After the introductions, Melanie’s dad began making dinner using Alfred’s frozen pizza and homemade potato salad. All three of them grabbed plates and food. Alfred went to sit at the table, then saw Melanie and her dad sitting on the couch and chair.

“Oh, we basically only use the table for parties and when we have a bunch of guests over. We normally eat in here.” Melanie said, gesturing for him to join her on the couch.

“Yeah, we’re pretty lazy. But hey, it’s comfortable as hell on this chair,” Jacob said, laughing as he picked up his pizza slice.

Alfred chuckled and sat next to Melanie.

“I wouldn’t say lazy, but it is unique. I like it.” He said, taking a bite of his potato salad. It had a strong, yet semi-sweet flavor, the textures of the different ingredients all flowing perfectly.

“This potato salad is perfect. So delicious and all the textures melt together beautifully. You made this perfectly.” Alfred said, taking another bite of the salad.

“Well, thanks. It’s an old family recipe. Very secret, I haven’t even shown Mel what it is. Only when she turns eighteen in September, that’s when she’ll see it.” Jacob said proudly.

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Melanie laughed loudly. “It’s true. He insists on keeping that receipt hidden until September. It’s rather annoying, but I have enough patience to wait until my birthday.” She said as Alfred chuckled again.

Jacob then turned to Alfred. “So tell me, Alfred, you said you don’t have anywhere safe to go. Are things bad at home with your family? Or is it something else, like not having a home?”

Alfred looked down at his plate, his blood starting to boil in his veins with hatred. “My family is dead to me.” He said quietly.

Melanie and her father looked at each other, then at Alfred. “I’m sorry to hear that.” Jacob said. Alfred didn’t realize that the only words they had heard were “family” and “dead”.

Melanie leaned on Alfred, wrapping her arm around him and pulled him close. “I’m sorry to hear that. But you have us now. You don’t have to be alone anymore, we’ll stick with you.” She said softly.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Jacob said. “Mel always had her mother’s heart: big, open, and always has room for another person. But it’s like she said, if you don’t have anywhere else to go, you have us. Even though you and I just met less than an hour ago, I get the feeling that we’ll know each other for a long time.”

The kind words of the two of them made Alfred’s heart flutter. He’d never heard words so gentle and kind from anyone in his family. The only praise given in his family was praise for owning the most top quality material things, and the only words of affection were said when someone remarked about your high social standing.

“Oh, are you ok?” Melanie asked, looking at Alfred. “Your eyes are kinda, I don’t know, glossy.”

Alfred rubbed his eyes, feeling tears welling up. “Sorry, just never really had someone say that before. I don’t mean to be overly emotional.”

Jacob stood up, set his now empty plate on the glass table, then sat down on the couch on Alfred’s other side. “You had it rough, didn’t you? Well, it’s ok to get a bit emotional, and you don’t have to worry, we’ll make sure you’re alright from now on. Now, about sleeping arrangements.”

Melanie smiled widely when her dad said that. “Oh, I’ve got that all figured out. Alfred will be sleeping with me.”