Chapter 11: Deridder, Louisiana - April 2014
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"You want one?" Oz, Teylor's younger brother by two years, held up his empty Scotch glass.
Teylor glanced at Mas, the oldest of the Cruz brothers, and confirmed that the man was holding his own tumbler before nodding in the affirmative. Oz disappeared onto the dance floor, weeding his way through the wedding crowd, unlikely to be back anytime soon if the number of people calling his name was any indication. Teylor was fairly certain Tia Ceci had invited the entire city to her youngest daughter's wedding, a fact that Teylor's own mother had pointed out with a whiff of disdain, apparently having forgotten that Oz and Eli's wedding was nothing less than a zoo. Not that Teylor minded the crush. He appreciated the opportunity to catch up with his extended family, too often missing events like this when he was out to sea. Besides, the crowd also provided a bit of insulation from his mother and her one track mind, her hints that a family wedding was the perfect opportunity to introduce a girlfriend-who-might-someday-become-a-wife old within an hour of his arrival in Louisiana.
"You planning on scowling at your Diet Pepsi all night," Mas asked. "Or are you want to clue me in on the reason that you're in a piss-poor mood."
Teylor glanced at his oldest brother. "Didn't priest school teach you be nice to people?"
"Sometimes one must be cruel to be kind," Mas replied solemnly.
"Who knew that becoming a priest would make you such a pompous asshole," Teylor retorted.
The comment had no impact on his brother, too used to the trash talking to take it personally. "Anyway, you were telling me the reason for the mood?"
Teylor debated the wisdom of saying anything. Still, Mas was probably the best option. God knew what Oz would say if Teylor tried to confide in him. "I invited someone to come with me. Got turned down flat."
Mas paused. "Someone male, or someone female?"
Teylor flipped his brother the bird. Sure he was supposed to respect the priesthood, but if Mas was going to play big brother, Teylor was going to treat him that way.
Mas threw up his hands. "Kidding, kidding. So why did she say no?"
"Said meeting the family was a big step. Meant a commitment. Said she wasn't sure we were there." Teylor fiddled with his drink.
"Not an unreasonable position," Mas noted. "But you're upset."
The simple observation somehow opened the floodgates. "We've been seeing each other almost a year. We live in different states so our time together is pretty limited, but still, a year. We spend all this time together and yet she doesn't want to meet my family. She doesn't want me to meet hers. Half the time we don't leave the apartment because she's paranoid about running into her brother."
"Why?"
Teylor shifted. "She's the sister of one of my instructors."
"Does this mystery woman have a name?"
"Caroline Green."
"Green?" Mas sounded surprised. "As in Lieutenant Green?"
"Yes, why?" Teylor demanded, instantly on the defense.
Mas's brow furrowed. "You mentioned him, back when you first got into that specialized training program. Said you admired him. Is he not in favor of the relationship?"
For the first time in this conversation, Teylor wished that Oz would get back with the scotch already. Oz would laugh himself silly over Teylor's dilemma - he and Eli got married three months after meeting and their first daughter arrived nine months later - but at least then Teylor would have something to drink. "Green doesn't know. I don't think he does anyway. Caro isn't speaking to him right now."
"Huh." The one word said so much. Mas might not understand anything about military culture, but he knew enough to realize that Teylor was skirting a line. "Why aren't they speaking?"
Teylor shrugged. What had originally seemed like just another one of Caro and Danny's endless spats had turned into something much different, a cold war where neither side would budge. Even Frankie appeared baffled by the abrupt change in their relationship. "Long story. Think Maria style drama."
"Ah." Mas took another sip of his drink. "This woman, Caroline, you must really like her."
Teylor finished the rest of his Pepsi, again wishing that he had something stronger. Where the hell was Oz? "There's something about her. She can be a total shrew, but she's smart and funny and loyal to a fault. We just click."
"But you aren't certain she returns your feelings?" Mas asked.
"I never know where I stand with her," Teylor admitted. "I thought that things were going well. But when I invited her to the wedding, she said no."
Mas stared out onto the dance floor. "I spend a lot of time talking to people in bad marriages. And ninety-nine percent of the time they jumped into marriage without much thought. There's something to be said for taking things slowly."
It wasn't what Teylor was expecting to hear, and he scowled at his brother. "Meeting the family is hardly a marriage proposal."
"Seriously?" Mas demanded, nodding towards the opposite side of the room where their mother stood fussing over the bride, no doubt talking about the great-niece or nephew she expected to welcome in nine months. "You show up here with a girl in tow and Mama is going to have the wedding and your first kid's baptism planned before the day is out and you know it."
Teylor conceded the point with a tip of his empty glass. His family could be a tad overwhelming.
Mas took another sip of his Scotch. "You know what your problem is?"
Teylor considered ignoring the question but curiosity won. "No, what?"
"You've never really cared if things worked out before," Mas observed. "And now that you do care, you're trying to get it all wrapped up in a bow. But a wedding is just an chapter in a relationship. Treat it like a marathon, not a sprint. One year, two years, that is nothing when picking a life partner."
There was no way Teylor was admitting that his brother might have a point. Maybe he was rushing things a little. Maybe. "Any other clichés you want to share?"
Mas shrugged, finishing off his drink just in time for Oz to reappear with their refills. "Feel free to ignore me. After all, the last time I had sex was in 2004."
Teylor shuddered. "TMI, man. TMI."