GoodRead"Actions speak louder than words, babe." Karen was about to pinch Jeffrey again but her hand was suddenly caught in his firm grip.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You don't just go grabbing a man's belt without permission.” His voice was a deep, husky whisper that made Karen freeze in surprise.
Jeffrey leaned in close, his breath tickling the fine hairs on her earlobe, "And you can only touch mine." Dorothy was utterly shocked. When they had left Swevia Country, Karen and Jeffrey were at each other like cats and dogs. But as they returned to Eldorria City from Snowfall City, the two were hand in hand at the airport.
"Wow! Aunt Karen, you're not smacking Mr. Turner anymore?" Langston blurted out with a surprised look plastered all over his little face.
He vividly remembered the sound of Karen's slap on Jeffrey's face during their last dinner together — it echoed! Such an embarrassing moment being aired like dirty laundry, Jeffrey felt a tad awkward. Hastily, he scooped up Langston and covered his mouth, "What do you know, kiddo? That's how Aunt Karen shows love! Haven't you heard? 'A smack means love, a scold means affection!” The harder the smack, the deeper the love!" "So, my dad not spanking my mom means he doesn't love her?" Smile on Jeffrey's face disappeared in an instant.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmKaren was exasperated and pushed him away, "Don't fill the kid's head with nonsense!" Everett, cradling Abigail, glanced over at the two and softly pulled Dorothy closer, "No need to worry. Jeffrey's serious this time." "Let's hope so." Dorothy noticed the genuine smile on Karen's face and the intimate interactions between them, which did put her mind somewhat at ease.
Once they were all in the car, with the men and kids laughing up front, Dorothy chose to sit in the back row with Karen.
"Does Kenneth know?" Karen shook her head, "No way, how could | tell him?" If Kenneth found out that her boyfriend was Everett's close buddy, and that he once had a thing for Heather, she'd probably be thrown out of the house! "But he'll have to find out sooner or later." "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Karen shuddered at the thought, "Jeffrey and | are moving too fast. It might end as quickly as it started. Nothing's certain yet." She wasn't holding out much hope for their relationship. Keeping her expectations in check seemed the best way forward.
After a moment's thought, Dorothy lowered her voice, "Karen, if things between you and Jeffrey get serious, and you eventually make it to the altar, promise me you won't let my issues affect your relationship.” She feared her own fallout with the Lopez family would drag them into the mess.
Karen raised an eyebrow, "That depends on Jeffrey's stance. If he can't distinguish right from wrong, | won't be with him! Everett's mom is up to no good; if Jeffrey tries to cover for her or speak in her favor, I'll kick him to the curb! | have no room for someone without integrity.” Dorothy's fear was precisely on this issue, "It has nothing to do with you guys." "Don't overthink it, Dorothy,” Karen reassured her, patting her shoulder gently. "Worrying about this all the time must be exhausting. Everyone has their destiny, and love is no different. How it evolves, whether it lasts — it's all random and uncertain. If it ends, it's because it wasn't right. Why lament over something that wasn't meant to be?" Dorothy had always admired Karen's straight talk.
Up front, Jeffrey was animatedly recounting his encounter with Derek and Serena, completely unabashed and even proud as he concluded, "Anyway, after meeting the parents, I've finally upgraded from being her ‘fancy fruit' to the real deal.”
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