A/N: This story is a mini-sequel to a story I have for sale on my other website. If you want to purchase the original story, click on this link: In the Garden of Eden.
Chapters 1 2 3
Bah Humbug
Chapter 1
“God, it's freezing!” Jeremy exclaimed through chattering teeth as his hands rubbed futilely over the front of his jacket. “Fuck, Stretch, how did you ever survive growing up in this iceberg?”
Travis shrugged sheepishly beside him. “I was used to it,” he remarked.
Jeremy was shivering visibly. “I’m gonna turn into a Popsicle,” he complained.
The artist gave him a concerned look and steered him into a nearby lounge. The warmth inside made him moan in pleasure and relief. Travis pushed him down in a chair. “Sit there and I’ll wait outside,” he told his lover firmly.
Jeremy was happy to comply. Travis left to go outside once more and wait for his parents to arrive. He’d called them the minute their plane touched down in Milwaukee, and they were on their way to pick the two boys up. But the moment he’d walked outside of the airport Jeremy had felt as though he were stepping into a walk-in freezer. He’d never been that cold in his entire life. Winters in Massachusetts weren’t anything like the ice ball ones they had here in Wisconsin. He had more respect for his boyfriend now, growing up in such an icy place. No wonder Travis pottered around campus in only that black duster of his even in deep winter. He probably never felt that level of cold after a childhood in Wisconsin.
Jeremy finally stopped shivering. He relaxed back into the chair and soaked up the blissful heat. This whole thing felt a little strange to him – even though he’d agreed to come here with Travis to be with his family over Christmas break, he still couldn’t quite believe that he was actually here. Damned artist, saying ‘I love you’ with those sincere black eyes of his! Jeremy had lost his head.
He remembered with a grimace how his friend Jessa had laughed when she’d found out that he was going to Wisconsin with Travis for Christmas. “Wow, Jer, do you get a ring next?” she’d teased with laughing eyes.
He’d given her the finger, which had only made her laugh harder. Now he scowled at a sign over the bar, wondering just what the hell he was doing here. He wasn’t going to fit into some happy little nuclear family. And having to try to rein in his usual sarcasm and cutting wit was going to be hell for him. He had to try to be…gasp…nice! God, this was going to be a long week.
Jeremy got a bottle of water from the bar and sat down again to sip at it. He would have ordered alcohol, but since he was going to be meeting Travis’s family soon…he didn’t want to do so with liquor on his breath. Okay, yeah, he did sort of want to make a good first impression. Not really possible, considering his personality, but still…he felt totally nervous about meeting the people who’d raised his lover. What would they think of him? Would they hate the fact that Travis was with another guy, or would they simply think that Jeremy was a total fuck-up who wasn’t worthy of someone like their son? He shifted in his chair uneasily at this thought, sighing. He was no good with people. He never had been. Hell, if Travis hadn’t so relentlessly pursued HIM then they would never have gotten together. Jeremy had been horrible to him at every turn, but the artist had placidly continued with his pursuit despite numerous rebuffs. And finally he’d sort of had to give in; as Travis’s sheer perseverance had gotten to him.
And why wouldn’t it? There were only two kinds of people who went after you that relentlessly – crazed stalkers and those who really, really wanted you. Jeremy knew that Travis wasn’t a crazed stalker, although he’d accused the art student of being one several times. So he’d been kind of flattered by the unwavering attention that he’d received from the tall artist. Hell, more than kind of. Really flattered in fact. It was a balm to his scarred soul to know that someone wanted him that badly even after he’d been his usual hideous self around Travis.
Jeremy squirmed in his chair, taking another sip of his water. That’s why he was so nervous – he feared that these people wouldn’t accept him. That they wouldn’t look under the surface as Travis had done, wouldn’t see the person he was under the mask of bitter sarcasm and indifference that he turned on the world. And he just KNEW that these people had a lot of influence over Travis – what if they told their son that he should break up with Jeremy, that he could find somebody better? Would the artist listen, despite the love confession he’d laid on the librarian a few days ago? Would he find himself alone again? Fear gnawed at his guts whenever he even thought about that.
He’d learned to conceal his fear better in the last few days because he didn’t want to see angry Travis again. That had been such an anomaly that it was like seeing a stream of lava coming at you and being unable to get out of the way in time. All you could do was wait to be horribly burned. He’d never thought to see his placid, even-tempered boyfriend get really angry. And the fact that the artist had been angry at him…Well. Jeremy didn’t want to experience that again. So he’d carefully hidden his doubts and fears from his lover and acted as though it was his greatest wish to go and meet Travis’s family even though he knew he’d be vetted and probably come up short.
A chill wind blew in as the door opened. Travis entered the lounge with two people in tow. A very tall man and a tiny woman walked after the artist as he came over to the librarian. “Jeremy, this is my mom and dad,” he told his lover. “Mom, Dad, this is Jeremy.”
Jeremy rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Hi, nice to meet you,” he said in as friendly a voice as he could manage.
The woman engulfed him in a hug, taking him by surprise. “It’s really nice to meet you at last, Jeremy!” she cried, her eyes sparkling as she looked up into his face. “Trav has told us so much about you!”
“Err…” he said, knowing it wouldn’t be polite to just push her away.
The man chuckled in a deep voice. “Mary, my love, quit trying to scare him this early in the visit,” his black eyes were twinkling as he grinned at Jeremy. “You’ll have to excuse her; she’d been really excited ever since Travis called and said that he was bringing you with him.”
“That’s fine,” Jeremy said, not trying to remove the woman even though he didn’t like to be touched. She finally pulled away and patted his cheek.
“Trav, you didn’t do him justice,” she told her son. “He’s really cute.”
Jeremy looked disconcerted as his lover smiled in that slow, sleepy way of his at his mother. “Yeah, he is,” the artist agreed.
Jeremy didn’t know what to say, but the small woman turned to him again and smiled. “I’m Mary Burke,” she said. “And this is my husband, Gerald. Mary and Gerry, that’s right,” she added with a wink. “Ridiculous, isn’t it? But I HAD to marry the big lug; he wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she added merrily.
“I know the feeling,” Jeremy muttered with an exasperated look at his tall lover.
Mary giggled. “Yes, Trav is as bad as his father. Maybe worse when he really wants something. Anyway, welcome to the family. If you survive the week you’ll become an official Burke,” she went on with a gamin grin.
Jeremy looked perplexed, which made Travis’s dad laugh. “We’d better take the boys home before you scare him away entirely, Mary,” he teased his wife. “We ARE still at the airport, you know; curb your enthusiasm until we get home or he’s sure to bolt in terror.”
“Oh, pooh,” she replied, making a face at her tall spouse. “I’m sure that Jeremy can handle little ol’ me. But still, we should get on the road. Everybody’s gathering like vultures,” she explained to her son. “Paul and Gina were the first to arrive, so the house is already pretty lively. The kids are a double handful.”
Travis nodded. “I can’t wait to see them,” he drawled. “I brought some drawings I made.”
She clapped. “They’ll love that! Anyway, come on you two. Do you have your luggage?”
Jeremy picked up his carry-on bag and his one suitcase. Travis had a duffle and several suitcases (which were partially filled with presents). His father took one of these and lugged it out to the car parked outside at the curb. Jeremy made a dash for the vehicle, feeling goose bumps break out on his skin the moment he was back outside. Fortunately the interior was warm and he nestled back into it with a happy sigh. Travis crawled in next to him in the back seat and put an arm around his shoulders. His mother was smiling at them both over the back of the seat. The librarian felt uncomfortable under her blue-eyed stare (obviously Travis had gotten his looks completely from his dad).
“Mary, stop scaring the boy and put your seat belt on,” her husband said in fond exasperation.
“Spoilsport,” she replied affectionately as she sat back and put on her seat belt. Jeremy let out a sigh of relief now that she wasn’t staring at him anymore.
Travis’s dad Gerry started the car and eased out onto the icy road. Jeremy looked out at the ‘winter wonderland’ outside, thinking that it looked like a scene from Ice Station Zebra. Travis bent his head so that he could speak into his lover’s ear. “Thanks for not wigging out, Jeremy. I know Mom can be a little overwhelming sometimes.”
“No, its fine,” the librarian replied, lying with finesse. “Your parents are pretty cool,” he added, which was only a half-untruth.
Travis beamed, looking pleased that his lover liked his parents. Jeremy sighed internally. What a holly frikkin’ jolly Christmas this was going to be! He couldn’t wait to meet the rest of the Burke clan. They’d probably all sit around drinking cocoa and watching It’s a Wonderful Life, a movie that Jeremy loathed with every fiber of his being. He could feel a headache developing already.
Travis had grown up in a large blue house with white trim and a big porch. Wreaths decorated every post of the porch, and strings of Christmas lights glittered along the eaves. A fat electric Santa waved in a jolly fashion at the rest of the neighborhood, while his sleigh and eight reindeer waited behind him. The pine trees growing on the lawn had been decorated to within an inch of their lives. And lord almighty, there was a crèche nestled on the leeward side of the porch! It looked like a denizen of the North Pole had vomited on the lawn.
Jeremy got slowly out of the car, eyeing the house in silent horror. Jesus, it was worse than he’d thought! He would have fled if there were anywhere to go to; but unfortunately Travis’s family lived in a fairly small town at least seventy miles from the airport. If he ran away now he’d be a Jeremy-sicle in less than an hour. He hefted his carry-on bag over his shoulder glumly as Travis emerged from the car and went around to help his dad get the luggage out of the trunk.
“Come inside, Jeremy, you look cold,” Mary Burke urged him. “We’ll leave the toting of the heavy stuff to the big guys.”
She shooed him onto the porch and in the front door. He went reluctantly, seeing a sprig of mistletoe dangling from the ceiling in the front hallway. Mary giggled and stood on tiptoe to give him a peck on the cheek. “Mom? Is that you?” a voice called before a man emerged from a side door.
“Yes, Paul. We returned successfully with Travis and Jeremy in tow. Jeremy, this is my oldest son Paul. Paul, this is Trav’s boyfriend Jeremy Adams.”
“Hey, nice to meet you,” the other man said, holding out a hand. Jeremy took it gingerly, feeling the strength in the man’s hand. Paul was broader of shoulder and wider of chest than Travis, although he was just as freakishly tall. And the black eyes looking out of his handsome face were very familiar to him.
“Uh, nice to meet you too,” he replied, trying to extricate his hand surreptitiously.
“Gina, honey! Come and meet Jeremy!” Paul called over his shoulder.
The librarian grimaced, wishing that he could go back outside with the excuse that he needed to help with the luggage. A pretty woman came out of the same door and smiled at him. “Hi, I’m Gina Burke. You must be Jeremy.” She also took his hand, although her grip was a lot less bone-crushing.
“Hi,” he said, giving up on any attempt to smile. Being trapped in the car with Travis’s chattering mother for such a long time had squeezed whatever holiday cheer he might have had right out of him. Not that there would have been much to begin with anyway…
“Mary, I’m making cookies for the kids,” Gina told her mother-in-law. “Do you guys want some? And cocoa?”
“That sounds wonderful, dear!” Travis’s mother exclaimed. “Come on, Jeremy; you’ll love Gina’s cookies,” she told him as she took his arm to steer him into the kitchen. Jeremy felt like a prisoner-of-war as he was guided into the kitchen helpless to resist. God, cocoa just like he’d thought! Could Jimmy Stewart be far behind? Christ, what the hell had he gotten himself into? He felt hopeless despair as he was dragged into the kitchen and urged onto a stool.
And it only got worse when a flock of kids (actually there were only five, but it seemed like more) came dashing into the kitchen and chased each other around while yelling at the top of their lungs. Jeremy cringed and resisted clapping his hands to his ears only with an effort. Gina yelled even louder and got the herd (somewhat) under control. Jeremy found himself being introduced to her kids as well as those of another brother and sister: “Jeremy, this is David, Andy, Lucy, Fiona, and Katy,” she told him. “Kids, this is Uncle Travis’s boyfriend Jeremy Adams.”
He found himself pinned under five curious stares. “You’re gay,” one of the boys stated in a matter-of-fact voice.
“Yeah,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.
“Do you kiss Uncle Travis?” a girl questioned with interest.
“Uhh, sometimes,” he said.
“Is he a good kisser?” another girl asked.
Jeremy, feeling beleaguered, said: “Yeah, he is.”
“Cool!” she clapped her hands together. “Can we watch you guys under the mistletoe?”
“Katy!” her mother cried. “That’s enough of that. Come help with the cookies.”
The girl darted way, leaving a relieved Jeremy slumped on the stool. ‘Somebody help me!’ he screamed inside his own head. But no kindly Deity appeared to save him from his fate, so he resigned himself to his doom.
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Chapters 1 2 3
Bah Humbug
Chapter 1
“God, it's freezing!” Jeremy exclaimed through chattering teeth as his hands rubbed futilely over the front of his jacket. “Fuck, Stretch, how did you ever survive growing up in this iceberg?”
Travis shrugged sheepishly beside him. “I was used to it,” he remarked.
Jeremy was shivering visibly. “I’m gonna turn into a Popsicle,” he complained.
The artist gave him a concerned look and steered him into a nearby lounge. The warmth inside made him moan in pleasure and relief. Travis pushed him down in a chair. “Sit there and I’ll wait outside,” he told his lover firmly.
Jeremy was happy to comply. Travis left to go outside once more and wait for his parents to arrive. He’d called them the minute their plane touched down in Milwaukee, and they were on their way to pick the two boys up. But the moment he’d walked outside of the airport Jeremy had felt as though he were stepping into a walk-in freezer. He’d never been that cold in his entire life. Winters in Massachusetts weren’t anything like the ice ball ones they had here in Wisconsin. He had more respect for his boyfriend now, growing up in such an icy place. No wonder Travis pottered around campus in only that black duster of his even in deep winter. He probably never felt that level of cold after a childhood in Wisconsin.
Jeremy finally stopped shivering. He relaxed back into the chair and soaked up the blissful heat. This whole thing felt a little strange to him – even though he’d agreed to come here with Travis to be with his family over Christmas break, he still couldn’t quite believe that he was actually here. Damned artist, saying ‘I love you’ with those sincere black eyes of his! Jeremy had lost his head.
He remembered with a grimace how his friend Jessa had laughed when she’d found out that he was going to Wisconsin with Travis for Christmas. “Wow, Jer, do you get a ring next?” she’d teased with laughing eyes.
He’d given her the finger, which had only made her laugh harder. Now he scowled at a sign over the bar, wondering just what the hell he was doing here. He wasn’t going to fit into some happy little nuclear family. And having to try to rein in his usual sarcasm and cutting wit was going to be hell for him. He had to try to be…gasp…nice! God, this was going to be a long week.
Jeremy got a bottle of water from the bar and sat down again to sip at it. He would have ordered alcohol, but since he was going to be meeting Travis’s family soon…he didn’t want to do so with liquor on his breath. Okay, yeah, he did sort of want to make a good first impression. Not really possible, considering his personality, but still…he felt totally nervous about meeting the people who’d raised his lover. What would they think of him? Would they hate the fact that Travis was with another guy, or would they simply think that Jeremy was a total fuck-up who wasn’t worthy of someone like their son? He shifted in his chair uneasily at this thought, sighing. He was no good with people. He never had been. Hell, if Travis hadn’t so relentlessly pursued HIM then they would never have gotten together. Jeremy had been horrible to him at every turn, but the artist had placidly continued with his pursuit despite numerous rebuffs. And finally he’d sort of had to give in; as Travis’s sheer perseverance had gotten to him.
And why wouldn’t it? There were only two kinds of people who went after you that relentlessly – crazed stalkers and those who really, really wanted you. Jeremy knew that Travis wasn’t a crazed stalker, although he’d accused the art student of being one several times. So he’d been kind of flattered by the unwavering attention that he’d received from the tall artist. Hell, more than kind of. Really flattered in fact. It was a balm to his scarred soul to know that someone wanted him that badly even after he’d been his usual hideous self around Travis.
Jeremy squirmed in his chair, taking another sip of his water. That’s why he was so nervous – he feared that these people wouldn’t accept him. That they wouldn’t look under the surface as Travis had done, wouldn’t see the person he was under the mask of bitter sarcasm and indifference that he turned on the world. And he just KNEW that these people had a lot of influence over Travis – what if they told their son that he should break up with Jeremy, that he could find somebody better? Would the artist listen, despite the love confession he’d laid on the librarian a few days ago? Would he find himself alone again? Fear gnawed at his guts whenever he even thought about that.
He’d learned to conceal his fear better in the last few days because he didn’t want to see angry Travis again. That had been such an anomaly that it was like seeing a stream of lava coming at you and being unable to get out of the way in time. All you could do was wait to be horribly burned. He’d never thought to see his placid, even-tempered boyfriend get really angry. And the fact that the artist had been angry at him…Well. Jeremy didn’t want to experience that again. So he’d carefully hidden his doubts and fears from his lover and acted as though it was his greatest wish to go and meet Travis’s family even though he knew he’d be vetted and probably come up short.
A chill wind blew in as the door opened. Travis entered the lounge with two people in tow. A very tall man and a tiny woman walked after the artist as he came over to the librarian. “Jeremy, this is my mom and dad,” he told his lover. “Mom, Dad, this is Jeremy.”
Jeremy rose to his feet and held out his hand. “Hi, nice to meet you,” he said in as friendly a voice as he could manage.
The woman engulfed him in a hug, taking him by surprise. “It’s really nice to meet you at last, Jeremy!” she cried, her eyes sparkling as she looked up into his face. “Trav has told us so much about you!”
“Err…” he said, knowing it wouldn’t be polite to just push her away.
The man chuckled in a deep voice. “Mary, my love, quit trying to scare him this early in the visit,” his black eyes were twinkling as he grinned at Jeremy. “You’ll have to excuse her; she’d been really excited ever since Travis called and said that he was bringing you with him.”
“That’s fine,” Jeremy said, not trying to remove the woman even though he didn’t like to be touched. She finally pulled away and patted his cheek.
“Trav, you didn’t do him justice,” she told her son. “He’s really cute.”
Jeremy looked disconcerted as his lover smiled in that slow, sleepy way of his at his mother. “Yeah, he is,” the artist agreed.
Jeremy didn’t know what to say, but the small woman turned to him again and smiled. “I’m Mary Burke,” she said. “And this is my husband, Gerald. Mary and Gerry, that’s right,” she added with a wink. “Ridiculous, isn’t it? But I HAD to marry the big lug; he wouldn’t take no for an answer,” she added merrily.
“I know the feeling,” Jeremy muttered with an exasperated look at his tall lover.
Mary giggled. “Yes, Trav is as bad as his father. Maybe worse when he really wants something. Anyway, welcome to the family. If you survive the week you’ll become an official Burke,” she went on with a gamin grin.
Jeremy looked perplexed, which made Travis’s dad laugh. “We’d better take the boys home before you scare him away entirely, Mary,” he teased his wife. “We ARE still at the airport, you know; curb your enthusiasm until we get home or he’s sure to bolt in terror.”
“Oh, pooh,” she replied, making a face at her tall spouse. “I’m sure that Jeremy can handle little ol’ me. But still, we should get on the road. Everybody’s gathering like vultures,” she explained to her son. “Paul and Gina were the first to arrive, so the house is already pretty lively. The kids are a double handful.”
Travis nodded. “I can’t wait to see them,” he drawled. “I brought some drawings I made.”
She clapped. “They’ll love that! Anyway, come on you two. Do you have your luggage?”
Jeremy picked up his carry-on bag and his one suitcase. Travis had a duffle and several suitcases (which were partially filled with presents). His father took one of these and lugged it out to the car parked outside at the curb. Jeremy made a dash for the vehicle, feeling goose bumps break out on his skin the moment he was back outside. Fortunately the interior was warm and he nestled back into it with a happy sigh. Travis crawled in next to him in the back seat and put an arm around his shoulders. His mother was smiling at them both over the back of the seat. The librarian felt uncomfortable under her blue-eyed stare (obviously Travis had gotten his looks completely from his dad).
“Mary, stop scaring the boy and put your seat belt on,” her husband said in fond exasperation.
“Spoilsport,” she replied affectionately as she sat back and put on her seat belt. Jeremy let out a sigh of relief now that she wasn’t staring at him anymore.
Travis’s dad Gerry started the car and eased out onto the icy road. Jeremy looked out at the ‘winter wonderland’ outside, thinking that it looked like a scene from Ice Station Zebra. Travis bent his head so that he could speak into his lover’s ear. “Thanks for not wigging out, Jeremy. I know Mom can be a little overwhelming sometimes.”
“No, its fine,” the librarian replied, lying with finesse. “Your parents are pretty cool,” he added, which was only a half-untruth.
Travis beamed, looking pleased that his lover liked his parents. Jeremy sighed internally. What a holly frikkin’ jolly Christmas this was going to be! He couldn’t wait to meet the rest of the Burke clan. They’d probably all sit around drinking cocoa and watching It’s a Wonderful Life, a movie that Jeremy loathed with every fiber of his being. He could feel a headache developing already.
Travis had grown up in a large blue house with white trim and a big porch. Wreaths decorated every post of the porch, and strings of Christmas lights glittered along the eaves. A fat electric Santa waved in a jolly fashion at the rest of the neighborhood, while his sleigh and eight reindeer waited behind him. The pine trees growing on the lawn had been decorated to within an inch of their lives. And lord almighty, there was a crèche nestled on the leeward side of the porch! It looked like a denizen of the North Pole had vomited on the lawn.
Jeremy got slowly out of the car, eyeing the house in silent horror. Jesus, it was worse than he’d thought! He would have fled if there were anywhere to go to; but unfortunately Travis’s family lived in a fairly small town at least seventy miles from the airport. If he ran away now he’d be a Jeremy-sicle in less than an hour. He hefted his carry-on bag over his shoulder glumly as Travis emerged from the car and went around to help his dad get the luggage out of the trunk.
“Come inside, Jeremy, you look cold,” Mary Burke urged him. “We’ll leave the toting of the heavy stuff to the big guys.”
She shooed him onto the porch and in the front door. He went reluctantly, seeing a sprig of mistletoe dangling from the ceiling in the front hallway. Mary giggled and stood on tiptoe to give him a peck on the cheek. “Mom? Is that you?” a voice called before a man emerged from a side door.
“Yes, Paul. We returned successfully with Travis and Jeremy in tow. Jeremy, this is my oldest son Paul. Paul, this is Trav’s boyfriend Jeremy Adams.”
“Hey, nice to meet you,” the other man said, holding out a hand. Jeremy took it gingerly, feeling the strength in the man’s hand. Paul was broader of shoulder and wider of chest than Travis, although he was just as freakishly tall. And the black eyes looking out of his handsome face were very familiar to him.
“Uh, nice to meet you too,” he replied, trying to extricate his hand surreptitiously.
“Gina, honey! Come and meet Jeremy!” Paul called over his shoulder.
The librarian grimaced, wishing that he could go back outside with the excuse that he needed to help with the luggage. A pretty woman came out of the same door and smiled at him. “Hi, I’m Gina Burke. You must be Jeremy.” She also took his hand, although her grip was a lot less bone-crushing.
“Hi,” he said, giving up on any attempt to smile. Being trapped in the car with Travis’s chattering mother for such a long time had squeezed whatever holiday cheer he might have had right out of him. Not that there would have been much to begin with anyway…
“Mary, I’m making cookies for the kids,” Gina told her mother-in-law. “Do you guys want some? And cocoa?”
“That sounds wonderful, dear!” Travis’s mother exclaimed. “Come on, Jeremy; you’ll love Gina’s cookies,” she told him as she took his arm to steer him into the kitchen. Jeremy felt like a prisoner-of-war as he was guided into the kitchen helpless to resist. God, cocoa just like he’d thought! Could Jimmy Stewart be far behind? Christ, what the hell had he gotten himself into? He felt hopeless despair as he was dragged into the kitchen and urged onto a stool.
And it only got worse when a flock of kids (actually there were only five, but it seemed like more) came dashing into the kitchen and chased each other around while yelling at the top of their lungs. Jeremy cringed and resisted clapping his hands to his ears only with an effort. Gina yelled even louder and got the herd (somewhat) under control. Jeremy found himself being introduced to her kids as well as those of another brother and sister: “Jeremy, this is David, Andy, Lucy, Fiona, and Katy,” she told him. “Kids, this is Uncle Travis’s boyfriend Jeremy Adams.”
He found himself pinned under five curious stares. “You’re gay,” one of the boys stated in a matter-of-fact voice.
“Yeah,” he replied, not knowing what else to say.
“Do you kiss Uncle Travis?” a girl questioned with interest.
“Uhh, sometimes,” he said.
“Is he a good kisser?” another girl asked.
Jeremy, feeling beleaguered, said: “Yeah, he is.”
“Cool!” she clapped her hands together. “Can we watch you guys under the mistletoe?”
“Katy!” her mother cried. “That’s enough of that. Come help with the cookies.”
The girl darted way, leaving a relieved Jeremy slumped on the stool. ‘Somebody help me!’ he screamed inside his own head. But no kindly Deity appeared to save him from his fate, so he resigned himself to his doom.
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