Her Unlikely Family by Missy Tippens

guy?”
    He raised a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
    â€œLisa and Brian are over there, about to play golf.”
    Mike slowed and pulled into the parking lot. “I’d feel a little sneaky.”
    â€œMe, too. But we could play our own game and hope they’ll join us for a second round.”
    As they sat in the running car, Mike stricken with what was probably uncharacteristic indecision, Lisa and Brian rounded the corner from the little rental hut. Brian had his club and ball in his left hand and his right arm around Lisa’s waist.
    â€œHey, he’s got his hand on her rear end,” Mike hollered.
    â€œNot quite, Mike. He’s just tall and has long arms.” And he looked as awkward as an ape. “It’s probably the first time he’s had his arm around a girl.”
    â€œThat’s no comfort. He’ll be bumbling and groping before we know it.”
    Lisa smiled up at Brian and appeared comfortable while Brian blushed and acted as if he didn’t know what to do next. It was almost painful to watch.
    Josie’s conscience kicked in. They shouldn’t be spying. “Maybe we should just let them be, Mike. We need to eat, anyway.”
    In a too-quick flash of uncoordinated movement that looked more like an attack, Brian kissed Lisa on the…not quite mouth, not quite cheek. As he did so, he thumped her on the head with his golf club, which knocked the golf ball out of his hand.
    â€œWhat’d I tell you, Josie? Did you see that idiotic move?”
    â€œYes, the poor guy. How embarrassing.”
    â€œLisa’s not pleased. She apparently doesn’t want him kissing her.”
    Lisa walked away from him, rubbing her head. She plopped herself on a bench, threw down her club, then crossed her arms.
    Before Josie could stop him, Mike turned off the car, got out and stalked up to the couple.
    Poor Brian. He didn’t stand a chance.
    â€œTime to do something to salvage the day,” Josie said to the empty car as she climbed out and raced after Mike.
    Â 
    Before he could cry uncle, Michael found himself with a fluorescent-pink golf ball in one hand and a cheap putter in the other—thanks to Josie’s intervention. She’d kept him from making a scene, barely. She’d arrived just as he was about to give Brian the dressing-down of his life.
    Then again, maybe Brian wasn’t merely an octopus-handed coward. Maybe he was smart for hightailing it back to his truck, opting out of a friendly game of…Michael shielded his eyes from the sun and read the rusting sign.
    Dinosaur-Putt.
    For years, Michael had played golf at the club with potential clients, but he would probably humiliate himself here in front of God, man and papier-mâché dinosaurs.
    â€œYou go first,” Lisa said, anger still sparking in her voice. She wasn’t happy to have had her plans ruined.
    Even though she was still furious with him, she was acting more animated than she had since he’d arrived. He would gladly make a fool of himself if this was his reward.
    Once he’d set the ball down, he flexed his knees, perfected his grip, gave the putter a few practice swings, then sent the ball into motion with a gentle tap.
    It went about three feet.
    â€œIt must’ve rained last night,” Josie said. “The turf’s waterlogged.”
    He observed the moisture squishing to the surface around his shoes as he moved his weight from one foot to the other. This is supposed to be fun?
    â€œLet’s bend the rules. I’ll let you take that one over if you want,” Lisa said ever so generously. Her gleeful expression revealed that she knew just how much this was costing him in pride.
    â€œNo, I wouldn’t dream of it. Who’s next?”
    â€œI am.” Lisa placed her blue ball off to the side of the pad that served as a tee and gave it a whack. Right towards his ball. Blue hit pink and