To show his dissatisfaction with Grandma Connie, Coach George had unilaterally declared a "cold war."
He held a magazine up in front of his face, the message clear as day—he didn't want to see Grandma Connie at all.
Unfortunately for George, this childish tactic didn't bother Grandma Connie in the slightest. If anything, she looked like she was enjoying the show.
If George was unhappy, Grandma Connie was perfectly happy.
The kids, however, were far more sensitive to the "war" between the adults. Missy stopped bouncing around and sat back down next to Mike, her eyes darting back and forth between George and Grandma Connie.
All of a sudden, she didn't feel as cheerful as before.
As for Sheldon, he was carefully observing his parents, already calculating—once again—the probability of their divorce.
And then there was Little George… well, never mind him. Oblivious as ever, he hadn't noticed the change in atmosphere at all and was still watching TV intently.
On the screen, the "Top 10 Plays of the Week" had just ended, and the broadcast had moved on to league highlights.
A clip of Mike—still sweaty, being interviewed on the field—played on screen, spreading across households all over Texas.
Just like Jack had said, the moment Mike's handsome face appeared on TV, it immediately caught the attention of women everywhere.
Grandma Connie glanced at Mike's still-good-looking face and casually suggested,
"Mike, you should think about going to Hollywood. With a face like that, you're basically a work of art."
Mary and Missy nodded in agreement.
From a woman's perspective, football was grueling, exhausting, and risky—nothing compared to the glamour and comfort of being a big star.
But Grandma Connie's words rubbed George the wrong way. As a football coach, he couldn't stand anyone belittling the sport.
"Heh," Coach George scoffed. "With Mike's talent, he could win everything on the football field. Why would he go sell his face and become a pretty prop just to please an audience?"
To George, football represented grit, hard work, teamwork, and honor—far more respectable than entertainment stars who relied on looks alone.
"Alright, alright," Grandma Connie said lightly. "Whatever Mike chooses is fine."
Then she deliberately poked at George. "Not like some people, who can only scrape by as a football coach in a small town."
George had once had his own glory days. In his youth, he'd played professional football for a while.
After retiring, he'd even coached at a college football program.
But his personality got him into trouble. He couldn't tolerate the head coach taking bribes, so he reported him.
What George hadn't expected was that the team and the school labeled him a "traitor" for it—and fired him.
So George's life could best be summed up as ups… and downs… and more downs.
Still, he refused to back down under Grandma Connie's provocation. With thinly veiled sarcasm, he shot back,
"Yeah, I'm a nobody. But I worked hard and supported my family. Unlike some people, who couldn't even take care of their own daughter and spent all day gambling."
Years ago, Grandma Connie really had been addicted to gambling and neglected Mary, which was exactly how George had gotten close to her in the first place.
By saying it out loud, George was openly accusing her of being an unfit mother.
Seeing the argument about to escalate, Mike quickly stepped in.
"Alright, the show's over. Shouldn't we eat now?"
"Yeah—let's eat," Mary echoed.
George's words had also stirred up some painful memories for her. Still, deep down, she loved her mother. She found a moment to quietly remind her husband,
"George… say a little less, okay?"
There was an old saying: good food heals the soul.
Once the family sat down and started eating, the atmosphere gradually warmed up again.
As the meal was wrapping up, Mary had adjusted her mood. Smiling, she said,
"Tomorrow's the church picnic. There'll be some activities—we could all go and relax."
Church gatherings were basically a perk for church members, where families could enjoy a day out together at no cost.
Mary brought it up partly to ease the tension between George and Grandma Connie.
"I'm not going," George said stubbornly. "I'm not spending my precious weekend with someone."
"Oh, that's a shame," Grandma Connie said sweetly, clearly trying to irritate him. "I was planning to bring my special barbecue tomorrow. Looks like someone won't get any."
Before George could respond, she stood up with a smile.
"I'm full~"
"I'm full too," Mike said, standing up and following her. He felt he needed to talk some sense into her.
Grandma Connie's behavior was already affecting the Cooper family.
After the two of them left, Mary's expression turned cold.
"George, can't you just give Connie a little leeway?"
"How am I supposed to?" George snapped. "She's the one who messed with me first!"
The angrier he got, the harder he slammed his fork and knife on the table.
"This is all that damn barbecue's fault!"
"Calm down, George. She's still my mother," Mary said, now irritated by his rough behavior.
"Yeah! She's your mother—you're family. I'm just an outsider!" George vented, then stood up and walked away from the table.
Mary hadn't expected such an intense reaction. Watching him walk out, she looked deeply disappointed.
"Mom…" Missy asked carefully. "If you and George get divorced, can I live with you?"
Nearby, Sheldon and Little George immediately perked up and listened.
Seeing all three kids' reactions, Mary realized she'd handled things poorly. She forced a smile and reassured them.
"Don't worry, kids. Your father and I aren't getting divorced. That was just a normal discussion—our voices were just a little loud."
While Mary was calming the children, Mike was having his own talk.
"Grandma Connie, you and George are family," Mike said seriously. "This tension can't keep going. Do you know it's already affecting the Coopers' everyday life? Sheldon even thinks George and Mary are going to get divorced."
"Oh? Is that so?" Grandma Connie frowned and thought for a moment, then casually said,
"George can't even manage his family properly. Maybe I should consider having Mary find someone else—"
"Connie," Mike cut her off sharply before she could continue.
"Alright, alright, I'm joking," Grandma Connie said with a shrug. "George isn't great, but as a husband and father, he's passable. I'm not trying to ruin my daughter's marriage."
Seeing her soften, Mike pressed on.
"Then how about this—why not give George the real barbecue recipe? It could help ease things between you two."
Grandma Connie's secret barbecue was the perfect bargaining chip.
If she was willing, she could absolutely use that recipe to buy off George.