Uncle Gene jumped out of his seat, sending the chair flying to the floor. There was panic in his eyes as he shouted, “Does anyone know the Heil Hitler?”
Blair grabbed Gene’s leftover beer and took a long drag.
The older woman was still hacking, but drool was now spilling out of her mouth and down her chin. From the way she was still breathing and as her face was pink instead of blue, it was clear the woman wasn’t really choking.
Garrett shook his head as he picked up a napkin and handed it to his aunt, but she batted it away. “It’s the Heimlich, Uncle Gene, and she doesn’t need it. She’s choking on her own self-righteousness.”
Neil reentered the restaurant as the manager and waiter rushed over to check on Aunt Debra.
“What in the hell happened?” Neil demanded.
Aunt Debra reached over and picked up the cat jar, shaking it at her son. “Dollar!” she choked out.
The waiter, probably worried about his tip, jerked Debra out of her chair and positioned her back against his chest, but he struggled to wrap his arms all the way around her to form the fist he’d need to give her the Heimlich. Out of apparent desperation, he pressed his palms against her instead and tugged her toward him, his hands cupping each of her breasts.
Garrett tried to keep from laughing as he shot a grin at Blair. “I think the waiter owes the kitty a few dollars for that move.”
Aunt Debra screamed and beat at the poor waiter’s hands. “I could sue you for that!”
The next couple of minutes were pure chaos as the manager tried to placate Aunt Debra—a task no human was capable of achieving. Neil stood in the mix with his parents and the staff, trying to get the full story of what had happened.
Blair and Garrett remained at the table, Blair sneaking glances at him, then looking away.
“I think Aunt Debra may have unintentionally forged a love connection.” He motioned to the woman who had landed in the man’s lap. She had moved to a chair, but they were still chatting.
Blair scoffed. “Like you believe in true love.”
He gave her a half-shrug. “Maybe I do.”
She shook her head. “You never used to.”
“People change.”
She stared at him for several long seconds, as though measuring the man she saw today against the man she used to know. A sardonic grin lifted her mouth. “No. Not really.”
Neil returned to the table but didn’t sit down. “I’ve gotten the situation under control, no thanks to you.” He shot Garrett a glare. “I’ve been called in to the hospital, and I’ve wasted enough time as it is.”
Blair looked up at him with a mixture of irritation and envy.
“We haven’t finished our discussion about babies yet,” his mother said as the manager walked back to the kitchen.
Blair’s jaw tightened, and she shot Neil an angry glare.
“Mom,” Neil said, grabbing the back of his chair and waiting until he had his mother’s attention. “I can tell from the look on Blair’s face that you’ve given her the grandkids speech again. I told you we’ll let you know when we decide to start a family. Blair’s career is on the rise. She doesn’t have the time or energy to deal with a pregnancy or a newborn right now.”
Garrett watched his cousin, stunned. This was the first time all evening he’d defended his fiancée to his mother.
Neil leaned over and planted a chaste kiss on her mouth. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “I thought you were spending the night.”
“I traded call.” He shrugged. “I’m juggling my schedule to accommodate my time off for the honeymoon.”
The look she gave him suggested she didn’t trust his answer, so Garrett was surprised when she relented. “Okay.”
Neil hurried out the door, and Aunt Debra squirmed in place. “After all the commotion, Gene and I should get settled in our hotel room.”
Garrett heard a hint of bitterness, and he wondered if she was miffed that she hadn’t been invited to stay at Blair’s or Neil’s.
Relief flickered in Blair’s eyes, but she flashed his aunt a polite smile. “That’s probably a good idea. We have a busy week ahead of us.”
Aunt Debra stood. “Come on, Gene.”
He looked confused. “But the waiter hasn’t brought the bill yet.”
His aunt smiled. “Blair’s a career woman, so I’m sure she’ll take care of it. Won’t you, dear?”
Her jaw tightened. “Of course.”
Aunt Debra and Uncle Gene didn’t waste any time before heading for the door. Blair turned her gaze on him, and he was suddenly keenly aware of the fact that this was exactly what he’d wanted all day. Time alone with her.
“You can go now.” Apparently she had other ideas.
“I’ll stay and help cover the tab. It’s the least I can do after stirring up trouble.”
“Then you must pay for meals right and left,” she said dryly. “Stirring up trouble seems to be something you excel at.”
He laughed, but he was nervous. “Which means I’m used to it, so you might as well let me. We could have another drink before we go.”
She studied him for a moment, and he was struck by her beauty for about the hundredth time today. The bitter thought crossed his mind again: had he not been such a fool five years ago, perhaps she would still be his.
Something flickered in her eyes. “Are you sure you don’t mind helping me cover the bill?”