Chapter 110

“Well, we’ve got at least a week to get to know you,” mom pointed out. “Let’s get you two to the hotel and then we’ll come and get you after you wake up. Sound good?”

“It sounds wonderful, Mrs De Bourne, thank you.” Freja said.

“Please, call me Karen, darling,” mom said. “You were Alli’s family before, you’re our family now. We won’t have it any other way.”

“What do I call him?” Freja asked, cocking her head at dad, who loomed over us all.

“Norse mythology is full of giants and monsters, I’m sure one will present itself,” mom said simply. “Let’s get you to the hotel, shall we?”

***

Mom and dad led the way in their vehicle while I followed in mine, with Alexa and Freja in the back seat together. They were, predictably, attached at the lips, kissing hungrily and fondling one another while whispering in Danish. I occasionally looked in the rearview mirror, but mostly just gave them privacy.

They finally broke the kiss, breathing heavily while their foreheads were pressed together. I waited to make sure they were actually taking a break from playing tonsil hockey before talking. “I can see you two have some catching up to do.”

“To say the least,” Alexa breathed, nodding while stroking Freja’s cheek and looking into her eyes. “Really wish you could be with us, Alex.”

I smiled. “I don’t want to mess up your reunion.”

“Maybe we could send him pictures and videos from the hotel?” Freja asked.

“No, that’ll wreck the moment,” Alexa replied, shaking her head. “We’ll just turn our phones on to record everything and then fuck one another brainless. Wish I’d thought of bringing my laptop so we could just Skype with him.”

“I have mine.” Freja pointed out.

“I’ll settle for the recording phones idea,” I laughed. “I can’t guarantee that I’ll be able to live-time with you anyway, I might point out.”

“Poo,” Freja sighed. “That will have to do.”

“There’ll be plenty of time, my love, I promise.” Alexa reminded her. “We’ll have all week, after all.”

They resumed kissing while I drove. My phone bipped at me and I turned on the hands-free. “Hey, mom.”

“Still with us, I see,” she commented. “How’re Allie and Freja?”

I looked in the mirror and saw they had stopped making out once mom called and were sitting there, holding hands and smiling at me. “They’re just sitting in the back seat, talking and catching up.”

“Huh,” mom mused. “I half-expected them to be making out the whole way to the hotel.”

Alexa coughed at the inference while Freja giggled. “I do have some measure of self-control, sister-mine.” Alexa called out, trying to sound indignant.

“Your loss, I guess,” mom replied. “We’re almost there, talk to you in five.”

I ended the call and Freja snickered. “You were not joking about their timing, were you?”

“Not at all,” Alexa muttered. “Remember when I told you that Karen nearly caught Alex and I fucking at the wedding?”

“When you had to hide under the bed and pretend to be Finnish?” giggled the Danish girl. “I’m amazed you were not caught, your Finnish accent is atrocious.”

“Suski vituun, lutka.” my aunt shot back, making them both break into fits of giggling. They were still trying to compose themselves when I pulled itno the hotel parking lot and we met mom and dad at the entrance, with the girls walking hand-in-hand while I dragged the luggage.

The room Freja had reserved was comfortable but nothing special, its only real attraction being the king-sized bed. Aside from that, it was fairly standard, with a couch, desk, mini-fridge, coffee maker and a shower that would fit two, possibly three with creative use of shower gel. I dumped the suitcase on the couch and waited while Alexa and Freja hugged mom and dad, promising to be in touch as soon as they woke up. I got hugged last, with secret promises of recordings of everything that transpired for the next several hours. Then we left them alone.

“Well, I’m pumped,” mom said cheerfully. “Anyone up for some Turkish or Greek coffee?”

***

I decided to get some sleep while I could once we arrived home. Knowing my aunt the way I did, she and Freja would be going at one another for at least two hours before collapsing in exhaustion and then sleep until noon. We’d make arrangements to meet and have lunch after that.

There was still the matter of our commitments to the Linguistics faculty, but I assured my mother I’d be able to keep up for both Alexa and I for the duration of Freja’s stay. I would normally feel slightly disappointed at not being with them, but I knew my aunt would be coming by regularly with Freja to meet me at the university, just as we’d planned. My parents didn’t need to know that, of course.

Dad had offered to fill in for Alexa, but mom quickly quashed the notion, indicating that she expected to be having at least as much sex as Alexa and Freja would be having. This sounded like a better idea to dad than helping me, and the offer of assistance was quickly withdrawn.

“You’re on your own, kid!” he said to me in Klingon.

I actually got quite a few hours sleep before my dad called down to me, saying that Alexa had just indicated they were up and ready to meet. It was just after one in the afternoon. We drove over to the hotel, finding the two of them waiting out front, holding hands. It must have been girl talk time, because they hopped into mom and dad’s car while dad took over the wheel in mine. Mom apparently decided to let Freja choose where we’d eat, so dad agreed to just follow to wherever we ended up.

We drove around for nearly half an hour, seemingly aimlessly, before we pulled into a McDonald’s.

“Is she serious?” I asked, a little bewildered. “She does know that this city is five million people and has every ethnic cuisine on earth, right?”

“McDonald’s is apparently a little different in Europe, Alex,” dad chuckled. “I guess she wants to try the real, atrocious McCoy. Besides, it’s only lunch, mom’s making a nice dinner for later.”

Sure enough, Freja was delighted by exactly how gross real fast food here in North America was and she ate it with gusto. Alexa sat beside her, watching in delight at how much fun her friend was having. I sat next to Alexa, her excitement palpable. We discussed what sights Freja might want to see and what plans they had made.

And, of course, my chauffeur services were offered, especially if they planned to do any drinking or clubbing. Mom had no intention of letting anything go wrong this week, even if she let Freja consume six ten-packs of McNuggets in a row.

“Dear Lord in Heaven,” she breathed in morbid fascination as the Danish girl finished the last pack. Dad was trying not to smirk while Alexa just shook her head. “One more pack and you’ll have so many preservatives in you that you won’t be biodegradable for three hundred years.”

“Keith Richards ear your heart out,” dad quipped. “So was it everything you were hoping for, Freja?”

“Umph, yes,” replied our new friend. “What a great experience.”

“I refuse to believe that Europe and even Denmark doesn’t have crappy fast food,” mom pointed out. “Hell, I know they have garbage food.”

“Yes, but we know it,” Freja agreed. “It’s a sinful treat, not a real option. And this, this is a whole new level of atrocious. It tastes so good, Karen!”

“I’ll take your word for it,” mom said dryly, finishing her McSalad, if that’s what they’re called. Dad and I polished off our Big Macs.

“Oh!” Freja said suddenly, turning to look back at the counter somewhat eagerly. “Do that have those… what are they… ‘shamrock shakes’?”

“Sorry, babe, those are strictly seasonal,” mom said, probably secretly relieved. “They’re a March thing.”

Freja was still turned and staring at the counter, while rubbing the material of her shirt between her thumb and finger, considering. “Do you think they would make one for me if I-“

“No.” mom, dad, Alexa and I all chorused.

“Poo…” the Danish girl said, clearly disappointed that sex was not the answer here.

“I’m sure we can figure out how to make one at the house, right dear?” dad offered, looking at mom.