Divorced! Now what?

Chapter 53

Theo POV



I was sitting at home wondering what to do with myself. Bethany was spending this evening with her Dad, and I was half listening for the elevator, hoping to hear her return and find out if we were having the sports day' at my parent's place. I was eager for Bethany to meet my parents and three sisters. I think she will get along with them, even though my sisters are not into sports like Bethany. That would not stop them from wanting to get to know her better. 

Being bored and not that late, I drove over to my parent's home to see how things were. Mum was having some issues with a woman who had been beaten up and getting the woman to get treatment. Dad had said he would look at her, but the woman refused a man to see her. I wanted to see what Mum thought of me asking Bethany to take a look at her. That is if Bethany got involved. I know she has a kind heart, but seeing battered and bruised women can be difficult. You want to go out there and give the person who hurt them a taste of their own medicine. But we cannot get involved like that, treatment only. That woman has choices, and only she can make them, no matter how hard you wish to force them to see things from your point of view. You can't take away their choice.

'Hi, Son, did you bring Bethany with you? Or her Dad, Bob?' He looked past me to look out the door, and his disappointment made me chuckle.

'Thanks, Dad. It's so nice to know you're glad to see me, too.' I gave him a hurt look, and I was pulled into a hug.

'Always glad to see you, son, you know that.'

'Bethany is having dinner with Bob tonight. Thought I'd come over here and grab some of Mum's cooking if there are any leftovers.' I said as I followed Dad back to the lounge room.

'We have not eaten yet. I am sure your mother can add an extra plate for you.' So I detoured to the kitchen, where fried chicken and mash were being dished up as I walked in.

'Are you staying for dinner, son?' Mum asked as I walked in. I headed over to her, kissed her on the cheek, and dipped my finger into the mash, scooping out a large dollop and putting it in my mouth. I gained a soft clip on my backside as I tried to move away. 

'I take that as a yes; grab another plate out of the cupboard, will you?' Mum continued to place the food on the table and called out dinner was ready.

'Son, are Bethany and Bob coming over Sunday?' Dad asked as he took a bite of chicken and chewed. He looked at me expectantly.

'She is with him now. I will let you know when I know.' I grumbled back, not liking the pressure they put on Bethany and Bob to come over here just so the rest of the family could approve. Dad had been bragging about how much he had enjoyed the day with them and how much knowledge Bethany had about sports, rubbing it in that girls can enjoy sports too if they choose to, and not the excuses my sisters had been giving were good enough anymore. 

'Give her a call in case she forgets to ask?' Mum suggested. Bethany would not likely forget, but this family is already excited about having them over.

Knowing I was not going to get any peace until I called her, I pulled out my phone and dialed her number.

'Hello?' Bethany answered softly. You could hear the sports channel in the background. It must be the prelim chats about the weekend games and the form of players, who is on the bench, etc. 

'Hi Bethany, I am here at my parents' home, and they are asking if you and Bob are coming over on Sunday.'

'Um, hang on. I will put you on speaker, and you can ask yourself.' I heard her say something to her Dad and a grumble of annoying interruption, which made me smile.

'Hello.' I heard Bob call out.

'Bob, it is Hank. I don't know if Bethany mentioned it, but we are looking at doing a turnaround on Sundays, one day here, and the following week at Bethany's. What do you say? Want to come here next Sunday, meet my family, and then enjoy the game?'

'Will we get to watch the game or have to socialize?' I think Bob was worried he would miss the games and ruin his Sunday trying to be polite instead of screaming at the screen.

'Don't worry. They know my Sunday is sports day, so you most likely meet them, and they will disappear for the day.'

'Okay, I will give you a shot, but you have seen how much we are into our sports. If you wish for a social day, pick a different one, like a Saturday afternoon, because my Sundays are all about the game.'

'You and me both, buddy, catch you around ten, and we can get the introductions done and over with before settling down in the den.'

After a bit more chatting between Bob and Dad, I hung up to an excited Mum.

'The den? Are you going to take them down there?' Mum squealed. Dad had been using the lounge lately to watch sports. I think he had stayed in the lounge to be close by, as my sister had gone through a heartbreak, and he wanted to hear what was going on while pretending to watch sports. He can be sneaky like that when he wants to be.

'Yep,. I have finished setting up that new screen, and am ready to move back down there.' Dad had renovated the basement and put it into his den. It is full of sports paraphernalia. Bob and Bethany are going to like the room.

'Mum, what about having Bethany take a look at Sonya?' I thought if they were careful.

'Do you think Bethany would do that? Sonya just might let a woman doctor see her.' Mum looked hopeful.

'I am sure Bethany would look her over. Could you maybe get her here on Sunday so Bethany can check her out before the game starts?' I am sure I can convince Bethany to look at her. The timing might be hard before the game, and it could be tricky.

'Yes, I will ask Bethany, give her the heads-up, and let her know of the possibility of Sonya being there. Dad, do you still keep your medical stuff here for Bethany to use?'

'Of course, always have the bag in hand.' Dad had his own mini-surgery in the back room, but it was not for public use, and he would not let Bethany use it. That would be a breach, and he would not risk it.

'Is Bethany the one?' Mum asked, and I am glad it was just the three of us home. My sisters were all out.

'Mum, at the moment, we are just friends and colleagues. We have not headed to a more romantic relationship, and at the moment, I am more than happy to keep it that way.' I replied, already seeing wedding bells in my mother's eyes, and she had yet to meet Bethany.

'It is time you were over that heartbreak, son.' Mum pushes harder.

'I am over it, Mum. I am working on getting to know Bethany better, but I am not in a rush. She has just gotten over a bad relationship, and I doubt she wants to jump straight into another one so soon.' I replied, and it is true. She had only just gotten a divorce, even though the relationship had been over for a while if what I was hearing was true. However, that does not make the recent separation hurt any less.

'Tell me about it.' Mother pushed, thinking she was going to get answers from me.

'Nope, it's not my story to tell. You can wait and ask her yourself.' I knew Mother would not want to do that on day one. Maybe after a few more visits, she would dig into Bethany's past. Good luck on that one, Bethany. Mum is worse than a dog with a bone.

Chapter 54 - Divorced! Now what?