Chapter 65
"I still don't like the fact that he's dating my baby girl," he stated and I shushed him quickly when I heard footsteps coming our way.
"I was making some porridge for my family before you came and I thought you'd like some since your daughter seemed to have taken a liking to them."
My eyes lit up at the mention of the delicious food and I rushed to Adam's side. He was holding a tray of small bowls containing the white gooey substance. I looked at him, silently asking if I was correctly sensing the presence of the ca-whatever-it's-called-thing.
Adam laughed lightly, the first real laugh I've heard since forever. It brought a smile to my face hearing the familiar sound that injected butterflies into my stomach. I didn't appreciate the feeling of making someone laugh enough up till that moment. I found myself savoring every second of it.
I grabbed a bowl from the tray and passed it on to my parents while still holding Pio close to me with the other hand.
"You have got to try this. They are delicious and make sure you try those brown shredded breads on the bottom of the bowl," They looked at me weirdly and I had a deep suspicion they pictured the ca-thingy to be poop brown, which was definitely a disturbing image.
Despite giving me an ‘are you okay' look, they each took a spoonful and shoved it into their mouths in a more elegant way than what I was doing. I was practically scarfing the whole thing down in a matter of seconds without fear of looking like a pig. If I was going to spend my relationship days with this guy, why would I pretend to be someone I'm not. I am not going to eat in a lady like way if there was no one to impress with my stomach growling like a vicious beast and since Pio was too young to understand anything, I had nothing to worry about.
Or so I thought.
"Cassandra Rylie Johnson, what did I tell you about eating slowly?! Haven't you learnt enough by the amount of times you have choked on your own food?" She shrieked and I quickly hid behind Adam with Pio clinging onto me for dear life by my neck as I scurried away from my mother's heated glare.
"I'm starving!" I whined from behind Adam and I could feel my mom's glare penetrate through Adam and reach me as if he was transparent glass.
"That is no excuse, young lady!" My mom countered while Adam and my dad chuckled together at our banter.
"Women," my dad joked with Adam, receiving a nod from my so called boyfriend.
"Hey!" My mom and I shouted simultaneously, obviously offended by their statement and gave them both a good whack upside the head. Both of them winced and rubbed the sore spot while both, me and my mom cackled. What? It runs in the family.
"Where are the others?" I looked around and not a second later, footsteps bounded down the stairs and answered my question.
"Adam, Pio? What's wrong?" Preston's worriedly asked. I was a bit shocked when I heard the brotherly tone. It was like hearing a whole new Preston. I had never heard him sound so caring and it was a good change but it still sounded foreign in my ears. Another face popped out behind Preston's legs, her hair flowing down past her shoulders and her big doe-like eyes looked around the room, her timid face morphed into one of delight when she saw me.
She completely ignored that there were strangers in the room and came running into my arms. We had a small group hug; just the kids and I.
Jerry was last to climb down the stairs and join us. He stood beside his eldest son and decided to silently watch his kids interact with other humans again.
"Guys, I want you to meet my parents," I told the childern softly, letting them go and turning them arround to face my parents. Cali took that chance to hide behind my leg instead, hugging it like her life depended on the limb.
"It's alright Cali, they won't hurt you. They're good people," Cali looked at me before her stare went back to my parents.
"Like mama?" She asked softly and my stand wavered at her voice; so afraid, so fragile. I was sure that the whole room full of people teared up at her question. It was a soft topic but none of us dared to interrupt her. Not even Preston who usually loved to snap at people if they started prying on a sore topic. I nodded at her question and it was all it took for her to come out from her hiding place and face my parents. My mom and dad both plastered a smile on their face and I could tell my dad was trying his hardest not to scare her away while my mom switched on her mother mode.
"Hey Cali, my name's Ophelia but you can call me Lia. This is my husband, you can call him Finn. If you're not comfortable calling us by names, you can call us Aunt O and Uncle Finn, anything that suits you, sweetie."
I smiled and set Pio onto his feet when he started to squirm, trying to get out of my hold. They both played with my parents and the grins on all four of their faces were heartwarming. I finally understood what Carla was trying to say. All I needed to do was just be me and a little help from some companions. I watched Preston and Jerry smile at the sight before them. Preston directed his gaze to me and nodded in silent thanks. I gave him a smile and nodded back.
‘I will keep my promise, Carla,' I thought to myself, looking around at all the smiling faces.
