Welcome to the next exciting chapter of my slowly growing story. With all the feedback I've been getting I can tell everyone has been enjoying the read so far. Everyone has been very kind to me on what is my first story and I do have plans for another. I will finish this story first because I know the feeling of getting to a point where I want to read the next chapter and there hasn't been a new installment of the story for years. I hate that feeling of there not being an end. I do realize things happen in life that take writers away from their stories or sometimes can't figure out how to proceed after they end a chapter a certain way.
That being said, I do have a plan for how this will end and how I will get there. It may take a while but I promise there will be an end to this story. As always, thank you Tigersman for your editing services and bouncing back and forth of ideas. And now, the next chapter that you've been waiting for.
In this chapter is the word "microbrew". This is in reference to craft beers or beers made locally.
I would also like to thank those of you who pointed out the mix-up with chapter 9. I would have not noticed and tried to get it corrected as soon as I could if no one told me.
"So are you nervous?" Jackie asks Keith as they are only a few minutes away from her parent's house.
"I'm very nervous right now and will continue to be nervous probably throughout today and tomorrow," Keith says as he grips the steering wheel tighter.
"You have nothing to worry about. Just be your charming self and try to watch the football game with my dad and brothers for a little bit. They know you're not big into football but just give it a try."
Keith lets out a long sigh as he tries to relax. He loosens the grip on the steering wheel as he pictures being welcomed by a loving family, getting a huge hug from Jackie's mom and a firm handshake from her dad and brothers.
"What are you parents' names again?"
"Mary and Bob."
"And your brothers' names are Derrick and Caleb. Derrick is married and his wife's name is?"
"Melinda and she is five months along."
"Ok," Keith says confidently. "I think I got it now."
They pull up to Jackie's parent's house and park on the side of the street. They then grab their suitcases and head into the house.
Jackie opens the front door and is immediately greeted by her mother with a big hug.
"Hi sweetie! How was the drive? Did you already have dinner?"
"Hi mom," Jackie says as she lets go of her suitcase and hugs her mom back. "The drive wasn't bad at all and we got some Burger King on the way." She lets go of her mom and turns her mom so she can see Keith for the first time. "Mom, this is Keith. Keith, this is my mom Mary."
Keith extends his arm out for a handshake, but Mary walks over and also gives him a tight hug.
"We're very glad you could join us. Jackie says nothing but nice things about you."
"Only nice things?" Keith says. "I wasn't expecting her to lie to her own mother."
"Hey," Jackie says in protest. "I'm was trying to get you in good with the family. If you want them to know all your secrets go ahead and tell them."
Mary laughs at the two of them. "Keep this up Keith, you'll fit in the family just fine. We do value honesty more than anything." She lets go of Keith and turns her body to face the stairwell but keeps her eyes on him. "You two will be sleeping in the second bedroom on the right, her old bedroom. Did she explain the rules of the bedroom at night?"
A look of concern comes upon Keith's face, worried that Jackie forgot to mention something to him. "Umm, she didn't tell me anything."
"You two can do whatever you want to each other. Just know it will be talked about at breakfast and there will be a report on how good you are." That made Keith feel very uneasy. He wasn't planning on having sex with Jackie while sleeping at her parent's house. However, knowing that if he did there would be a review of his performance really made him feel anxious, until Mary busted out laughing. "You should see the look on your face. I got Derrick's wife to believe the same thing when she first spent her first holiday with us."
Keith's body and mind relax knowing it was just a joke. Since Jackie's mom had no clue he has Asperger's she had no clue the worry and thoughts he was having at that time. Jackie walks to his side and Keith is hoping she is ready to give him a comforting hug, but instead she has a big grin on her face.
"I'm sorry but I wanted to see what the look on your face was going to be like and it was priceless."
Keith wraps his arms around Jackie. "Was it worth it?"
She nods her head, not realizing the trouble she is in. As soon as her head stops nodding Keith starts tickling her side with his arms pinning hers against her body.
"Stop it Keith! I'm sorry!" Jackie says, hoping the tickling stops soon.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?"
Jackie knows there is only one way he is going to stop and she hates the fact it is going to have to come to it.
"I'll accept punishment," she says and Keith immediately stops tickling her and places a kiss on her cheek.
"I promise the anime I have in mind won't be that bad. You might even like it and want to watch more."
"We'll see," Jackie says hoping the show Keith picks isn't as bad as she thinks it will be.
They take their bags up to Jackie's old room and then walk back downstairs to the kitchen where they are greeted by her dad. Keith imagined him to look older and tough, but he didn't expect him to be a few inches taller than him with about thirty pounds also on him. Immediately he feels small and intimidated by Jackie's dad.
"Hi," Keith manages to say while nervously extending out his hand. "I'm Keith."
"Nice to meet you Keith," Jackie's dad says as he grabs his hand firmly and shakes it. "I'm Bob. Welcome to our home. Can I get you something to drink?"
"What do you have?"
"We have orange juice and milk in the fridge up here and an assortment of beers in the basement fridge."
"Any microbrews?" Keith asks raising his eyebrows in excitement.
"I have a few. Come with me down to the basement and I'll show you what I have. Hopefully you'll find something you like."