New Girl in Town Pt. 16

"It is and it's yours," Jake smiles at her.

"Jessica, marry him," Staci says before going back to her shake.

"He bought you a shake, you marry..." Jessica begins to say until she sees Jake nudging a second cup in her direction.

"Peanut butter fudge?" She asks with a smile.

"What else would it be?" He asks.

"You're forgiven," She laughs as she pokes her straw into the cup.

"Jake Gibson, boy genius," Bobby chuckles as Jamie, Marie, Antoine, Twanda, Jenny and Tommy get to their feet.

"We're headed out, guys," Twanda tells the others.

"To the mall I hope," Antoine jokes.

"How did you know, baby," Twanda giggles.

"Yeah, we were informed that were some very good deals of very minimal clothing and we should check it out," Jennifer states and Tommy nearly drops their tray.

"Man, there really is a Santa Claus," Jamie says smiling at Marie who winks at him.

"More like four Mrs. Claus's," Jake points out. "It looks like it's going to a very merry Christmas for all of us."

****

Thursday December 21st

"We're here," Jake announces as he pulls Jessica's Mustang into her grandmother's neighborhood.

Jessica begins to stir under his letterman jacket then stretches with a yawn.

"You were supposed to wake me at the last rest stop," She tells him as she slowly wakes from her nap.

"We were making good time," He answers. "Besides, you'll have to drive home while I cram myself into the back."

"We'll swap like we were supposed to do this time," She tells him. "Grammy likes to make a few stops to stretch her legs on long trips."

They pull into Grammy's driveway and in seconds she walks out onto the front porch waving at them. Even though the late afternoon sun is close to setting, Grammy has on a pair of sunglasses.

"It's a little late in the day for sunglasses isn't it, Grammy," Jessica asks as she walks towards the porch while Jake grabs their overnight bag from the trunk.

"I thought I might need them to protect me from your Sparkly eyes , Jess," Grammy teases her.

"Grammy!" Jessica shouts.

Grammy giggles at her reaction then opens her arms towards her.

"Give your Grammy a hug, little Jessica," She tells her and gives her a squeeze when Jessica wraps her arms around her.

"Grammy," Jake nods as he joins them on the porch.

He starts to pass them but Grammy isn't having it. She reaches over and pulls him into her arms and gives him a squeeze as well.

"You weren't fast enough to get away from me, Jake," She giggles.

"I would never try to, Grammy," Jake tells her as he gives her a squeeze. "I was just giving you and Jess a moment while I got our bag into the house."

"Just the one bag huh?" She asks.

"It's just the one night and before you even ask, yes, we packed pajamas, Grammy," Jessica informs her as they walk inside.

"Which bedroom do you want the bag in, Jess?" Jake asks as he heads towards the stairs. "Yours or mine?"

"Jake, why don't you go ahead and put it in your room while I show Jessica what I got her in her room," Grammy suggests.

Jake nods and heads upstairs ahead of the two women. After the sunglasses stunt Jessica is dubious of her Grammy's gift so she follows a step behind her. Grammy opens the door and ushers Jessica into the room trying to hide her wicked smile. Jessica braces herself as she steps inside then her face flushes bright red.

"Grammy!" She hisses when she sees the can of WD-40 on the bedside table.

"Just in case you feel the need to sneak around tonight, little Jessica," Grammy teases her.

"They'll be no sneaking tonight," Jessica assures her. "We're getting up early, loading up and heading back home to beat the holiday traffic."

"I'll save it for the next time then," She laughs then hooks her arm in Jessica's. "Now, I've got dinner warming in the oven and I'm sure you kids are famished after that drive."

"It wasn't that bad," Jake assures her as he joins them. "Just hit cruise control and head on down the highway."

"Apparently it's so easy that you can let your relief driver nap most of the way down without waking her," Jessica says as she playfully hits Jake in his stomach with her elbow.

"You just looked so peaceful and were making that cute little snort that you do every once in awhile so I couldn't bring myself to wake you," Jake explains.

"Aw, that is the cutest thing," Grammy exclaims.

She has them sit at the kitchen table and insists they not help her as she serves them dinner.

"I want to thank you both for coming down to drive me back," Grammy says as they start to eat. "I felt like I could make the drive but your mom insisted that you two wanted to come down."

"We did, Grammy," Jessica smiles at here. "Jake and I didn't have much else to do on our break."

"We're happy to help out," Jake adds.

"Did you hear any news on those academic scholarships you applied for before the break, Jake?" Grammy asks.

"I made the final cut on one of them but not the other," Jake answers as Jessica reaches over and squeezes his hand. "It might be enough if I'm the one that's chosen."

"I'm sure that you will be, Jake," She tells him with a smile.

She reaches over and covers both their hands with hers and pats them.

"You both deserve great things and you will get them. I just know that you will," She tells them. "Now, tell me how our little Sar-bear is and decide who is going to help me make cookies for her and who is going to do the dishes."

"Cookies," both Jake and Jessica answer at the same time then start laughing.

"Jake," Jessica pleads with batting eyes and he shake his head.

"Fine," He sighs. "Dishes but I get first taste of the cookies."

"Deal," Jessica agrees then leans over and gives him a quick kiss.

"Let's get started then, lovebirds," Grammy says. "We've got a bunch of cookies to bake if your friends are going to get their fair share as well."

"Is it too late to swap cookies for dish duty," Jessica jokes.

"Jessica, you know that he'll be right over to help us once he gets the dishes done," Grammy laughs.

"Very true," Jessica says. "That's what Jake does."

"It's what Jake and Jess do," Grammy corrects her. "At least that's what Sarah tells me and she doesn't lie to her Grammy."

****

Sunday December 24th

The Golden's greet Jake and his parents at their door and welcome them in with hugs and wishes of a merry Christmas as they get out of their coats.

"I'm going to put these in the kitchen," Jake says nodding towards the two dishes that he's carrying.

Jessica grabs one from him and gets a quick kiss.

"I'll help you, baby," She tells him then leads him to the kitchen.

"Welcome, Jake," Grammy says as she pulls the bread from the oven. "You and your folks are just in time."

"Everything smells amazing," Jake's mom says as she enters the kitchen. "What can I do to help out?"

"Nothing at all," Jessica's mom says as she pulls off her apron. "We are all ready to eat."

The families take a seat around the table and share a wonderful meal with Sarah regaling them with everything that Santa is bringing her for Christmas.

"I hope Santa has an extra sleigh for all your stuff, Sarah," Jake's dad jokes with her.

"I'm sure he's got it handled," Sarah answers him confidently.

"For a sweetie like you I'm sure that he does," Jake's mom tells her. "Val, since you cooked how about we clean?"

"We'll clean, mom," Jake says as he gets to his feet along with Jessica.

"It will keep for a few more minutes, kids," Dr. Golden tells the kids. "You all have some gifts to open tonight."

"Tonight," Jessica asks. "We don't open presents until Christmas day."

"We have guests this year so we're making a bit of an exception," Mr. Golden explains. "You each get one gift from each set of parents to open tonight and the rest we'll open tomorrow."

"Yes!" Sarah shouts excitedly as she hops down from her chair and starts for the living room until Jake scoops her up into his arms.

"Hold up there Speed Racer," He tells her. "We need a clean faced Sar-bear before you open anything."

"Aw, Jake," She sighs and shakes her head.

"Aw, Sarah," Jake mimics causing her to giggle.

He takes her to the kitchen sink with Jessica following while Grammy shakes her head.

"I still cannot get over that," She says to the adults.

"What's that Mrs. Keifer," Jake's mom asks as she takes a sip of wine.

"Just how much Sarah has bonded with your son," She expresses. "When they visited and she let him clean her up I was astounded. It was like she had known him her whole life. They have a very special bond that just touches my heart every time I see it."

Sarah bursts out of the kitchen and makes a beeline towards the living room shouting behind her as she goes.

"It's time for presents! Come on!"

Jake and Jessica emerge from the kitchen smiling at Sarah's antics.

"You all heard the little lady," Jake laughs. "It's time for presents!"

"I started water for coffee or hot chocolate," Jessica shares with the adults. "Just in case anyone wants some."

"Thank you, sweetie," Jake's mom tells her. "I believe I will have some cocoa. Wes, would you like something?"

"I'm good," He nods.

"I'll help you, Pam," Dr. Golden says then nods to Jessica and Jake. "You two are in charge of passing out the gifts. Jess, your dad will show you the ones from us to give."

"And Jake already knows," Jake's dad says.

While the mothers head into the kitchen the others join a very excited Sarah by the Christmas tree. Jessica climbs down into the floor with Sarah and, with the help of her dad, starts pulling out gifts. Jake passes out the ones that they brought with them and as soon as Sarah is handed the last one both mothers join them. They all watch as Sarah gleefully tears into the gift wrapped box before pulling out a pair of pajamas.

"Purple jammies!" She announces happily. "They look just like Jess's and they're soooo soft! I love them!"

Jake's parents smile and nod at Jessica who winks back.

"Told you that she'd love them," She whispers to Jake.

"You are the smart one, Jess," He says then kisses her cheek.

"We are the smart ones, Jake," She corrects him and returns a kiss to his cheek.

Jake reaches for an envelope with his name on it but Mr. Golden stops him.

"Save that one for last, Jake," he tells him.

Jake nods and reaches into a gift bag instead. He pulls out a blue t-shirt and unfolds it.

"UCLA," He says as he holds it up for his parents to see. "I can show my support for Jess now."

"That's awesome, baby," Jessica exclaims then gives him a hug.

Jessica opens her gift from Jake's parents and pulls out a UCLA Volleyball baseball cap and t-shirt.

"I love them!" She announces then gets up and hugs them each in turn.

"Jake, that envelope from earlier is sort of for both you and Jess," Mr. Golden explains. "We think that you should be the one to open it though."

Jake nods and picks it back up while Jessica scoots closer to him so she can see what's inside. He carefully peels back the seal and lets the contents fall out into his hands. He reads it and his hands begin to tremble as he looks up at Mr. Golden.

"Is... is this for real?" He asks.

Jessica pulls it from his hands so she can read over.

"It's for real, Jake," Mr. Golden assures him.

Jessica, having read it, looks up with tears in her eyes.

"Daddy, you did this?" She asks.

"My company did, baby," He answers then turns to Jake's parents to explain. "It was decided that we should look into sponsoring the college career of a promising future architect. We thought it was something worth exploring. The company were thrilled with Jake's aptitude with design so he is our first recipient."

"A full ride?" Jake's dad asks.

"His first year is fully covered after that there will be an evaluation of his advancement and will be reassessed for the next year. With Jake, I have no doubts that he will not only achieve the goals set forth but exceed them," Mr. Golden explains.

"So we're going to be going to UCLA," Jessica asks still not believing it might be true.

"If that's where Jake wants to go," Mr. Golden chuckles.

"Definitely," Jake answers then hugs Jessica to him.

"We're going to UCLA, Jake!" She whispers to him.

"Together," He answers her and kisses her cheek.

"Cool!" Sarah announces. "Can we open more presents now?"

****

Thank you all for reading, commenting and voting. Hope to see you all in my next story and just to repeat myself, New Girl will return in 2019.