Page 40 of My Boyfriend Marks Trees
“Yup. We also have a cow for milk, pigs, and chickens.”
“Ares has goats.”
“I know. Who do you think buys the pajamas for them?” Athena winked.
“What happened to Rosy?” Ares had gotten used to the old hound greeting him with a woof.
“Rainbow bridge,” Athena murmured.
“Damn, she was a good dog.” Ares didn’t have one growing up because his mom said she already had enough canines in the house.
“Shall we go meet Grams and Gramps?” Athena asked.
Greta nodded, but she snagged her mother’s hand as they entered the living room.
“About time you got here. Gramps was about to fire up the snowmobile and go hunting for you,” declared Grams from her throne, a plaid-covered recliner. The footrest had been elevated to accommodate one of her knees bound in bandages.
“Hey, Grams, what happened to the leg?” Ares asked upon seeing her.
“Twisted it when I slipped on some ice,” her scowled reply.
“And she won’t take anything for the pain,” Gramps added from a matching chair. The pair might be in their seventies butappeared and acted younger. They had the grayish-white hair of age and a face full of wrinkles, but both remained very active.
“Grams, I’d like you to meet my friend, Charlotte, and her highness, princess Greta.”
“Hello and thank you for inviting us into your home,” a polite Charly stated.
“Bah, it’s no problem. Plenty of room, although we do expect everyone to pull their weight,” Grams stated.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t call me ma’am,” Grams squeaked. “I’m Grams, this is Gramps.”
Gramps grunted.
Charly leaned down to whisper to Greta, “Say hello.”
“Hi.” A shy Greta tucked behind her mom.
“I once knew a Greta,” Grams stated. “Loved chocolate chip cookies.”
Greta peeked out from behind a leg. “So do I.”
“It just so happens I’ve got all the ingredients to make a fresh batch in the kitchen. With this bum knee, I could use a helper. I don’t suppose you like to cook?”
“I love to cook.” Greta emerged with a smile.
As Grams went to heave herself from the chair, Ares dove to give her a hand and got a glare for daring to offer.
“I’m not an invalid yet,” Grams grumbled. Her expression brightened as she tottered around Ares. “Come with me, sweetling. Let’s go make those cookies, and we’d better hide some for Santa, else Gramps will gobble them all up.”
Derek walked in just as Grams left the room with Greta. Ares stared in shock, and Derek’s jaw dropped, but Athena snickered.
Charlotte eyed them with confusion. “Is something wrong?”
“Grams never talks that nice,” Derek stated.
“Or without swearing,” Ares added.