CHAPTER 5
Beth took a deep breath as she opened the doors and walked inside. They were met by five people. Carlton recognized the one as Dan but he was confused about the others. One of the women looked a lot like Beth while the other looked like Amy.
Beth squealed as she went up to hug the one that looked like Amy. "Aunt Jill! What are you guys doing here? Amy didn't say that you were coming!"
Jill smiled as she returned the hug, "Your father invited us this afternoon. He said that you had some big news?" She looked Carlton over as they pulled apart.
"Yeah, well. You don't know?" Beth looked around the room as who Carlton assumed was her mom looked at her drink.
"No, but does it have anything to do with this lovely young man?"
"What? Oh no! I mean yes, sort of." She sighed as she took a breath. "It's complicated?"
"Why don't you explain it Elizabeth? We've got about a half hour or so before dinner." Her mom said as she looked at Beth.
Sighing, Beth rolled her eyes for just Carlton to see before turning back to the room at large. Carlton saw Amy give Adam to Dan and shoo them off. "Well, I was traveling the country, stopping wherever I felt like."
"Yes, it was very nice to know that you had ran off." Her mom commented.
"And one of the places I stopped at was Santa Barbara, where I ran into Carlton here at a bar."
Jill smile as she lightly touched Beth's arm. "You picked him up in a bar?"
"Well, sort of. I mean, he was drunk, so nothing happened."
"So if he wasn't drunk, something would have happened?" The guy sitting next to Beth's mom said.
"No, dad, that's not what I meant." Beth looked at Carlton helplessly. "Okay, we met at a bar and I offered to help him home, but he passed out before I could get him there, so I had him sleep it off in my room."
"So you let a complete stranger into your room?" Her mom looked ready to break something.
"Carlton?" Beth ran a hand through her hair as she turned to him, looking about ready to cry.
Clearing his throat, Carlton said as respectfully as he could. "I slept it off, nothing happened. We hung out over the next few days while I showed her around. We've ended up becoming very good friends."
"So you let this complete stranger show you around? You know how dangerous that is Elizabeth?" Her mom reprimanded before turning to Carlton, "Do you usually pick up girls years younger than you in bars?"
Carlton growled as he wished he had his gun. "No, I was having a bad day. I had just wrapped up a hard case and it was affecting me more than usual. I was being nice."
"So you're a police officer?" Jill jumped in quickly. Beth smiled gratefully at her.
"Yes, I'm head detective for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Beth and I seemed to click real well together but neither of us felt that it was suppose to be anything more than friendship."
"Wait, so what's the big announcement then?" Jill asked.
Taking a deep breath, Beth smiled. "Well, I've decided to move to Santa Barbara. I've already got a job set up and am going to start looking for a new apartment soon."
"You mean you've been there for almost 2 months and haven't found an apartment yet? Where are you staying? It must be getting expensive." Her dad chimed in.
"I'm staying with Carlton, okay? We have this really nice arrangement. I stay in his guestroom and I make meals a few times a week. He comes to my gigs and we still find time to just hang out."
"You're performing at bars?" The other man asked.
"Yeah, Uncle Ron. I've got a schedule set up with two pub owners. The one place I work Sunday nights and the other one Wednesdays and Fridays. I get to perform more religious songs for the second one."
"She is very good. I can definitely see an improvement over the last couple months." Carlton said as he rubbed her back.
Beth smiled at him as Amy said, "Well, I think the inquisition is over. Why don't we have some appetizers."
"Great idea, sweetie," Jill said as she moved to follow Amy to the kitchen. "So, what are we eating?"
"Well, I wanted to make hot dog and bean casserole, but Dan said that I should pick something that will cook in the oven while everyone mingles. So I made lasagna. Oh, Carlton, I forgot to ask Beth, is there anything that you don't eat?" Amy stopped at the kitchen door.
"No, only mint." He replied as Beth dragged him over to the drink table.
"Okay, good." Amy smiled as she ducked into the kitchen.
Beth was reaching for the vodka bottle when her mom called out, "So Elizabeth, are you going to properly introduce us?"
Sighing, Beth opened a beer instead as she turned around with a smile. "Everyone, this is Carlton Lassiter." She gave Carlton a tight smile as she continued, "Carlton, this is my Uncle Ron and parents Pat and Harry. The other woman is my dad's younger sister and Ron's wife, Jill." Beth quickly took a gulp of her beer.
Carlton quickly stepped forward and shook hands. "Pleased to meet you all."
"You too." Pat said as the guys nodded. "Now, are you honestly going to tell me that nothing intimate has happened between the two of you?"
"Mom!" Beth whined as she stood next to Carlton. "I said that nothing happened. And even if it did, I'm 30 years old! I can take care of myself!"
"Oh, clearly. Running off with barely any notice is so responsible."
"Well, it was better than staying." Beth snapped as she finished her beer and stomped back to the drinks table.
"And what does that mean?" Pat followed her.
Pouring herself straight Vodka, Beth grimaced as it went down. "It doesn't matter anymore, can we please move on?"
"No, and since when do you drink hard liquor? I've never seen you drink more than a couple beers before." Pat snatched the empty glass from Beth.
"You mean you've actually noticed something about me?" Beth snapped as she took the glass back.
Carlton was about to intervene when Amy came back in with a couple plates. "Okay, so I've got mozzarella sticks, onion rings and a veggie tray."
Pat huffed and rejoined her husband as Beth mixed herself a drink. Walking up behind her, Carlton whispered, "Are you okay?"
Without looking at him, she whispered, "Can you grab me some food and meet me in the living room?"
"Sure." He watched her try and slip away, which would have worked if every eye wasn't already on her. Sighing, he quickly filled up a plate and turned to follow her, only to feel a slight pressure on his arm. Looking over, he found Amy smiling at him.
"Is Beth okay?"
He spared at glance at Pat, who was whispering with Harry, before shrugging. "I don't know, I'm going to go find out."
Amy sighed as she looked at her parents. "Okay, I think I'll have some words with my mother about how to behave in my house."
Nodding, Carlton walked into the living room and found Beth seated sideways on the couch, staring out the window. Since her back was to the dining room, he didn't notice that she was crying until he sat next to her. "Hey, are you okay?"
She shook her head as she took a sip of her drink. "I don't think if I can do this. We're not even here 20 minutes and she's already jumping down my neck, drawing her own conclusions. I almost told her the truth about Fred, but she'd just tell me how stupid I was."
"So instead you're going to drink yourself into a stupor?"
"Yep, that's the plan."
He brushed her cheeks as she sniffled, "Please don't. You'll feel worse later. If nothing else, I need you somewhat sober since I have no idea where we are or how to get back to your house."
She laughed as she handed over her drink. "Okay. But it's really not that hard. You go to a street a couple blocks over and follow it for about 12 miles and then there's 3 left turns to get on my street."
"Then why did we take so many side streets?" Carlton asked as she took some food.
"Because, it was prettier and I wanted to see how well at following directions you were." She smiled widely.
Carlton groaned as he took a sip of her drink only to grimace as he swallowed. "Oh sweet justice, what is that?"
Beth laughed as she took a sip. "Whiskey sour but with Irish whiskey and an interesting pineapple mango sour blend."
"Seriously? What's wrong with a regular whiskey sour?"
She shrugged as she ate some more food. "This is how Meg and Cory first made it for me, and I liked it."
Shaking his head, Carlton got up. "I'm going to get myself a beer. Is there anything nonalcoholic that you want?"
"Sprite or Root Beer, I don't like colas."
"Okay." As Carlton walked into the dining room, he noticed that the older generation was cooing over Adam. Shaking his head, he continued to the drinks table. On his way out of the room, Jill smiled at him.
Beth was just finishing the plate when he passed her the can of Sprite. "Thanks," she mumbled as she looked out the window. They sat in silence for a few minutes until Beth's face brightened a bit and she called out, "Hey Amy! Jo and Bobby are here."
Amy excitedly walked to the intercom and waited for them to press the button. Clearing her throat, she recited, "Stop. Who would cross the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he see."
Beth's smile grew as someone replied, "Ask me the questions, bridge keeper. I am not afraid."
"What... is your name?"
"I am Squire Robert of Cleveland."
"What... is your quest?"
"To have dinner with my family."
"Why... Do witches burn?"
"Because um, because … no wait! They're made of wood!"
"I guess I'll let it slide." Amy smiled as she rang the buzzer.
"Thank you bridge keeper."
Beth laughed as Amy next to her on the couch. "I didn't think that he would get that."
"Me neither," Amy smiled as she looked Carlton. "So, our mom hasn't scared you off yet?"
"Nope," Carlton replied as he shifted his gaze to Beth.
"Don't worry, the night's still young. Just don't let her corner you by yourself. She'll rake you over the coals before you even know what's happening."
Beth nodded, "Yeah, Jo has lost many a boyfriends from 'meeting the parents.' Is Jo's fiancé coming tonight? "
Amy shook her head as she stood up, "No, aren't there enough people here already? If I had known this many people were coming, I would have suggested meeting someplace else. My dining room is just barely big enough." She walked to the door as there was a knock.
"Do you want to leave soon?" Carlton questioned as he watched Bobby and Jo enter.
"Maybe, we'll see. We like to play games after dinner. My mom only plays poker or Scrabble, so hopefully she'll be busy with Adam." She watched as Amy ushered them into the dining room. "I'm going to miss having dinner with my family. We try to meet at least once a month, usually without my parents, and rotate who's house we are at. I ended up drawing the short straw for Thanksgiving, mainly because I have the most room, but also since I hadn't been around."
Carlton rubbed her arm as she stared at her can. "Once you find your own place, you are more than welcome to drag me away to eat meals with you, as long as I'm not working."
She smirked as she looked at him, "Oh I will. I also plan on taking you away from the station if you stay too late after your shift has ended."
Carlton groaned as Amy poked her head out of the dining room. "Hey guys, food's ready, come and get it."
Standing up, Carlton held out his hand as Beth reluctantly took it and groaned, "Is there any way that we can just grab food and run?"
"Aren't you the guest of honor?"
"Technically, except I think you share that title with me tonight." She turned around and gave him a tight hug while whispering, "Thanks for being here. I would have definitely run by now if I was alone."
Nodding, he returned the embrace. "That's what friends for are."
They stood like that for about a minute until Beth let go with a sigh. "Alright, attempt number 2 is a go." She gave him a salute as she turned to walk down the hall.
She led him past the dining room and into the kitchen where Amy was currently serving herself a plate.
"Ah good, I was afraid that you were ditching." Amy commented as she stepped aside to give them room.
"Trust me, I thought about it." Beth mumbled as she started serving herself.
Smiling, Amy patted Carlton's shoulder as she left the room.
"Look, lasagna, garlic bread, salad with tons of toppings and probably brownie sundaes for desert. I love when Amy cooks!"
"Yeah, I think she might cook better than you. Ow!" Carlton rubbed his arm as Beth glared at him for a second before smiling.
"Maybe I should leave you here with Adam, he seems to like you."
"You wouldn't dare! Besides, you shouldn't be driving. I'll call the police on you."
Beth stuck out her tongue as she continued filling her plate. "Okay, point taken. I don't trust me to drive either. It's definitely starting to affect me." She shook her head as she grabbed silverware.
"Are you okay?" He placed a hand on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "I haven't seen you even slightly drunk before."
Beth laughed as she shook him off. "That's because I hardly ever drink. It usually makes me very sleepy." Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. "I probably shouldn't have had that much alcohol on an empty stomach."
"Are you sure you want to stay?"
"Yes! Just let me eat and I'll perk up a bit!" She snapped as she marched to the door. Stopping, she whispered, "Please don't leave me alone."
"I won't, I promise."
She smiled as she leaned against the wall and waited for him to finish grabbing food.
When they reentered the dining room, the only available seats were by her parents. Taking a deep breath, she took the seat next to her dad as Carlton sat between her and Dan. They slowly joined the conversations happening around them.