2020-12-24 - Meet the Parents

It has come to pass. Jessica has invited Hera along to Christmas Eve dinner at her parent's house. Things are serious!

The pair stand outside the front door, Jessica rugged up for winter in long coat, scarf, gloves, and a beanie atop her head. "You ready for this?" she smiles warmly to her lover. "It'll be fine. Honest. Don't feel like you're being appraised in the slightest." Jessica's only teasing, mostly. "I should warn you that they're a strange pair. Father's Catholic, mother's Muslim, so I'm sure they're arguing already. But another thing I am certain of is that they will love you." A purse of her lips before she adds, "Not as much as me, of course, but there's no reason for any sane person not to find you wonderful." Her brow furrows. "Damn, I shouldn't have said 'sane' since we're talking about my parents." A playful nudge of Hera. "I'm kidding."

Hera can't help but be nervous. Meeting the parents meeting the parents. There's nothing to worry about, right? "Ok uhm." she then takes a deep breath and pauses from her pacing to rock on the heel then balls of her feet. "I've been through worse I've been through worse but, yeah, this is a good thing. Hell I never met Theo's parents so." She grumps a little but then Jessica's words begin to calm her. "Oh honey." she says, "I really needed to hear that for reassurance sake, I really did. Thank you. You're the best thing to ever happen to me, ever." Sadly, a few insecurities creep in from time to time but she takes another deep breath to put them at bay. "I will, make you proud of me. I promise. I have to do that you know...make you proud."

As far as what she's wearing, it's practical and classy, though not too showy. There's a nice jacket and a thin sweater underneath. Under the sweater trails a brown skirt and brown pumps cover her feet. The sweater itself is green which compliments her red hair. Hopefully, she selected the right attire.

"You know the best way to make me proud? Be yourself. That's who I fell in love with, and that's who they will fall in love with" Jessica smiles warmly, wrapping her arms around her love. "And you look soooo beautiful." A deep, slow kiss to Hera's lips before she, very reluctantly, steps back. "Let's do this."

Jessica has her own key and lets them into the simple two story house overlooking the sea. Not posh, but not poor either. They step inside to be greeted by the smells of cooking...and bickering.

"Jesus was the Son of God and he sacrificed himself for all of us. Even you" claims a male's voice.

"Rubbish, he was merely another in a long line of prophets, and that the Messiah has yet to return" replies a woman's voice.

"And He will come back when he's good and ready" ripostes the man. "Though eh won't if we don't celebrate Christmas."

"He's taking his time about it. How bad do things have to get?"

Jessica just rolls her eyes and shakes her head at the argument happening in the kitchen, while removing her coat, scarf and beanie, to reveal a festive dress beneath. "You know, you two sound like an old Jewish couple when you're like this!" she calls out, a teasing tone to her words.

"Is that our heretic daughter?" replies the man's voice with a laugh, before the parents appear. A tall, handsome man in his late fifties, of at least semi-Latin extraction, black hair and beard. The woman, shorter, is of Middle Eastern appearance, not too dissimilar looking to Jessica, with long black hair tied back. They are both smiling as they walk to their guests and take turns giving Jessica a hug and kisses to the cheeks.

"Just ignore their argument" Jessica asides to Hera. "They do that to frighten my dates. Mom, dad, I'd like you to meet the love of my life, Hera Foster."

"Hera?" laughs the man, "Looks like we have the Greek gods in the house as well. Welcome, Hera, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Hera 'ahems' for a bit as she tries to cast her nervousness aside. For that blissful moment she clearly gets lost in the deep kiss, part of her wanting to remain lost forever. But reality is reality, and one thing that Hera has learned is to be stronger and a bit more bold in her later years.

She takes a deep breath and steadies herself as she waits for the door to open. With Jessica having a key, she takes a small step back as if to follow her lead. Then she hears the bickering about religion and gasps. This shouldn't surprise her and her education reminds her of different beliefs and how unique they are. Naturally conflict is inevitable in such circumstance but trying not to blush she mummurs, "I don't even know what religion I am."

Jessica probably knows that about her. By now the two women have shared many things and such intrinsic philosophies had to have been part of the conversations. Yet she gently reminds her beloved about that and she pauses to gather her confidence. It takes a moment or two but she stands up straight and attempts to put on a prideful demeanor that a goddess would and should have. Speaking politely, but with only a mild touch of humility, she tells the two professionally, "It is likewise a pleasure to meet you." Yes, she doesn't want to speak like the street rat she was forced to be, she wants to act like the lady she has become and she says, "Jessica has told me many wonderful things about you both. It is truly an honor." And, she seems to mean that.

Jessica's parents both eye their daughter as one. "Wonderful things?" they both ask, and Jessica shrugs innocently in return. "It took some thinking but, yes, I managed to find some wonderful things to say about you. Like 'they keep their house clean'." It seems teasing banter is a hallmark of the Flores household.

"Let me take your jacket" offers Juan, the father, hanging it up on a hook by the door once taken.

"Let me show you inside" smiles Jasmine, the mother, taking Hera by the arm to lead her away. They like their 'J' names around here. "And Jessica has told us many wonderful things about you. A gallery owner? Very impressive. It is good to have your own business. Be your own boss." Hera is lead off down the hall of lower floor, past a staircase leading upstairs, and into the lounge room opposite. "Though we would love to hear all about you from your own lips." A teasing grin. "If we just listened to Jessica, you are beyond perfect."

"She is!" calls Jessica from the hallway - ears like a hound. Though she is being guided to the kitchen to help with the meal rather than being allowed to protect Hera.

Hera can't help but tremble a bit as Jasmine moves to lead her away. There are many reasons for her to be insecure. Her past for one, it's far from clean even if she did manage to get away from it. The previous years can haunt someone one way or another and she bites her lower lip nervously as she tries to put that idea aside. Being an orphan, that's another. Devlin remains to be her only connection to a any 'blood ties' she has and while she is thankful for that not having parents of her own might make her situation hard to believe. But, coming out as a lesbian. So far as good. Maybe they have accepted this about Jessica or maybe they already have "some fella" lined up for her in an effort to "turn their daughter straight." There's other thoughts, but those have been some that creep into her mind. They are not good notions to say the least but, Jessica invited her here so...taking a deep breath she walks along and starts to find her confidence.

She's been through so many things. Escaping slavery, escaping a broken heart, loosing her child, and finally pulling through all of that to find family, build her dream business, and discover someone who really wants to share her heart with her. The pets are her children but Jessica is a real woman who has combined love and lust so perfectly for the middle aged artist. Yes, Hera has grown, and even grown to accept the fact that she's far from a normal person so, surely she could handle a normal situation like "meeting the folks."

Or this could all blow up in her face and the would be goddess could loose her heart.

There is a need to try though, and to find that pride that reminds her she needs to walk on.

Trying to continue to act classy, Hera feigns stifling a chuckle to say, "Oh, I can't say I am perfect but I do hope to be perfect for her. To put it lightly, she's a remarkable woman. Also an amazing cook, much better than I can be." Yes, mix the pride with a bit of humility. "And if you need any help cleaning well, I love cleaning actually, though that's really not my official line of work." Continuing with the compliments she looks around and says, "You have a lovely home."

"Of course Jess can cook, she learned it from us" Jasmine protests amiably. "Or she better be able to cook." She turns her head to yell after her daughter. "If she couldn't cook, she'd be no daughter of ours!" A glance around the house at the compliment. "A home is where the heart is. We have lived here for a while now. Jessica grew up here. I'm sure she will show you her old room at some point." The woman leans in to whisper conspiratorially to her guest. "Do close the door if you both feel the need for privacy up there." A wink before gesturing to a seat. "Please, sit. Can I get you a drink before dinner? You are a very beautiful woman, Hera. Jessica obviously has good taste. Though she has always been deeper than that, so I can only assume you have a good heart too." Her brow rises. "Good at cleaning? Oh, in that case, I'll leave the washing up for later."

"So, tell me, how did you meet? Jessica claims there were angels singing and music playing but she's a writer, she likes embellishing her words" Jasmine smirks.

Hera lets a few fingers briefly dark along her right cheek as if to remind herself not to blush at the woman's compliments. Wanting to continue to act like the lady she is, she politely looks Jasmine in the eye and says, "Thank you." Her tone of voice pleasant, and a smile adds to her warm demeanor. "Ah yes, Jessica is wonderful at words. One of her amazing gifts. I never really learned how to cook but I learned how to clean and, unlike a lot of people, I don't mind it at all. I have two pets and I'm constantly taking care of them. They are my children." she smirks a little at that thought but again, to answer some of the questions, "I can just wait until dinner to have a drink." Of course, when she is prompted to sit Hera does just that. "I, like helping other people though it's really my cousin who is a medical professional. I never received much formal training in that either. As far as how we met well I saw her at a musical event and." Then, she just decides to come out with it, "She said she missed meeting me at the LGQBT party and, there was an instant attraction. It's a bit hard to describe but, just instant. I was very intrigued with her the first day I met her."

But yes, some parents may not like the sound of their daughter 'coming out' as a lesbian. Trying to act a bit subtle, Hera tests the waters there. She's still not too sure if they have accepted Jessica's sexual orientation. Especially if they're traditionalists. With a hopeful look in her eyes, she watches Jasmine for her response.

"Love at first sight?" Jasmine seems amused rather than horrified. "It's nice to believe that such things can still exist in this world. Or any love really." Her eyes narrow, though in a teasing way, as she studies Hera. "You seem a bit worried, Hera. There is nothing to be worried about. I am a Muslim, Juan is a Catholic. If we can accommodate each other's lives, then we can accommodate others too. Were we expecting our daughter to become a lesbian?" She has to think on this for a few moments. "Well, she does...did...have a terrible dating history with men. Perhaps she should have tried this a long time ago. She was always close to Harper, but I don't think it was ever in this way. And, once she got herself consumed by her work, we thought she would be a alone all her life." Jasmine reaches out to squeeze Hera's hand. "We are glad she isn't."

"You will have to bring your pets over so we can meet the grandchildren" Jasmine adds lightly, perhaps the one thing she is still processing. A likely lack of grandchildren. Moving on. "I hope you continue to intrigue each other for some time to come." A glance to make sure that Jessica is not in earshot before she continues. "We haven't seen her this happy for a long time. And no major corruption expose either. It's all you, Hera."

"Dinner's ready!" yells Juan from the kitchen. "Stop interrogating our guest and come and eat."

Jasmine rolls her eyes at her husband's yelling. "He still doesn't have any manners" she sighs. "You do know that we will want to hear all about you over dinner, yes? I hope you prepared a speech." A wink before she rises to guide Hera to the dining room.

Hera takes a deep breath and immediately feels relieved to hear that Jessica's parents have accepted her unique lifestyle. "Oh, music to my ears." she says, "Harper is really a sweet woman, she really is and she cares for Jessica just, in a different way than I do. I'm so glad you accept her for what she is. A lot of parents would not and that's putting it lightly." So, what about Hera's parents? Jasmine didn't ask so no need to go 'there' it seems. Then regarding grandchildren Hera gets a bit of a strange look on her face until she chuckles, "I'm very happy with her and yes, Queso is arrogant and Hans is loyal and they will both love you. Jessica has made me open up my heart in a way I didn't think possible. I'm trying to teach her that there's more to life than just...work."

To add a bit of humor toward the kitchen Hera shouts in Juan's direction, "The interrogation is going well!" Proper and polite as it is, it seems that the redhead has a sense of humor too.

"Good luck with that" Jasmine laughs about there being more than work in life. "But, seriously, though she has taken up the mantle of moral guardian for the town, if not the world, I think she would still choose you first." A wink for the redhead before leading her to the dining room where a Christmas feast has been prepared - though without any obvious religious decoration.

"Ah, there she is" Juan smiles to Hera. "No hot poker marks that I see."

"I used the telephone book" Jasmine deadpans in reply. "Though they are nowhere near as thick as they used to be." The table is set for four so Jessica and Hera will sit opposite each other along the length, while the parents sit at the two heads of the table.

"I hope you like turkey, Hera. No ham...for obvious reasons" Juan explains with a grin.

Jessica reappears, hugging Hera from behind a placing a kiss upon her cheek. "Everything okay" she whispers before pulling out the chair for her lover to sit.

"We will be expecting to hear your life story" Juan warns their guest. "But, if it is any consolation, and it should be, after dinner we will show you embarrassing photos from Jessica's youth." That gets a glare from his daughter as she moves to sit on her chair.

Hera briefly chuckles a moment and she tries to add a bit of humor to the situation. "Oh, as the saying goes, the night is still young, yes?" Humor, it has its place and clearly she meant the comment in jest. "Though telephone books are not nearly as thick as they used to be."

With Jessica hugging her from behind she can't help but have her face flush for a moment. "Everything is great." she whispers back to her, "In fact, delightful. I really like your parents."

But she keeps that comment in a bit of a hushed tone so not to be too obvious.

She sits across from her beloved as expected and maintains her smile until her life story is mentioned. "Well hmmm, I had interesting beginnings I guess and I come from Texas actually. It's a far way from here to say the least but the north grew on me and yes, Jessica is quite a pillar of the community, though she doesn't give herself enough credit."

"I doubt many people know who I am" Jessica laughs about being a pillar. "If there are still people out there who actually read newspaper reports with facts in them, I doubt they look at the byline. But thanks, hon, I appreciate it" she winks across the table.

"Jasmine and I are from Spain" Juan explains, "Though we did not meet there. We actually met in Mexico, on vacation. Never went home again. But, we're not here to talk about us, we're here to interrogate fair Hera. Do you ever think about going home to Texas? It is certainly a lot warmer."

"The Antarctic is a lot warmer" teases Jasmine before gesturing to the food on the table. "Please, everyone eat before it gets cold. So, Hera, you will not be seeing your family for the Holidays? That is sad...but I am glad you could visit our family. And you own an art gallery, yes? An artist yourself I hear. A rather good one."

Well, here it goes. Time to delve into the twisted background but, things have gone well so far right? At the mention of going back to Austin she quickly shakes her head. "Oh no, no no no it's not a good place and that's putting it lightly. I found many more opportunities in Gray Harbor, many more." But, there's food. Ah ha yes, this is where Jessica learned to cook, and it already smells great. She eagerly reaches for it without trying to look too eager. Jessica is the best cullinary artist in the world after all. After a good helping of food has made it to her plate she says, "I don't have a mother and father so, yeah. Devlin is my cousin and he's really the only blood related family I know. But I've made some good friends. They wound up standing by me when I didn't expect actually. So I'm really fortunate I think."

"Sorry to hear about your parents, Hera" Jasmine frowns before glancing over at her husband, who nods silently in reply. "Well, Hera, we may not be your mother or father, but you can think of us as family anytime you like" she smiles to Hera, reaching out to squeeze her hand.

"Mom, that would make her my sister. And that makes it weird" Jessica complains, though it is in a teasing tone. A smile soon back on her face. "But seriously, Hera, we're all here for you if you ever need anyone to talk to, someone you can treat as family, these two will happily listen to your worries until the cows come home...the second time."

"And we'd love to meet this Devlin too. Will you be spending tomorrow with him?" asks Juan.

"Dad, you're being really nosy" growls Jessica. "I'm hoping to have her all to myself tomorrow. I have a special present for her" she smiles over the table. "But if you want to hang with Devlin, that's totally okay as well. It's not as if the news stops on Christmas Day."

The food, as expected, is delicious. Puts Jessica's cooking to shame.

"And what are you two doing for New Years?" asks Jasmine between bites and sips of drink - she has an orange juice; Alcohol being forbidden for Muslims.

Hera has worked past many things. It is true that the old adage of 'time heals all wounds' has some reality to it. But, there's that warmth that Hera cannot help but be attuned to, that warmth that seems sincere and that pierces through any of the surface facade. That facade is held up my a strong foundation, one that has sincere love for humanity but humanity also delivers her own stings to remind the would be goddess that she has longed for sincere love. Love on many levels.

Of course, Jessica has become the heart of such love but when her hand is squeezed she begins to reveal more of her horrific past. "My parents were murdered when I was young. So, no way to find family until I found Devlin. I think his mother was even behind that. I can't speak for him but I'd love it if we could all visit soon."

She chokes back a sob for a moment but then she begins to refocus herself in an attempt to bring back her professional persona, "Thank you. Your kindness means more to me than you realize. It really means a lot though, I do have to say, I don't fancy myself as your daughter's sister."

"You think his mother killed your parents?" This has Jessica's parents agog. And Jessica is rather surprised too - had she heard this suspicion before? The reporter gets out of her chair to make her way over to Hera, hugging her from behind and gently kissing her on the cheek.

"We're all here for you, baby" she whispers. "I love you so much."

"Okay, you will not be our daughter then" Juan smiles, trying to lighten things up a little.

"Perhaps daughter-in-law?" suggests Jasmine with a wry smile as she watches her daughter with her beloved.

"Mom!" Jessica growls playfully at Jasmine. "Any marriage proposals are between Hera and I. We haven't even discussed something like that. We barely even live together most nights."

"Live together?" That has Juan and Jasmine smirking at each other across the table. Aww...their little girl is nesting instead of nothing getting in the way of a story. They grow up so slow.

Jessica hugs Hera tight to keep that sob at bay before a kiss to the top of her head. "Eat up, or my mother will rescind the invitation. She's very proud of her cooking." Jessica slips away back to her seat, offering a comforting smile across the table to her beloved. "You should show my parents some of your art. Have you got some on your phone?"

In that moment that Jessica comes over to embrace her, the redhead begins to loose herself in bliss again. The smart, dark haired woman is so beautiful and that beauty is only intensified with her intelligence and concern. She closes her eyes to savor the sensation and her slips slowly move as if to say something when daughter-in-law is mentioned. But, she feels brought back to reality when the conversation continues.

She can't hold but hold back her affections though and she gently reaches for Jessica's hand, "A light shining in darkness, intense orbs seek my very soul." She can't help herself as poetry sprouts forth from the artist's red lips, "Burning in me a need to love, something I rarely know. The hope is bound in loveliness, reaching forward to take new heights. I could never avoid the bronze siren's call, with any or all of my might." For her beloved represents the strong element in multiple ways and she knows she couldn't resist Jessica on any level. "Fortune not forsaken, I've lost my way, only to find it again. Each euphoric moment, a real gift, and my muse's divine grace will never end."

She then snaps into reality a little bit more and mutters, "Sorry I'm just, rather smitten with your daughter but my art, oh yes, I know I have some of it on my phone. My specialty is pottery, believe it or not."

Jessica just stares as those words flow so beautifully from her lover's lips. A blush to her cheeks as they touch her so deeply. Her hand gently caressing Hera's as the poetry continues. When it ends, Jessica is a little speechless...in a good way. "Wow" she manages to breathe out before blushing glances at her parents. "How could I not love this woman" she sighs happily, squeezing Hera's hand lovingly before, reluctantly, releasing it.

Jessica's parents are equally impressed. "Why don't you ever say things like that about me?" Jasmine puts at Juan before looking at Hera. "The only poetic things he says to me are limericks about a man from Nantucket. He thinks they're hilarious but certainly not the kind of thing that a woman wants to hear in moments of romance. Or ever really" she smirks before batting her eyelashes at her husband.

"They are very witty" Juan pouts before getting back to the conversation. "You're a potter? Please, we would love to have a look."

Jessica isn't bothering to eat at the moment. She is simply staring across at Here with a gaze of boundless love. There's another smitten soul at the table.

Hera bites her bottom lip for a moment as a warm flush quickly moves across her cheeks. Then she chuckles a bit, the laughter part nervousness but, of course, there's an obvious hint of delight. She takes in a deep breath, finding that spirit of confidence that was enraptured her since she arrived in Gray Harbor. It seems so many things have changed for the better since she arrived.

Hera just shrugs at Jasmine's banter but deep inside she likes what she says. Obviously, her praise for Jessica wasn't too much so it didn't go unappreciated. While she has her own specialties, knowing the beauty and passion in all art forms is something she takes pride in.

But then the parents speak of her chosen art. "Oh, I know I have some samples on my cellphone. I just need to find the right folder." She winks at the group playfully and says, "These smartphones are not THAT intelligent."

She finds the small device and taps and glides her fingers across it in a knowing fashion. Finally, she comes to a specific image of one of her nicer works, "A vase I made for your daughter. I love making her gifts. I hope I don't sink the ship with them someday but there's always many things to create and what is created must be housed."

The parents eagerly share the phone to look at the art that the lovely Hera has created. "Very nice" nods Juan and his wife certainly agrees.

Jessica is still making moon eyes at Hera before a giggle about sinking her houseboat. "It will be fine, baby. With all the rocking we put it through..." Her eyes go wide as she realises what she said...in front of her parents. Parents that stare at her with quirked eyebrows. "Oh, c'mon, I'm thirty. Do you really think I'm a virgin? And who could resist anyone as beautiful as Hera?"

At least her parents are amused, Jasmine even sticking her fingers in her ear and singing 'La-la-la' so as not to hear about her daughter's sex life, before laughing.

"Oh, yes, we know how old you are. And the lack of children" Juan teases playfully.

"Hera and I could have children" Jessica sighs. "It's just a more roundabout way. But, hey, I think Hera and I aren't at the child talking stage yet." She looks across at her lover. "Unless we are?"