Pavonia

Chapter: 23

Halloween was a blast. Even though it wasnt during the rodeo this year. Tech still had a Saturday night party with dressing up. Ranger and I did a matching costume, his idea not mine. I went back on the road for November going to a few more rodeos and jackpots.

At Thanksgiving, we split our time between families one day with my family giving my extended family a chance to meet him and let him meet them. Including the crazy uncle that is wanting to pay for most of my stuff. Then the next day we went to his familys thanksgiving. His dads parents were the ones usually hosting it.

His grandmother welcomed me warmly. His father asked how the family was, his family knew who I was by noon. The door to the house opened once more. His aunt jumped to greet whoever it was. Ranger tensed up. The whole house felt tense. When the woman took her sunglasses off I understood why.

The same woman that Ranger does not want anything to do with, was standing there greeting his aunt. I remember my first encounter with the woman. She tried to punch me after seeing me at a rodeo sophomore year. It took the rest of the rodeo for me to actually get Ranger to hear me out about his mother swinging on me.

His grandfather was first to speak to the woman. "You are not welcome here." He told her. "I really do not care." The woman said. She sauntered into the living room looking for a place to sit. Ranger pulled me closer without her noticing. His mother decided that between Ranger and I was the best spot. She was trying to push me away from him. She failed horrifically. I talked to him about what was appropriate around his family before we even came here.

He said he didn't care what I did as long as no one got upset. Ranger pretty much had me almost in his lap. When the woman tried to sit between us, I moved her away from us almost knocking her off her feet. She stumbled to the side almost losing her balance. She spun around quickly facing me with hatred.

She was about to say something to me when a man spoke up. "You were not invited here. You are not even family after you divorced my brother." The man said. "Oh, but your wife invited me." She said. "You knew you were not invited here. You knew she was the only one that truly wanted you here. You ruined his life and messed up his." The man pointed at Rangers dad first then at Ranger.

"That b*tch ruined my son." The woman yelled pointing at me. Rangers dad stood up before Ranger could. "She actually has become a part of the solution. You are toxic to this family. I never should have married you. I should have told the judge after we tried to divorce the first time that you did this." His dad said getting right up in the woman's face. The woman held her scowl as she turned and walked out the door she just walked in.

His dad sat back down in his seat. Ranger pulled me closer to him. He held onto me for a long moment as I could tell his body was loosening up. His mother made the situation tense. This was his way to destress. Taking a moment to breathe. I was just there for him at the moment when he needed me. He's always been there for me since we met. Now I want to be there for him when he needs me.