a harsh look. “Don’t swear. We’re guests in Jake’s grandmother’s home.”
“Hold on, now.” Gram stood from her seat, queen-like as she addressed her awkward court. “First off, call me Rhonda. That’s my name. And everyone in my house can say whatever the fuck they want. Isn’t that right, Jake?”
Gram turned to Jake, her eyebrows raised. He sighed and then answered her in an exhausted voice. “Yes, you’re abso-fucking-lutely right, grandmother.”
She grinned at the response, but as she opened her mouth to continue, her kitchen timer chimed from the nearby counter.
“Time to carve the turkey!” Jake called out as he jumped up, glad to slither out of any more forced family cussing.