Free The Gatekeeper's Secret: Gatekeeper's Saga, Book Five (The Gatekeeper's Saga) by Eva Pohler Page A

Eve.”
    Pete entered the house from the barn and came into the kitchen to wash his hands. “Is Hip going to be there?” he asked Jen.
    “I doubt it,” she said, though she’d been hoping he would. She tried not to think about it, but deep down inside, she’d been wishing all week—ever since Therese’s aunt and uncle invited the Holts to their Christmas Eve dinner.
    “Are y’all into each other or something?” Bobby wanted to know.
    “Bobby!” Jen’s mother reprimanded. “That’s none of your business.” Then she turned to Jen. “Are y’all?”
    “Mom!” Jen pulled the roaster from the oven and set it on the stove before turning the oven off. “I better go wash up.”
    As she skipped to the stairs she heard Pete answer for her. “I think they are, but I’m not sure it’s a good thing.”
     
    Later that evening, the four Holts piled into the Suburban with their arms filled with platters of food carefully covered in foil. Jen was proud of how tender her ham had turned out. As they approached Therese’s driveway, though, her nerves fluttered beneath her skin.
    Please be there, Hip.
    Colorful strands of Christmas lights outlined the railing of the wrap-around porch, adding a festive flare to the occasion. Therese and her family greeted the Holts with hugs and “Merry Christmas Eve,” as platters of food were handed over and carried to the kitchen. Jen scanned everyone’s faces and accepted a hug from Than, but she frowned when she saw Hip wasn’t among them.
    Of course he isn’t here.
    Why had she allowed herself to think otherwise?
    Warm cocoa, hot apple cider, and cold eggnog were passed around in mugs and glasses, and small plates of chips and dips and crackers and cheese were eaten as appetizers before the big meal. Carol and Richard carved the turkey in the kitchen as Lynn ran around with wrapped packages she kept digging out from beneath the tree. Jen’s mom and Bobby were being entertained by the toddler, laughing at the funny things she said.
    “Dis one’s a wobot! Wight? A wobot!” Lynn sang happily, shaking a big wrapped box half her size.
    “I think she means robot ,” Bobby said, laughing.
    “ Wat I said? Wobot!” Lynn assured him.
    Pete and Than sat with Therese by the cozy fire, and Pete looked more relaxed for once, which was rare these days. He’d been spending way too much time in the barn saying strange words and bobbing his head up and down, like some kind of Native American shaman. Although Jen was disappointed that Hip had not come, she was surprised to find herself filled with joy and gratitude for the smiling friends and family surrounding her. A tear threatened to fall down her cheek, and it wasn’t one of sadness. Even after all that had happened—her father’s recent death, Pete’s decent into lunacy, and her frightening induction into the world of gods by Melinoe the Malevolent—she was overcome with happiness by the sight of Christmas.
    Therese brought Jen from her reverie by beckoning her over, patting the small space next to her in the recliner.
    “We can both fit here,” Therese said.
    Jen smiled and squeezed onto the chair beside her friend and was glad when Therese wrapped an arm across her shoulders and caught her up with the conversation.
    “Pete was just telling us about the new stallion,” Therese said.
    “We named him after the General,” Jen said. “Did he tell you the General had to be put down?”
    “Yeah,” Therese said. “That’s too bad.”
    “He was really old,” Pete said. “He had a long life.”
    “Good for him,” Than said.
    Soon it was time to eat, and after, they exchanged gifts. Carol and Richard gave Jen’s mother a beautiful quilt Carol had found at a craft store in Pagosa Springs. Squares of horses alternated with squares of pines and log cabins. Along the border were smaller squares alternating with guitars, boots, and cowboy hats. It was beautiful.
    Jen’s mom had brought loaves of her famous banana bread