A Grumpy Christmas

shrugged off the feelings that tickled at the base of my neck each time I walked around my house as I played at doing yard work.
I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, but it was fun. I’d invested in a nice mower I could push around. I planted some pretty shrubs and flowers to go with what had already been planted. Last week I’d planted the tops of six pineapples in one of the flower beds in front of my house, just because I could. The weather in Sugar Beach was perfect for it. I could already imagine harvesting the juicy fruit, even if it took two years to establish like the books claimed. I wasn’t going anywhere. This was now my home, and I aimed to be here for the long haul.
Looking around the sparsely furnished living room, new chairs to go with my old couch was definitely in order. My parents, as well as my two older brothers and their families, were flying in next week to help me celebrate my first Thanksgiving in my new home. It would be a tight squeeze, but we’d manage. No one had even considered booking a hotel for the long weekend. Something that made my omega heart swell with love for the rambunctious group who would be descending on me soon. I had to get my butt in gear so I’d be ready. It was going to be the best Thanksgiving ever.

Chapter Three
Pierce
Another Thanksgiving survived. This was my fifth one without the omega I’d loved or the child we’d been gifted. Soon the anniversary of their deaths would be here and I’d be forced to endure my sixth Christmas without them. There were moments like these when I wondered what it was I hung on for.
The neighborhood had been busy with cars coming and going as the people who lived here enjoyed visiting with their families. The house next door had been especially noisy the last few days as guest after guest had shown up on the days leading up to the big turkey day. Apparently, they had a lot to be thankful for. Me? Not so much.
The late afternoon sun faded and my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten yet today. I’d forgotten again. Perhaps, I should think about setting up one of those meal reminder apps I’d seen on the app store. The refrigerator didn’t reveal anything appetizing as I stared into its depths only to find more empty space than should have been there. It was time to go grocery shopping again.
The ringing doorbell distracted me from the barren cold box. Scowling, I debated not answering. It was unlikely any of the few friends I had left were visiting me today. They knew better than to just show up. Since I hadn’t gotten any texts or phone calls today, my caller wasn’t a friend. I could pretend I wasn’t home.
Sighing when the doorbell rang again, I pushed my chair to the front of the house. The shadowed figure of a man moved through the window of my front door. I sat there for a moment, as if to get the courage to open the door. It was amazing how scary it was to find out who was on the other side when you didn’t expect them. My heart raced and my pulse beat frantically in my ears as my hand reached for the door.
“Hi.” The omega who stood there was someone I didn’t know when I opened the door. He was bright and bubbly and everything I wasn’t in that moment. “I noticed you were home. We haven’t met yet, I’m your new neighbor. Well, it’s been about six months, but still. I, uh, noticed you didn’t have any company, and I figured you probably didn’t go all out this year for Thanksgiving. So, I brought you some. Thanksgiving dinner, that is.”
The young omega managed to spit out everything without taking a breath. In his hands was a large plastic container. On top of that sat another slightly smaller container and another one on top of that, and yet another. The stack was enormous. If all that was food, it was more than I’d be able to eat at one sitting.
“I can’t possibly acce—” I started to say when the omega interrupted me.
“Please. You’d be doing me a favor. My family is all leaving tomorrow and they’re all flying. None of them can take leftovers. If you don’t help me out, I’ll be throwing out good food sooner rather than later.” He looked at me with bright blue eyes that seemed to look deep inside me, enticing me in a way I hadn’t been in a long time. It startled me so much I backed up without thinking. The omega must have taken it as an invitation, walking past me.
“Oh good, your set up is similar to mine. I’ll just set these on the counter. You can decide what you want to eat now, and the rest can go into the fridge. The metal tin has cookies so those won’t need refrigeration. They’re my own special recipe. Once you taste the first one, I doubt you’ll have any left by tomorrow. Anyway, I’ll get out of your hair. I don’t imagine you like company much because I never see any. But if you ever want to chat, just pop on over. I work from home so I’m usually there. It was nice meeting you.” The omega set his load down on the counter and retreated back the way he came, stopping at the door. “I almost forgot. I’m Max Walker.” The omega held his hand out, expecting something. It took me a moment to gather my wits about me enough to shake his hand.
“Pierce, uh, Knowles.”
“Nice to meet you. Stop by anytime, Mr. Knowles.” And with a smile, the omega was gone as quickly as he’d appeared, walking down the short ramp then across the lawn to his house next