Chapter 6

Gran?

Trish gave Holdar a curious look when he groaned, then followed his gaze to the front porch of the house in front of them. Another orc waited on the porch, along with a petite human woman with light brown hair carrying an adorable baby. The only other person visible was a tiny old woman in a hot pink tracksuit with something written on it in rhinestones. She had green skin like Holdar but she couldn't possibly be his grandmother, could she?

Apparently, she could. As soon as Holdar pulled the truck to a halt, she marched over to the truck. Holdar was still sitting behind the wheel scowling.

"You get your butt out here right now, boy," she demanded.

Despite her lack of inches there was a definite air of command about her and Trish wasn't entirely surprised when he sighed and climbed out of the truck.

"Hello, Gran."

His grandmother threw her arms around his waist and hugged him fiercely. His face softened as he gently hugged her back, then winced when she dug her fingers into his side.

"What was that for?"

"For not coming to see me until now. Five months is too long, dammit. Take off those silly shoes and join us, dear," she added without looking at Trish.

How the heck had she known about the shoes? Maybe Grondar had called her. Still she was more than happy to slip them off and jump down barefoot onto the smooth driveway.

"She needs shoes," Holdar said, frowning.

"Pish posh. Bare feet never hurt anyone. Hello, dear. I'm Flora. Has my grandson told you all about me?"

Black eyes twinkled merrily at her as she fumbled for an answer.

"Um, well, not everything, I'm sure."

"In other words, nothing." Flora pinched Holdar again and he winced. "But we'll take care of that. Come and meet the rest of the family."

She looked at the unsmiling orc on the porch and the pretty - and neatly dressed - woman and this time she winced, suddenly conscious of her uncombed hair and bare legs. She lifted a hand to try and pat her hair into place and Holdar caught it.

"You look fine."

He kept hold of her hand as he led her to the porch and she suddenly wondered if it was for her sake - or his.

"Trish, this is my brother Trogar, along with his mate Pippa and their daughter Daisy."

"You mean you still remember us?" Trogar asked, frowning, before she could respond.

"Don't be ridiculous. You're my brother."

"Then it would be nice if you acted like it!"

Trogar's voice had risen as he spoke and Daisy gave a startled little gasp. Both males immediately look abashed and Flora somehow managed to smack both of them as she tugged Trish away from Holdar and up on the porch.

"Idiots. Come along, dear. I'm sure you'd like something to eat after that long ride."

"Of course you would. I'm sorry. Where are my manners?" Pippa gave her a warm smile as she squeezed Trogar's hand and let it drop. "Please come in."

Trish gave Holdar a quick look and when he nodded, she followed the other woman into the house. The house was beautiful inside with all the period details intact, especially the beautifully grained woodwork. Everything was immaculate and she felt even more uncomfortable as she followed Pippa into a pristine kitchen.

"I hope I didn't track in any dirt," she said nervously, and Pippa laughed.

"It's kind of overwhelming, isn't it? Trogar likes to keep things orderly, but he understands that life is messy. Especially with a little one around."

Daisy squirmed to be let down. As soon as her feet touched the floor, she took a few tentative steps, then collapsed on her butt, drooling happily as Pippa laughed and handed her a teething biscuit.

"That will be all over the floor in ten minutes."

"I guess that's part of being a parent, isn't it?" she asked, watching the baby curiously. She'd never had much experience with babies.

"It is. Would you like something to drink, or some food?"

"She's had muffins and coffee," Holdar said, striding into the kitchen with Trogar behind him.

Neither male looked happy, but they didn't seem quite as antagonistic as they had initially. Flora followed them, smiling, but something about the smile made Trish uneasy all of a sudden.

"Why are you here?" Trogar asked as he picked Pippa up, then sat back down with her on his lap. "I know it's not to see me. Or your niece."

Daisy had dropped her biscuit and now she crawled over to Holdar and tried to pull herself up on his pant leg. His face suddenly softened as he reached down and picked up the baby. Oh my. Her heart flipped as he cradled the little girl against his massive chest. The baby seemed quite at home there.

"I told you I've been busy," Holdar protested, but even she could hear the defensiveness in his voice. "Trish is one of my clients," he added. "Or rather her father is. He's having some… issues right now so I brought Trish here to keep her away from all that. I thought we could stay in the cottage-"

"Nope," Flora said cheerfully. "I'm afraid that won't work. I have someone coming who needs to use it."

"You never said anything." Trogar gave his grandmother a suspicious look. "I don't want strangers living that close."

"Tough titties. It's my house and I say who lives there. Besides, she's going to need it a lot more than these two."

"Who will?" Pippa asked, but Flora ignored her.

Holdar sighed. "I suppose there's the inn. It's more public than I'd like, but-"

"Fully booked." Flora gave Holdar a beatific smile that made the hair on Trish's neck stand up. "I have a better idea."

"What?" he asked suspiciously.

"Why the old fishing cabin, of course. It's nice and private. No one will even know you're there."

"You can't send them there, Gran. It's a shack, not a cabin."

Flora waved off Trogar's protest with another of those smiles.

"Nonsense. It will be perfect. You'll see. Unless you have a better idea?"

Holdar looked from her to his grandmother, then sighed.

"No. And you're right about it being private."

"Good, then it's all settled. Better get going."

Why was the old lady trying to get rid of them? She suspected Holdar was wondering the same thing, but before he could say anything, Pippa jumped up.

"Not so fast. Trogar, can you put together a basket of supplies - and make sure there's more food than cleaning supplies. Trish, you come with me."

Flora's eyes were twinkling again, but she didn't object as Trish followed Pippa meekly out of the room.

"Let's see if we can find you some clothes," Pippa said as she led the way upstairs.

"You don't have to do that. I'm not even sure you can," she added.

They were close enough in height but she definitely didn't have Pippa's slender figure.

"I'm sure we can find something. And trust me, I'm happy to help. I came to town with not much more than the clothes on my back and everyone was so kind. I'm happy to have a chance to help someone else."

"I suppose I can't just live in Holdar's t-shirt, can I?"

Pippa laughed.

"Probably not. But would you mind if you did?"

There was only friendly curiosity on the other woman's face, but she could feel herself blushing. Pippa laughed again and started pulling items out of a color-coded wardrobe. When she opened a drawer, the items inside were all so neatly folded they could have been on display in a retail store.

"Is that Trogar's work as well?"

"Oh yes. I'm more inclined just to throw things in, but it makes him happy to do it this way."

"Holdar isn't like that." At least she didn't think so.

"No, the two of them are very different. But they are both fiercely protective." Pippa shot her a quick glance as she started putting the clothes into a large tote. "They also both had some issues to deal with. Trogar has made his peace with the past. I don't think Holdar has."

"Grondar said something similar. But what happened to him?"

"I don't think that's my story to tell. And I don't know that much anyway. But maybe if you could get him to talk to you it would help. For his sake, but also for Trogar's. The distance Holdar keeps between them really bothers him."

"I'm not convinced Holdar will talk to me either, but I suppose I could try and encourage him."

"My guess is that you're the one person he might talk to."

Her cheeks heated but she couldn't quite suppress a pleased smile.

"Me? You really think so?"

"I do. And since Flora showed up this morning, I suspect she does too."

"Flora? What difference does that make?"

Pippa only giggled and handed her a pair of sneakers to try on. They were a tolerable fit and the other woman nodded approvingly before she added a small toiletry bag to the now overflowing tote. Trish insisted on carrying it downstairs and they returned to the kitchen. Trogar was pacing with Daisy on his shoulder, and Flora and Holdar were nowhere in sight.

"He's outside," Trogar said before she had a chance to panic. "Stubborn male. I packed some food and supplies. The fishing cabin should have plenty of wood and you can turn on the water, but I'm not sure what shape the bathroom facilities are in."

"At least there is a bathroom."

He gave a doubtful nod.

"Of sorts. But you'd better get going. He's obviously eager to leave."

She glanced over at Pippa and saw she'd noticed the bitterness in his voice as well.

"I'm sure it's just because he's worried about me. He's very protective."

It was the right thing to say. Trogar stopped pacing and sighed.

"I know. He thinks he's responsible for everything. It's hard to convince him otherwise, but maybe you can do it."

"Me? I'm not sure he'll listen to me, but I'll do my best," she said doubtfully.

They all trooped outside and found Holdar packing what appeared to be an enormous amount of supplies into his truck, his face like a thundercloud. From the merriment on Flora's face she guessed his grandmother had been teasing him.

"Are you ready?" he snapped and she gave him her most cheerful smile.

"Yes, dear."

His glare intensified as Flora laughed - and why was that fierce look so enticing?

"Then let's go."

He opened the truck door, but she ignored him, turning to thank Trogar and Pippa first. Pippa gave her a quick hug and smiled at her.

"Take care. If you need anything, have Holdar send me a message."

"And take care of him too," Trogar said quietly.

"I will."

Flora was next, smiling happily at her.

"This is going to be just perfect."

"If you say so."

"I do - and I'm always right." The old lady beckoned imperiously at Holdar and despite his annoyance, he obediently bent down and kissed her cheek. "Have fun you two. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

"Is there anything you wouldn't do?" he muttered.

"I wouldn't try and have a relationship with a centaur again. It's just so awkward trying to-"

"Gran! It was a rhetorical question."

"Don't ask questions if you don't want to know the answers. But other than that, no."

A reluctant smile finally crossed Holdar's face as he lifted her into the truck.

"Goodbye, Gran."

"Bye now."

Just before they drove away, she finally managed to decipher the words on Flora's sweatshirt.

"Why is your grandmother wearing a shirt that says Only Fans? She's not on there, is she?"

He shuddered.

"God, I hope not. And please don't give her any ideas."

"Somehow I don't think that's possible. Is she really your grandmother? She's so tiny."

"She has fairy blood. And technically she's our great aunt, but we've always called her Gran." A shadow crossed his face before he focused on the road. "I hope you're ready for this."

"Of course I am. It will be an adventure."