[Modern Family] Ch: 55 [Grills, Ghosts, and Gloria] (Patreon)

AN: Thanks to certain someone, I had to rewrite entire Gloria's storyline. I'm still angry with you lol. 🫡👍 Hope you like it. And no, I won't be rushing to add her to harem just yet.

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The Cheesecake Factory parking lot was already filling up when Jason pulled his white Audi into an empty space. Employees were arriving for their morning shifts, and a few early customers were making their way toward the restaurant.

Penny glanced at the dashboard clock before reaching for her handbag. She'd spent most of the drive enjoying the massage seat, occasionally complaining that getting up for work should be illegal on Saturday mornings.

"Well, this is where my awesome romantic morning comes to a tragic end," Penny said, stretching her arms before unfastening her seat belt. "Now I get to spend the next eight hours fake-laughing at guys who ask if I'm on the dessert menu."

Jason laughed as he switched off the engine. "Hey, look on the bright side. You've got enough in the bank now to throw your apron at your manager and walk out whenever you want."

"Yeah, true, but where else am I gonna get paid to eat free bear claws and judge people's life choices?" Penny smiled as she opened the passenger door. "Besides, I kinda like some of my coworkers."

Jason climbed out and walked around the front of the Audi while Penny adjusted her handbag over her shoulder. The morning sunlight caught her blonde hair as she turned toward him, looking considerably more cheerful than someone about to start a long restaurant shift had any right to be.

He stepped closer, slipped an arm around her waist, and leaned down to kiss her. Penny smiled against his lips and returned the kiss without hesitation, resting one hand against his chest.

When they separated, Jason pulled her into a warm hug. Penny wrapped both arms around him and hugged him back with a happy smile, resting her cheek against his shoulder for a moment. After last night's six rounds of intense sex and orgasms she lost count of, she didn't want to go to work and just keep hugging him and kissing him. But she thought that if she pushed too hard and fast, he might think of her as a weird sex addict. So, she decided to take it at a moderate pace. 

"Last night was really great, sweetie," she murmured, giving him one last squeeze before pulling back. "We should definitely do that again."

"Count on it. Though next time, preferably without Howard and Leonard ruining the mood halfway through."

Penny laughed at the reminder before something else occurred to her.

"Oh, and text me the second you buy that grill you were talking about," she said, a wicked little grin curving her lips. "Because I have big plans to float around your rooftop pool all afternoon in a very tiny bikini watching you work the grill with your shirt off and those tight little swim trunks on."

Jason stared at her for a moment before chuckling. "You know, I'm struggling to find a downside to that arrangement. You'll be the first to know when it's set up."

"Good. Oh, and make sure the fridge is stocked with cold beer, mister. Checking you out in the sun is thirsty work."

"Cold beer, burgers, and poolside service. Anything else, Your Royal Highness?" He asked with a teasing tone.

Penny laughed and gave him another quick kiss before stepping away. "Nope, that covers it. Now get out of here, handsome. Drive safe, and text me when you get home."

"Will do. Have a good shift, Penny."

She waved goodbye and headed toward the restaurant entrance, glancing back once with another smile before disappearing inside.

Jason watched her go, then got into his Audi and started the engine. He was still smiling as he pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward his house, already thinking about where he could find a decent grill.

...

[Evening]

Jason stood in his kitchen, staring at the enormous stainless-steel grill he'd just finished unpacking.

A few pieces of cardboard, protective foam, and plastic wrapping were scattered across the floor. In front of him stood a brand-new Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet K900HS Hybrid Fire Grill, one of the most sophisticated outdoor grills available on the market.

He'd visited a specialty outdoor kitchen showroom earlier that afternoon, intending to compare a few premium gas grills before deciding which one to buy. Unfortunately, the moment the salesman demonstrated the Kalamazoo's features, Jason's original shopping plan had gone straight out the window.

The thing was ridiculous. It featured a massive stainless-steel cooking surface, powerful burners, an infrared rotisserie system, and a dedicated side burner. More importantly, the hybrid design allowed him to cook using gas, charcoal, wood, or a combination of them.

It was practically a professional outdoor kitchen on wheels.

Naturally, Jason had bought it.

After paying for the grill and arranging same-day delivery, he'd returned home with several shopping bags full of cooking supplies.

Now, standing before his newest acquisition, Jason couldn't help smiling.

"Jay said to get a decent grill," he murmured, running his hand along the stainless-steel lid. "I think this qualifies."

He picked up the thick instruction manual resting on the kitchen island and started reading.

The opening pages covered installation requirements, outdoor placement, gas connections, ventilation, and safety precautions. Jason carefully noted the warnings about keeping the grill away from enclosed spaces and combustible materials. He'd eventually have it properly positioned and connected in the outdoor cooking area near his rooftop pool.

The following sections explained the different grilling configurations, burner controls, temperature management, rotisserie operation, and cleaning procedures.

Jason read everything. His enhanced memory made the process surprisingly effortless. Once he'd examined a diagram or understood an instruction, the information remained organized inside his head with remarkable clarity.

By the time he reached the final page, he could practically visualize every major component inside the grill and explain exactly how the different cooking systems worked.

He closed the manual and placed it on the counter.

"Alright, I know how to operate you. Now I just need to learn how to make something worth eating."

With that thought, Jason walked toward the dining table.

Several thick cookbooks were stacked beside his laptop. He'd bought them during his afternoon shopping trip, figuring that spending a small fortune on professional-grade grilling equipment would be pointless if he didn't understand the fundamentals of cooking.

Among them were The Professional Chef from the Culinary Institute of America, The Barbecue Bible by Steven Raichlen, How to Grill, On Food and Cooking by Harold McGee, and a few additional books covering sauces, marinades, meat preparation, baking, and international cuisine.

There was enough reading material to occupy an ordinary person for several months.

Jason, however, was no longer particularly ordinary when it came to learning.

He pulled out a dining chair and settled comfortably into it. Opening The Professional Chef, he examined the table of contents before flipping through the first few pages.

Knife techniques, ingredient preparation, stocks, sauces, seasoning, cooking temperatures, and food chemistry.

Everything looked fascinating.

Jason glanced toward the shiny new grill across the kitchen, already imagining perfectly cooked steaks, homemade burgers, smoked ribs, grilled seafood, and enough different recipes to keep his future pool parties interesting and his girls happy.

And with his unusual ability to absorb information and master new skills at an accelerated rate, he was curious how far he could take this particular hobby.

A large grin spread across his face. He cracked his fingers one after another, pulled the heavy cookbook closer, and leaned forward with considerable enthusiasm.

"Time to be a master chef."

...

[Next day]

The following morning, Jason stood in his kitchen, examining the enormous Kalamazoo grill while considering how to get it onto the roof.

Ordinarily, moving something this heavy upstairs would require several movers or possibly a crane. He'd briefly considered hiring professionals before remembering that his enhanced strength made the entire problem considerably easier.

"Well, might as well put these muscles to work," he muttered, rolling up his sleeves.

He started by removing everything that could safely be detached. The cooking grates, warming rack, rotisserie assembly, drip trays, and several other removable accessories came off one after another. He carefully arranged them on the kitchen counter, consulting the manual whenever necessary.

Once he'd reduced the weight as much as possible, Jason positioned himself beside the grill, secured his grip underneath its frame, and lifted. The remaining structure was still remarkably heavy, but it was nothing infront of his strength. He adjusted his grip, carried it out of the kitchen, and headed toward the staircase.

The stairs required some careful maneuvering around the turns, particularly because he didn't want several thousand dollars' worth of stainless steel scraping against the walls. Nevertheless, he reached the rooftop entrance without much trouble.

Fortunately, the wide sliding glass door provided more than enough clearance.

Jason stepped onto the rooftop terrace, carried the grill across the tiled flooring, and lowered it near the outdoor kitchen area.

The cooking space had been sitting unused since he'd moved into the house. Dust covered the countertops, empty cabinets lined the wall, and the existing utility connections had never given him much reason to visit this corner of the terrace.

He spent the next half hour cleaning everything thoroughly before positioning the grill in its designated space.

After checking the manufacturer's required clearances, Jason leveled the unit, secured the appropriate fittings, and reinstalled the grates, trays, and rotisserie components. 

By late morning, the Kalamazoo looked perfectly at home beside the rooftop pool.

Jason stepped back, wiping his hands with a towel as he admired his handiwork.

"Now that's what I'm talking about."

....

[Meanwhile, Jay's House] [This happens at the same time Jason carried the grill to the roof]

It had started with Jay complaining about the television reception during breakfast. The picture kept freezing, several channels weren't working properly, and Jay had spent nearly fifteen minutes arguing with the remote before declaring that the satellite dish probably needed adjusting.

Gloria had offered to take a look, much to Jay's surprise. After all, how difficult could it be to adjust a satellite dish?

Apparently, climbing onto the roof was the first problem.

"Gloria, I told you I'd call somebody on Monday!" Jay shouted from the backyard, holding the aluminum ladder steady while she climbed.

"Jay, stop worrying! I have climbed much higher things than this!" Gloria called back, carefully stepping onto the roof. "Just hold the ladder properly!"

Once she was safely up, Gloria approached the dish and examined its mounting bracket. Everything seemed firmly attached, although she noticed that one of the cables looked slightly loose. She checked the connection, brushed away some accumulated dirt, and made a small adjustment before stepping back.

She was about to call down and ask Jay whether the television was working when something across the street caught her attention.... Jason's rooftop. His house stood directly opposite Jay's, and from her elevated position, Gloria had an excellent view of the large rooftop terrace.

She noticed Jason emerging through the wide sliding glass doorway, carrying what appeared to be an enormous stainless-steel barbecue grill.

For a moment, Gloria assumed somebody must be helping him from inside.

Then Jason stepped completely onto the terrace, and she realized he was carrying the entire thing himself.

Her mouth fell open.

The grill was enormous, easily the size of something she'd expect to see in a restaurant kitchen. Yet Jason was holding the heavy structure off the ground without any difficulty.

Gloria watched as he walked several steps across the terrace, stopped near an empty outdoor kitchen counter, and carefully lowered the grill. After examining its position, he lifted it again, shifted it several inches to the side, and set it down.

He moved the massive equipment almost as casually as someone rearranging patio furniture.

"Dios mío..." Gloria whispered, gripping the edge of the satellite dish.

She'd already noticed that Jason was well-built when he'd rescued her outside the liquor store and then at the barbecue party. His clothes hadn't exactly hidden his muscular physique. Still, there was a considerable difference between looking strong and casually carrying an enormous barbecue grill up onto a roof.

"Gloria! What's happening up there?" Jay called from below.

Gloria barely heard him. She was still staring across the street, where Jason had begun inspecting the grill's placement, completely unaware that somebody had witnessed his little demonstration.

"Jay!" she suddenly shouted. "How much does one of those enormous barbecue machines weigh?"

"What the hell does that have to do with my television?" Jay shouted back.

"Just answer the question, Jay!"

"Depends on the grill! A couple hundred pounds, maybe more. Why?"

Gloria looked toward Jason again.

He was already walking back toward the sliding door, probably to retrieve something he'd left inside.

"Nothing," Gloria said. "Check if the TV is working."

...

[Gloria's Commentary]

Gloria leaned forward on the couch, her expression unusually serious as she folded her hands in her lap.

"You know, Sonia told me all about Jason's house. She said three people were murdered there, four people killed themselves, and the police raided it for drugs I don't know how many times. All in two years! Ay, Dios mío, there is so much bad energy in those walls, and this poor boy is living in there all by himself! Of course the house is haunted!"

She shook her head, gesturing emphatically as she continued.

"In Colombia, my abuela used to tell us about the malos espíritus that go inside the bodies of the living. In my village, there was this old man, Don Rafael, very skinny, very weak. He couldn't even carry a bag of plantains without crying like a little girl about his back. Then one morning, the whole town saw him pick up a giant wardrobe over his head, all by himself! Everybody ran into the church! My grandmother said an angry spirit had climbed inside him and given him the strength of the devil. It took a priest, three chickens, and three days of praying to get it out. And the second the spirit left, pobrecito, he couldn't even lift his own blanket!"

Gloria spread her arms, still looking disturbed by what she'd witnessed across the street.

"And now I see Jason carrying this giant steel barbecue machine, all by himself, all the way up to the roof of his house! Do you know how heavy those things are?! Jay pulls a muscle just rolling his grill across the patio, and this boy carries one up the stairs like it's a toaster!"

She paused, remembering how Jason had rescued her when she'd been stranded outside the liquor store.

"And the worst part is, he is such a sweet boy! So handsome, so polite. When I was stuck outside that horrible liquor store, he came and rescued me like a total gentleman. But that is how the spirits trick you! They act all nice and charming with the pretty smile, and then bam! Poor Haley, she is so skinny, what if one day she makes him mad and the ghost comes out and throws her over the fence?!"

Gloria crossed herself before settling back.

"Thankfully, before my abuela passed away, rest her soul, she taught me everything she knew about spotting a possession. You have to look them right in the eyes, smell for sulfur, and touch their skin to see if it's cold and have pulse. So now I have to find an excuse to get very close to Jason and check him out myself... before that spirit tries anything funny!"

[Commentary End]