Page 18 of Boyfriend Material
Betsy’s husband, John, snorted.
Livie looked at her mother, who ignored her as she set down a platter of pancakes on the table. How was she supposed to respond to that? Luckily, she didn’t have to. Theo came to her rescue again.
“We might get married someday, but not yet. When we do, your aunt will be the first to know. I’d want it to be a surprise.”
Jeffie nodded. “That’s cool.”
“You need to sit down so we can eat. Everything is getting cold and the children are starving.” Her mother gave her the side-eye as she placed a large bowl of sausage gravy in front of her father.
Well, crap. Her mother struck again. Livie hoped she’d be sitting next to Theo, but the only two seats available were separate. Her sister’s family was sitting together with the girls between Betsy and John. The boys climbed back into their chairs between Geo and Jean, but that left two single chairs for her and Theo. Her mother strikes again.
Livie shook her head and clenched her free hand. She kept her expression neutral, or she hoped she did. Her mother took too much satisfaction when she upset Livie. “I’ll let you have my mom for this one. I’ll take my dad.”
Theo nodded and made his way over to the empty seat next to her mother. Livie said a prayer for patience and took the chair next to her dad.
“Happy Thanksgiving. Is everyone ready for turkey later?” Livie asked as she reached for a biscuit.
“I can’t wait. I want a drumstick,” Jeffie said.
“A whole one?” Livie smiled at her nephew. He was the carbon copy of Geo, but much sweeter.
“Yup. Mommy said I could. Right, Mommy?”
“I said you could have some of the meat. Not the whole thing, Jeffie. It’s too much, but if you’re good, you can eat your part off the bone.”
“Yay.” Jeffie bounced in his chair.
“What about me? Do I get one? I can eat more than him,” Georgie asked. It was ironic that they’d named him for her brother, but he looked like Jean, with her blonde hair and brown eyes.
“Yes, you’ll both get one,” Jean smiled at her sons.
Livie admired her sister-in-law. She’d never seen Jean lose her temper with the boys and she’d always been nice to Livie. It was a mystery how Geo convinced her to marry him.
Betsy’s husband, John, was a whole other story. Livie never understood what Betsy saw in him. He was gruff with his girls and treated her sister more like a maid than a wife. Livie would never put up with that from a man. She might take a lot of crap from her family, but that’s where she drew the line.
“Theo, how did you and Livie met. She is always saying she’s too busy to date. Yet here you are.” Helen’s southern drawl sounded sweet, but it masked the incoming inquisition.
Livie's gaze met Theo’s where he sat across from her. His huge smile, showcasing that adorable dimple, eased some of her tension. At least Theo could fend for himself.
“Mom, I thought you wanted to eat?”
“Theo can talk between mouthfuls. Right?”
“It’s okay Livie. I love telling this story.”
They decided to tell everyone they met at the Ready Room. It was the only truthful part of their relationship. As Theo explained, she worried, since they hadn’t discussed the details. Livie’s stomach knotted, and her appetite disappeared.
“I should start with a little about me,” Theo said as he looked around the table.
Livie didn’t know how he stayed so relaxed with everyone staring at him.
“I’m in the Navy—naval intelligence. I graduated from the Naval Academy and deployed a few times before being stationed at the base in Norfolk a few years ago.”
“If you’re in the Navy, where’s your uniform?” Georgie asked.
“I left it at home. I don’t have to wear it when I’m not at work. Maybe next time I’ll bring it so you can see it. Would you like that?”
“I wanna see it, too. I bet it’s cool,” Jeffie said as he bounced in his chair.
