Chapter 2
Judith lingered briefly at the doorway, her eyes filled with a blend of concern and determination. She reached out to gently touch my shoulder, offering a reassuring squeeze.
"Remember, Jake, call me if you need anything. I'll just be in Vegas with your Aunt Liz. Try to enjoy yourself here," she said softly, a hint of anxiety in her voice.
"I will, Mom," I replied, managing a convincing smile. "Have fun in Vegas."
She smiled back faintly, gave a quick nod to Alan and Charlie, and then walked toward her car. I watched as she drove away, feeling a strange mix of freedom and apprehension.
Charlie glanced at me and smirked lightly. "Come on, Jake. Let's go shopping. You're gonna need some real food around here."
"Shopping?" I asked, surprised but intrigued.
Charlie shrugged casually. "Yeah, food shopping. What, did you think groceries just magically appear in the fridge?"
I laughed slightly, following him out to his car. Alan waved goodbye from the door, clearly relieved to have a moment alone.
At the grocery store, we moved through the aisles leisurely, picking up snacks, cereal, and frozen pizzas. Charlie seemed entirely relaxed, making casual conversation and occasionally throwing random treats into the cart.
As we passed through the cereal aisle, Charlie picked up a box of Maple Loops and smirked at me. "You know, I once wrote a jingle for this cereal."
"No way! Mom always hated it, but Dad used to hum it all the time," I replied, grinning enthusiastically.
Charlie chuckled, genuinely amused. "Good taste runs in the family."
I nudged him playfully. "Come on, sing the Maple Loops song again."
Charlie cleared his throat dramatically and began to sing loudly and off-key. "It's got oats and corn and wheat, It's sweetest breakfast treat, It's Maple, Maple, maplelicious!"
Laughing, I joined in enthusiastically, attracting amused looks from other shoppers. One woman stopped, smiling warmly at us. "Aw, that's so sweet! You two look adorable singing together. You must be very proud of your son."
Charlie gave a charming smile but quickly corrected her. "Actually, he's my nephew."
"Oh! Well, you're wonderful together," she said kindly, slightly embarrassed but still smiling warmly as she continued shopping.
Once she was out of earshot, Charlie chuckled softly, glancing down at me. "You know, Jake, you're even better than a dog."
I laughed, genuinely enjoying the simple moment we shared. After finishing our shopping, we headed back to Charlie's beach house, the trunk full of groceries.
As we entered, Alan greeted us from the kitchen. "Hey guys, Rose stopped by while you were gone."
Charlie immediately looked angry. "You let Rose in my house? Alan, why would you do that?"
Alan shrugged helplessly. "She said she was your maid."
My mind instantly flashed to memories of Rose from the show—quirky, unpredictable, and more than a little crazy. I suppressed a shudder, hoping things wouldn't get too complicated too soon.
Meanwhile, Charlie moved toward the kitchen cabinets, pulling on the doors with an angry expression. He glanced back at Alan. "She glued my cabinets again."
Before Alan could respond, there was a brisk knock at the front door, followed by the unmistakable sound of heels clicking sharply against the floor. A familiar, authoritative voice echoed through the room.
"Charlie! Alan! What on earth is going on here?"
Charlie froze, eyes widening. "Oh God, it's Mom."
Evelyn Harper strode into the kitchen, her expression a mixture of annoyance and bemusement. Her gaze landed first on Charlie, then Alan, and finally settled on me. "Jake, darling, come give Grandma a hug."
"Hi, Grandma," I said politely, allowing her perfumed embrace while trying not to appear overwhelmed.
Evelyn stepped back, surveying the scene critically. "Honestly, Charlie, why can't you keep a clean house? And Alan, must you always look so... defeated?"
Charlie sighed dramatically. "Nice to see you too, Mom."
Alan shrugged, resigned. "Hello, Mom."
Evelyn continued, her tone sharp yet refined. "And now this ridiculous divorce. Judith was impossible enough as it was, but now, to see my grandson, I need to make an appointment like I'm visiting the dentist?"
Alan winced slightly, clearly uncomfortable. "What divorce, mom? And it's not that bad."
"Not that bad?" Evelyn echoed incredulously. "Do you hear yourself, Alan? What is Jake supposed to think, caught in the middle like this?" She turned toward me, her eyes softening slightly. "Jake, if things get too difficult here, you're always welcome to stay with me."
I smiled awkwardly, uncertain how to respond. "Thanks, Grandma."
Evelyn nodded decisively. "Good. At least someone in this family knows how to behave appropriately." With a final sweeping glance at Charlie and Alan, she adjusted her purse and turned on her heel, walking briskly toward the door. "I'll expect updates, Alan. And try to keep the chaos under control."
Once she was gone, Charlie let out a deep breath. "Well, that was fun."
Alan looked drained but managed a weak smile. "At least she's consistent."
We all shared a quiet laugh, releasing the tension that had filled the room. Maybe life as Jake Harper would never be simple, but at least it promised never to be dull.