Page 51 of Forever Fickle

“Air Force? I didn’t think there was a base nearby…” her brother Chase said bluntly, extending his hand. “Chase Marks, nice to meet you.”

“Lieutenant Jace Sorensen,” Jace said agreeably, shaking her brother’s hand and looking at her father in surprise. “Sir, it’s very nice to meet you. Karen speaks highly of you both.”

“She does?” her mother exclaimed, making Karen feel like a heel immediately.

“She absolutely does,” Jace began, looking down at Karen. “She said she learned her grace and kindness from you – and I see where she gets her beauty…”

“Oh, he’s a smooth one,” her father chuckled, reaching out to shake Jace’s hand. “You watch that slippery tongue, Karen. He’s awfully good with the ladies.”

“Yeah, Karen…” Jace whispered playfully. “Watch that tongue when you finally kiss me.”

She pinched his arm and let her father pull him into the house, knowing her mother was about to ask her all the details of how they met, where he was stationed, and how serious it was between them… and she wasn’t sure she was ready to answer any of those queries yet.

“Let’s go inside,” Karen said quickly, ducking into the house, not seconds after Jace and her father disappeared. “Where’s Johnny? I want to give him his present.”

The next few hours were fully of her parents asking the two of them a litany of questions that would shame the Spanish Inquisition.

Jace, where are you stationed?

How did you meet?

How old are you?

How long have you two been dating?

Karen, why haven’t you said something before?

You’re stationed overseas? Well, how are you planning on continuing this?

Karen is your birth control pill up to date?

Jace, how do you feel about children?

Jace, what religion are you?

Where’s your family?

Why are you in Texas visiting - instead of Massachusetts?

Did you come here because of Karen?

Are you and Karen going to Massachusetts next?

What does your mother think of you dating someone while you are active duty?

Karen, you aren’t moving away – are you?

Do you have any siblings?

This one was from her sister, Emily, and shocked Karen to her core – seeing the quiet woman interject the single question.

“I do,” Jace replied. “I’m actually quite blessed. I have a younger sister of my own – along with an entire regiment of ‘brothers at arms’… most of which are single.”

“Enough,” Karen said firmly, feeling like she couldn’t blush anymore nor could her eyes pop out of her head in shock at how blunt some of the questions were.

My goodness, it was as if they were going for blood… from the both of them!

“Isn’t it Johnny’s birthday?” she reminded everyone, instantly causing the little boy to look up from where he was playing with the new action figures that she’d gotten him.

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