Page 28 of A Layperry's Hope
“I think that’s everything.”
Ghenie plucks a fruit from the table, popping it into his mouth. “It’s perfect, Christian. Stop fussing.”
“I feel like our roles are reversed today. You seem so carefree.”
Ghenie shrugs. “I’m about to be surrounded by my favorite people without any responsibilities or tasks. It is going to be a good day.”
“You just jinxed it,” I murmur as someone knocks on the door. I give Ghenie a look as I walk over to the door, leaving him giggling behind me. If anything goes wrong, I can absolutely blame it on him.
“Hey, bestie!”
I take the bottle from Miles’ hands and turn around. “Don’t ever call me that again.”
Timalah lets out a booming laugh. “Did I not tell you he would hate that?”
“I thought he would make an exception!” Miles says and I can hear the pout in his voice. “Hello, Maribel. Aren’t you so sweet? She’s so aware these days, it’s amazing!”
“She’s captivated by the mobile. I think she likes thechuratothe best.” Achuratois something similar to a rhino. It has a horn on its nose but its skin is dark purple and it has giant floppy ears. There’s one on Maribel’s mobile and she’s always trying to grab it.
“Smart girl,” Timalah says as he walks over to the table full of food. “What do you think, Druim? Would you like to try some fruit?”
“Fruit. Fruit. Fruit.”
“Very good,” Timalah says, grinning from ear to ear. “He is catching on quick. Soon enough he will be outspeaking us all.”
Ghenie gives him a soft smile. I know he has some sort of weirdTorallehconnection to everyone but he’s also mentioned to me that he’s fairly certain Druim will be the nextTorallehafter him. It’s weird knowing that. Druim is just a baby still, but someday he’ll be grown and when he is, he might well be leading theLayperrypeople.
The next people through the door are Maria, Aldo, Gendry, and their daughter, MJ. I clasp Gendry on the shoulder and welcome the rest inside.
“I have to poop,” I say to Gendry. Aldo bursts into a fit of giggles.
“Excuse me?” Maria asks, looking put out. I hold up my hands.
“Sorry, it’s an inside joke.”
“When I was on Earth, Christian told me that was a phrase humans used to greet each other. That is the first thing I said when meeting Aldo.”
Maria raises her brow at her son. “That’s how he introduced himself and you still fell for him?”
“I did indeed,” he says with a grin, looking up at his mate. These two are somehow sappier than Timalah and Miles. Okay, enough eye fucking before I toss up my lunch.
“Right this way,” I say, ushering them towards the table. “You can make your own plate and mingle as you see fit. The kids have a little area in the living room. Let me know if you need anything.”
Now I sit by the door and wait, hoping I don’t look like an idiot to everyone else already here. When there’s a knock at the door, my heart jumps up to my throat. I take a breath before opening it up.
“Christian! Hello! It’s so lovely to see you. Thank you again for inviting us,” Scrintum says, pulling me into a tight hug. I let out a squeak of surprise before composing myself and hugging him back.
Plun on the other hand reaches over and takes my hand, giving it a firm shake. “Nice to see you again, son.”
There’s that word again. Son. He says it with such warmth and casualness but it leaves me feeling some sort of way.
“Come in,” I say, closing the door behind them. “I have a table of food for you to pick from and a bottle of your favorite wine. Ghenie picked it out because he knew you liked it.”
“That is quite thoughtful, Christian.”
Timalah, Gendry, and Ghenie are talking in a corner together while Miles, Aldo, and Maria are sitting in the living area with the kids. I guide Scrintum and Plun to the food table, showing them the selection.
“You seem nervous,” Plun says, picking up a plate and piling food onto it. He’s a man of few words so when he speaks, it usually means something.
