Some links may be affiliate links. We get money if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these links on our site.

Christmas All The Time is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Brought A Friend

“Hi, Pastor. We’re glad you could make it after all.” Aundrea said.

“Yes, as you suggested, I brought a friend.” Greg stepped aside to make room for Meghan to enter.

“I’m sorry we kept you waiting so long.” Meghan said as Jeb took her coat. “We had a slight detour on the way over.”

“We’re glad you could make it, no matter the time. Please come in.”

“This is so cozy and that aroma. What is it?”

“That is dinner and Aundrea has been busy working on dessert. Please come in and take a seat. Everything is nearly ready.” Jeb led them to the living room.

“I see that a woman’s touch has made this place a bit less stark, Jeb.”

“Everything is better now that Aundrea is here, Pastor.”

“Please now, it’s a social call. I’m just Greg tonight.”

Meghan sat down beside Aundrea. She had her hands inside of her sweater sleeves and tucked into her lap. “Sorry, I’m still a bit chilly from the trip in.”

“I’ll put another log or two on the fire.” Jeb said as he pointed at an easy chair for Greg to take a seat in.

“Did you have this reupholstered, Jeb? I thought it was a red pattern before.”

“No, that’s one we brought over from Aundrea’s. Hers were nicer than mine.”

“One of the many benefits of being married.” Aundrea said.

Meghan blushed intensely.

Aundrea winked at Jeb. “There are a lot of benefits to being married aren’t there, honey?”

“Oh my, yes. Best thing that ever happened to me.” Jeb said, patting Greg on the shoulder.

“So, what’s for dinner?” Greg said, trying to address Meghan’s discomfort.

“We’re having pot roast and Aundrea made a carrot cake that will make you wish you were a rabbit.”

“Ooh, sounds delicious.” Megan grabbed her knees without revealing her fingers.

“It is, Meghan. Jeb is such a good cook. How are you at cooking, Greg?”

“Not my strong suit, unfortunately.” Greg turned in his chair. “Hey, speaking of strong, aren’t you afraid that guy is going to come back?”

“What guy?” Jeb asked as he walked over to the fireplace.

“What guy? The guy you punched clear out of town. From what I’ve heard, he’s a notoriously inhospitable person.”

Jeb smiled as he broke a log in half with his bare hands. “Well, I figure sheer embarrassment will keep him away for at least a month or two.”

“He’s a supervillain, Jeb. Embarrassment won’t keep him away indefinitely.”

“No, but that’s why Brendan gave me a delivery system for the monitoring software that the Sentinels sent to me.”

“The Sentinels?” Megan gasped. “How do you know them?”

“Oh, back when Aundrea was at school, I took a bus to Empire City. I was going to surprise her and offer to take her to lunch.”

“Isn’t he sweet?” Aundrea giggled.

“Did you know about this back then?” Greg asked.

“No, he told me about it after we woke up on New Year’s Day.”

“So, what happened?”

“Unfortunately, all the craziness with the Chaosians broke loose after I got off the bus. There were disco lights everywhere and all of these weird creatures just grabbing people.”

“Grabbing?” Meghan put her hands over her mouth.

“On the sidewalks, subways, even right out of their cars. It was crazy. Some of them were transformed right away. For some of us, it took a while to realize the effects.”

“Jeb, I’m sorry. That must have been so scary.”

“I’m not going to lie, Meghan.” He snapped another log in two and slid it onto the fire. “It was. Those things were really frightening. It grabbed me right off of the bus. I tried to hold onto the handrail but it pulled me right out and tossed me onto the sidewalk. I have never felt so helpless. Megaman picked me up and carried me to an ambulance.”

“I had no idea he was even in town. I was taking cover in the culinary school basement. All heck was breaking loose outside. An announcement came over the PA system and they told us to seek shelter down in the basement.” Aundrea said.

“I spent the night in the hospital. Doctor Dred told me what to keep an eye on and gave me their card before putting me on the bus back home. After I started changing, I got back in contact with them. Captain Freedom came out to the farm and gave me some tips on how to deal with my strength. He’s such a nice guy.”

“That’s nice, but what about the bad guy?”

“He doesn’t have any superpowers that they know of. He developed a powered suit of armor that he’s been improving for quite some time. I have to admit, it was pretty impressive seeing the thing in action. One minute he’s wearing a nice suit. Next thing you know, it’s crawling up over him like a swarm of ants and turning into armor.” Jeb sat down in a stuffed chair and reached out a hand to Aundrea. “Matt said he’d probably do that as a precaution. While his suit was transforming-”

“Sorry, who’s Matt?” Greg said.

“Matt Freeman. His superhero name is Captain Freedom but he’s not a stickler about it. Anyway, he said that while Hellion’s suit was switching from suit to suit of armor was the best time to introduce the software they’d come up with. Brendan gave me a ring with a little spike on it. I don’t understand the technology but the short story is that when I hit him, it installed some kind of a bug into his suit. If he comes within twenty miles of Laurel Ridge, HEARTH will send me a warning message and dispatch the police to intercept him.”

“Will that be enough to keep him away?” Megan grabbed onto Aundrea nervously.

“They figure that if he isn’t deterred by a show of force from the police, having me turn up will be enough to make him think twice about coming around.”

“Speaking of coming around,” Aundrea said. “what was that detour you mentioned?”

“Oh, nothing really.” Greg said with his hands steepled under his chin. “We had occasion to visit Marty Rosenhoover on the way here.”

“Nothing?” Meghan squeaked. “You call this nothing?” She held up her hand up to show Aundrea her diamond.

Aundrea and Meghan started jumping up and down and screaming.

Jeb got up and shook Greg’s hand. “You’re very coy, Pastor.”

“You don’t have to call me-”

“I know that and you know that, Greg.” He leaned in and whispered. “It’s very clear that Meghan wants to be the pastor’s wife. Don’t spoil that for her.”

“Pastor it is.”

Jeb patted him on the shoulder and smiled as he sat back down. “So, when’s the big day?”

Aundrea was clutching Meghan’s hands and waiting eagerly. Greg looked at Meghan and she looked at him.