Although tempted to sit by Joy and Sheila, Debbie walked over to where her dad and brothers sat. Two empty chairs remained at their table, one for Debbie, the other for her mom.
Mom always sat by Dad. It was just the way they were. Always searching each other out. Each of them making sure the other had everything they needed. They frequently touched and flirted with one another like they were still newlyweds regardless of who was around.
Debbie wanted a relationship like that. She wanted a man who worried about whether she was comfortable. One who wasn’t afraid to pull her into his arms and kiss her silly even though there were people around. Like Austin did yesterday.
Her face grew warm as she slid into the chair across from her dad. Every time Austin kissed her he rocked her world, but there had been a hunger in yesterday’s kiss that spoke of passion and promises.
Mom was always the last one to serve herself, but Debbie didn’t have to wait long for her to join them. She played with her food, drawing designs in her mash potatoes with her fork. There was no way she could enjoy eating until she got this weight off her chest. When she realized she was drawing a heart, she knew she was in trouble.
“Is there something wrong dear?” Mom’s gentle voice made Debbie jump.
She sucked in a deep breath. “There’s something I need to tell you and dad.”
Scott and Rudy must have sensed her apprehension because they both looked up from their food and gave her a wary look. They looked ready to bolt. With three older sisters who openly discussed hormones and female problems, they had been exposed to many discussions they would’ve liked to avoid. Her dad looked like he’d rather be anywhere but there during most of those conversations too, but he always stood beside her mom, offering his mostly silent support.
Just get it over with. Quick. Like a bandage.
Debbie braced herself and blurted, “Austin and I are engaged.”
“What?” A chorus sounded around the table.
First from her dad, then her brothers.
“Wh-when did this happen?” Mom's voice was an octave higher than usual. “Didn’t you just barely meet him like two weeks ago?”
“Three weeks,” Debbie said, like an extra week made all the difference. “W-we got engaged Thursday night.”
“Oh, honey,” Mom said in a quiet voice. Her tone was soft but it was filled with disappointment.
Dad hung his head and shook it back and forth.
Gah.
Debbie hated disappointing her parents.
Mom reached out and clasped Debbie’s hand. “I know you’re desperate to have a family, sweetheart, but throwing yourself at the first man you meet who has kids isn’t the right way to go about it.”
“I didn’t throw myself at Austin!”
I just threw my tampons at him. Three times.
“Maybe not, but you hired his daughter, and you insist on feeding his family dinner every night.”
Mom only knew that last part because Debbie needed dinner ideas a few days ago.
“I only did that so that Austin would agree to let Savvy paint my mural. He relies on her to tend the kids and fix dinner on the nights he works late.”
“I know. You explained that the other day, but I still fear your generosity has made you a target of a desperate man.”
“It’s not like that,” Debbie insisted. Although it was more like that than she wanted to admit.
Debbie sat back in her seat and crossed her arms. She looked over at Joy, seeking support.
Joy mouthed, “Tell them the truth.”
The less people who knew this engagement was fake the better. All Austin needed was for someone to let it slip and for Cheyenne to find out. She’d use that to her advantage if all of this resulted in a custody hearing.
But Debbie hated lying to her parents.
