Page 151 of Black
CHAPTER 27
Family
Gabriel
“It’ll be fine. They are all excited to meet you again,” I assured her, feeling nervous deep to my core.
“Is Brent going to be there?” Cia asked.
“I don’t know for sure.”
As I drove up to the large house, I once again parked on the street, just in case.
“You look beautiful,” I told Cia and took her hand. Her long blond hair was flaring in the light breeze and her black dress fit her perfectly, making her look both feminine and elegant.
She gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes; clearly she was as nervous as I was.
The doorbell was loud, and when my mother opened the door ten seconds later she spread her arms to welcome us.
“Cia and Gabriel, come in… come in.”
I kept Cia’s hand in mine and stepped into the house I had grown up in, and once again we walked into the living room to find most of the family already gathered.
“Hey,” I said and took the glass of champagne Steve handed to me.
“Do you drink champagne?” he asked Cia in a friendly fashion.
“Uhm… yes.”
“Good – this is an excellent champagne that won several awards at the world championship in 2013,” Steve explained. “I find that I prefer champagne produced with chardonnay grapes. How about you?”
Cia took a sip. “I always preferred apple cider because sweeter and because it’s much cheaper.”
Steve wrinkled his forehead. “Cider, you say?”
“Yes… the one from Martinell’s is really good and it kinda looks like a champagne bottle… you know?”
I suppressed a chuckle. No one but Cia could humble Steve.
“I’ll remember that,” he said with a lurking smile before my mom came to move us along.
“Come say hi to Granny. She just had a cold, but she’s feeling much better now.”
My grandparents were sitting in a small couch and I was a little shocked to see how poorly my grandmother looked. According to my mom, Granny’s dementia and hearing were only getting worse. “You remember Cia, right?” my mother asked them both, and Charlie reached out his hand. “Ah yes, I remember you. Welcome back,” he said politely and shook hands with Cia.
Cia reached her hand to Granny, who looked at her with squinting eyes. “I’ve seen you before,” she told Cia almost accusingly.
“Yes, I was here for a brunch some months ago.”
But Granny ignored her comment and pointed her finger in Cia’s face. “You are that woman who stole my stamps.”
“Your stamps?”
“Yes.” She turned to Charlie. “Remember when I couldn’t find my stamps and I knew the maid had taken them?”
“I’m not a maid,” Cia said quickly. “And I didn’t take your stamps.”
“You didn’t?” Granny asked suspiciously.
