Theo


    POV


    I took Margaret with me shopping for food for tomorrow''s sports day. Mother is at home cooking up a storm, and we are getting cheeses and cold cuts. You would think we were getting ready for a party instead of a day of sports. I hope the rest of my family is not


    going to try to get in our faces while we are trying to enjoy the sports.


    Dad had not put a lock on the door of the den door. Should he put a lock there? This is our day of rxing and forgetting the stresses of the world out there. The women go shopping and have a club night out. This is our day, and if they are going to make it into a party, Bethany and Bob will not wish toe here ever again. I have high hopes for tomorrow, and I am already worried about how the rest of the family is going to mess this up.


    In the gourmet shop, where we could get an excellent supply of assorted cheeses, olives, and other goodies, I saw Bethany. She was with Saun and Drake. They wereughing over something that Bethany was purchasing. I was green with envy and jealousy at seeing her have fun with them. I know Drake would not be after her as a girlfriend, but Saun?


    I watched them for a while, waiting for my turn to be served. My sister chatted with me, not knowing my attention was elsewhere and not listening to her fully. Margaret had seen me looking over towards Bethany but must have thought I was looking at the man serving her, who was also flirting openly.


    She nudged my shoulder, gaining my attention. I was distracted by how happy she seemed to be.


    ''Don''t worry, there is more than one server here, and it is busy! Margaret must have thought I was in a hurry.


    Bethany''s eyes found mine, and she smiled at me before the server pulled her attention away from me and back to him. ''Can I help you, sir?'' A server had reached us atst.


    Margaret ordered the food and got things I would not have considered, but at that moment, I did not care if she purchased the whole shop; my day was ruined already. By the time I looked back toward Bethany, she was gone. My stomach felt like a rock was sitting in it, and no matter what Margaret tried to say or do, I was in my funk and could not seem to pull myself out of feeling sorry for myself and wondering if Bethany was moving on with Saun, as she had been spending a lot of time with him.


    Margaret and I continued shopping, but my heart was no longer in it. I grabbed a few extra cases of beer. Now Dad had the den. We could store more down there. He brought a new fridge just for the beer and ice. The bar he made was beautiful, all made of dark wood, and the shelves were stocked up with assorted spirits, though Dad rarely drank anything but beers now. He still purchases them for guests.


    The huge television was topensate for therge one Bethany had. He was impressed with it and promptly went out and looked atrge screens, taking along the measurements of the wall area he was going to ce. I have to admit Dad has done a great job with the room. Dad had a friende over and set up the surround sound. If we party down here, the whole neighborhood will hear the music; it can be turned up so loud that it will make the windows next door vibrate.


    When we made it home, Margaret was still in fine form. She told Mum about the food we had purchased and that she wanted to make some cheese sticks and a few other items. The amount of food they were preparing was more than the four of us would eat in the den, so I felt something else was brewing.


    ''Why so much food?'' I asked, not able to avoid it any longer.


    ''I have some girlfriendsing over, and Mum has a fewdiesing over, too. Don''t worry; we won''t go down to the den; it is all yours. But we do not want to go out tomorrow, so we have asked our friends toe here.'' I was fuming. It was the first time I had asked a woman to my home in years, and they had done this. I so wanted to make a good impression.


    With my arms full, I took the beer down to the den. I needed to make three trips. I had overdone the beer, but it did not go off, and I was sure we would drink it all in time.


    ''Dad, did you know they had invited all their friends over tomorrow?'' I was grumpy and did not know how to fix this.


    ''I have told them if they interrupt my sports day, there will be hell to pay.'' Dad growled back, not at all happy with it either. ''Why did they do it, Dad?'' I was confused; it was the one day and the first time I had asked them to be on their best behavior, and they did this to me.


    ''Because you have a girling over, and they wanted to meet her, I think they expect her to join them, but they are going to be shocked when they find out that she is more one of the boys than many of theds I know, her knowledge of the sports out does mine in some areas.'' Dad said with pride I had not heard in a long time when talking about someone else, not a family member.


    ''Do we need to put a lock on the door?'' Dad looked up at the door as if he was contemting the suggestion.


    ''Will see how tomorrow goes. Before we do that, they are in for a week of hurt if they spoil this day for me. I have been looking forward to seeing Bob again all week. I will not tolerate those upstairs trying to take over my one day a week.


    We finished setting up the den for tomorrow and headed upstairs for dinner. The girls were talking about tomorrow, and even Sam would being over. It seemed we were going to have a house full, and Dad looked as mad about it as I was. ''Don''t you take any to my den, do you hear me?'' Dad growled out at no one in particr at the table.


    ''Don''t worry, Dad, we are going to do our hair and nails and other girly stuff! Mum replied, way too happy.


    ''What about Sam? He had his nails done, too?'' I asked snarkily, and I was more than pissed off.


    ''Nope, he is going to be in the den with you and Dad. What? Surely, they jest.


    ''Like hell he is. He has no love for sports. Do NOT, I repeat, do not try me, I will not have him spoil my day.'' Dad''s face was red; everyone knew that was not a good sign.


    ''He is not that bad, Dad! Grumbled Felicity, defending her man.


    ''Yes, he is.'' We both say at the same time.


    ''What about Bethany? Is she going to be with us and get her nails done or be one of the boys?'' Mum asked, trying to find a way of changing the subject.


    ''You will see, and don''te crying to me when you find out how silly you guys are being. We have invited Bob and his daughter for a sports day, and you are trying to change it into something more.


    The rest of the evening was the same: I was grumpy, and the girls were trying to tell me that they would take Bethany with them, as no girl should have to put up with a day of sports. They are in for a rude awakening tomorrow. I headed home around ten that night, having had enough of my family. I needed to get out of there before I said or did something I would regretter.