Juliet felt like it was coming at her from all sides. She’d been worried about how Chance would be met by her family, which left her only one person to be concerned about. That, she could control, guiding him to the right individual at exactly the right time, steering clear of others as long as possible, making sure most of his time was spent around certain people and others, not so much. She shouldn’t have been surprised by the fact that he was handling everyone and everything with complete equanimity.

As it turned out, it was now her family she was worried about. Nicole had been staring at him all night, practically paralyzed with some sort of pre-teen crush (and really, who could blame her?). Beatrice was most definitely downing those wine coolers a little too rapidly. And now, Viola was headed their way…with her girlfriend and bandmate, Sarah, in tow.

Oh for heaven’s sake!

Whereas Viola pushed the envelope by wearing tomboy clothes and dying and styling her hair in what might be considered a unique fashion, her partner Sarah’s entire look could be called: Rebelling Against Society. Juliet had no idea what color her natural hair was since it was a different color every time she saw her. Today it was bright green, the left side completely shaved. She had tattoos up the wazoo, mostly of the grrrl power variety. Despite the occasion she was wearing a t-shirt with ripped sleeves that read: Don’t Text Him Back and a kilt of all things, with black combat boots…naturally. The cherry on top was the ring in her nose. All of that would have been fine with Juliet if the woman wasn’t so damn contrary.

“This is the guy,” Viola said.

“This is the guy, what?” Juliet asked defensively.

Viola just gave Juliet a suspiciously wide-eyed innocent look, which spoke volumes.

“Just how many women do you have working on that oil rig of yours?”

Chance raised his eyebrows in a way that was more amused than surprised, as if he saw that question coming a mile away.

“Not too many, actually,” he said easily.

Sarah just pressed her lips together, glared at him and turned to Viola with a knowing nod.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit sexist that—?”

“How are your enjoying the party, Sarah?” Juliet interjected, once again trying to play interference.

“You mean the tribute to patriarchal institution that historically treated women as chattel? Not to mention the dead animal stench from—”

“Starbuck,” Chance said, making everyone turn to him in surprise. He pointed to one of the tattoos on Sarah’s calves.

“From Battlestar Galactica?”

Sarah just gave him a wary look as if searching for the taunt.

“I can see why you chose her. Strong, smart, independent. But don’t you think there’s something to be said for understated feminism, the kind that works behind the scenes or, better yet, pulling the strings without anyone knowing it?

“Take Number Six from the show—”

“She was a prostitute!” Sarah said, as though he had just suggested she drink bleach.

“Ah, well now, talk bout patriarchy. Not to mention she was a de facto slave, being a Cylon and all.”

Sarah’s mouth snapped shut and her eyes rolled up to the side as if wondering how to counter that.

“Yet she still managed to be a powerful player, despite the inherent prejudice against her from all sides, even her own kind.”

Sarah simply pressed her lips together even tighter. Viola stared at him as though he had just performed some amazing magic trick and she was trying figure out how.

“You see, the key to getting what you want is not to be obvious about it.” Everyone else around the table cast a quick glance at Sarah’s attire. “It’s making your opponent think they’re winning all while you bluff them. Number Six would have made a great poker player.”

Sarah stared at him with a look that was approaching petulance. “I’m not getting a tattoo of a prostitute.”

“Oh heaven’s no,” Chance said as though he agreed the idea was absurd. “In fact, the way you’re going about it is probably best. Be in-your-face with the expected just to throw them off, then play behind the scenes in a more subtle fashion to work your agenda. It’s smart, I’ll give you that.”

Sarah continued to stare at him suspiciously as though wondering if he was teasing her. Viola just stared at her girlfriend to see what her ultimate reaction would be. Juliet bit back a smile knowing exactly what he was doing.

“I for one wouldn’t want to go against you in poker,” he said, picking up his rib to finish it. “I wouldn’t even see what’s coming.”

“Right,” Sarah said, somewhat placated. “exactly my point.”

Juliet had no idea what point Sarah was referring to. As for Chance, if she had had any doubts about the man, this little episode would have quickly diminished them. He was better at handling her own family than she was!

“Let’s go get another beer,” Viola said, having satisfied her daily quota of meddling. Juliet shot her a sharp, knowing look and received a pert smirk in response.

She turned back to find Chance grinning at her over his rib as though he knew exactly what she was going to say.

“Well, that was impressive. I think everyone else in the family is just too terrified of Sarah to bother talking back to her. You managed the impossible, actually getting her to just say nothing for once, without her even realizing it.”

“Like I said,” responded with a shrug. “I’m good at reading people.”

Juliet just gave him a subtle smile, writing a few choice paragraphs with her body language for him to read.

“So the big, bad oil rig-working poker player is a sci-fi nerd,” she said cocking her head to the side.

“Oh now, that’s not fair to the show at all. It’s much more than science fiction. It’s got everything, suspense, mystery, drama, even romance.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

Chance put his rib down. “You mean to tell me you haven’t seen it?”

Juliet laughed. “Is that a deal breaker?”

“Just something that needs to be seriously rectified.”

“What if I end up hating it?”

Chance chuckled. “Don’t jinx it, sweetheart.”

* * *

The crowd was in the backyard facing Thomas and Monet who were both standing on the raised patio in the corner.

Juliet was standing next to Chance, who had his arm easily around her waist. It felt so right and wonderful. The feel of his hard body next to hers in her frilly dress. When she was with him she felty positively beautiful.

“I just want to thank everyone here for once again joining Monet and I as we celebrate yet another year of her making me feel like I’m the luckiest man in the world, and hoping she feels the same. Unlike my lovely wife here, I’m not big on words. I usually stick to facts, so I’ll just say this.” Thomas turned to his wife. “The fact is, I love this woman with all my heart, and every day she lets me know that she feels the same.”

Monet looked at her husband with so much love that even those who didn’t know them wouldn’t need to wonder. There was a round of appreciative awwing and clapping.

She turned to the crowd and spoke. “Yes, as most of you know, I am big on words. But sometimes there doesn’t need to be an epilogue.” That got a round of appreciative chuckles. She turned to her husband, taking his hand. “But just so you never have to wonder, Thomas. Yes, you do make me feel like I’m the luckiest woman in the world.”

She kissed him and that got an enthusiastic cheer and round of applause.

Juliet looked up to see Chance looking at her parents with a sort of nostalgic expression on his face.

“They work well together, don’t they?” she said.

“They just remind me of my parents,” he replied.

Juliet thought about her parents and what it would be like if her father had died when she was fourteen. Her parents loved each other so much it was at times sickeningly sweet. But she was glad she had been there to witness it firsthand, all the way up until today on their 36th anniversary. She could sympathize with Chance not having those same memories to hold on to.

She squeezed Chance’s firm waist with her arm. “Hey,” she said looking up at him. “The party’s almost over. What do you say we get out of here?”

Chance pulled his eyes away from her parents and she saw the passion burning in his eyes. “What exactly did you have in mind?”

“I have an idea. This time the hotel is on me.”