Finally Free - Charlie Gillespie

Chapter Thirty-two

Kenedi
I nervously get out of the uber holding Shadow to my chest. I look up at Charlie's childhood home nervously. I don't think I'm ready for this.

"Ready, sunshine?" I don't respond just looking at him. "They're going to love you okay? I promise." He softly kisses me. I sigh shakily against his lips before he pulls away.

I wish I had gone to Oklahoma with Sofia and Owen. Meeting Owen's mom would be so much better than meeting Charlie's family.

"What if they don't like me?" Shadow sighs hiding her face in my neck as she continues sleeping.

"They won't like you. They'll love you." I smile lightly and hold his hand. "And I will be right here the whole time."

"Promise?"

"Promise." I put Shadow's leash on her then set her down in the snow hoping she'll enjoy it. She starts barking and trying to attack it making me laugh.

Charlie squeezes my hand making me look up to him. He kisses my hand then we start walking up the driveway. The snow makes the whole neighborhood incredibly beautiful.

Before we even get to the steps, the door opens and a woman runs out yelling.

"Bébé! Ah bébé! Tu m'as tellement manqué." She hugs him tightly in tears and starts kissing all over his face making him laugh.

"Tu m'as manqué aussi maman." He kisses her cheek then hugs her again. "Oh mom." He pulls away from her smiling widely at me. "This is Kenedi."

She gasps covering her mouth. She immediately hugs me which catches me off guard.

"Kenedi! Oh my. You're so beautiful!" I laugh lightly awkwardly hugging back. She kisses my cheek making my eyes fill with tears.

I guess this is what it's like to have a loving and supportive mom.

"It's so nice to meet you!" She pulls back holding my face. I laugh lightly holding her arms.

"You are so much prettier than my son told me. Welcome to the family, ma douce enfant." I smile lightly kind of understanding what she said. I really need to get Charlie to teach me more French.

"Thank you. I'm so happy to be here."

"Charlie told me you like to cook?" I nod picking Shadow back up. "Oh how wonderful! You can help me cook dinner. C'mon let's get out of the cold!" She hooks her arm with mine and walks us inside leaving Charlie with all the luggage.

I look around the front room in awe. It's so beautiful. And it smells like fresh baked cookies.

"Your home is beautiful, Mrs. Gillespie."

"Oh please. Call me mom, sweetheart. You're going to be my daughter soon enough." I laugh lightly taking my coat off and unhook Shadow from her leash.

She starts sniffing around as I follow mom into the kitchen.

"What are we having for dinner?"

"Oh we're having homemade broccoli cheddar soup. Charlie said it's all you get from that soup restaurant from your home town so I hope that's okay."

"Of course it is! Whatever you make, I'll love it." She laughs shaking her head and hangs up my coat.

"Whatever we make, sweetie." I wash my hands smiling widely. Maybe I shouldn't be as anxious as I am.

I hear footsteps and turn around drying off my hands.

"Did I hear Kenedi?" A man walks in followed by Shadow.

"Yes! Isn't she lovely, Pat?" Mom places her hand on my shoulder making me blush. I hold my hand out to shake his hand.

"I'm Kenedi. It's so nice to meet you." He grabs my hand and pulls me into a hug. I guess his family is just a hugging family.

"Oh it's so nice to finally meet the woman that makes my brother so happy." I giggle hugging back just as tightly. He pulls back and kisses my forehead. "Welcome to the family."

I nod feeling overwhelmed with all the love.

"We were just about to start dinner! Will you go check and see if Charlie needs help with their luggage?"

"Of course, mom." He kisses her cheek then walks out pulling his coat on. I hope Charlie and I can be like this kind of family in the future.

"So Kenedi. Charlie told me you met through Madi?" I nod smiling lightly and start cutting up the onions she hands me.

"We did! I actually met Madi through her best friend, Haniyah."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Haniyah did a birthday zoom for one of her friends and I joined. We became friends through that and then Madi joined and we became friends. Charlie and Madi were supposed to go live, but she went live with me instead. He called her mad and she introduced us."

"So Madi is who I have to thank for bringing you into his life." I giggle nodding.

"She knew from day one that we would become something more than friends."

"Oh as soon as your name left his mouth, I knew."

"He talked to you about me before we started dating?"

"Oh you were all he would talk about!"

"Well...what did he say?"

"Anything and everything. Kenedi this and Kenedi that." I giggle chopping the broccoli. "He even called me before he went to visit you. He kept asking what if you didn't like him."

"I always liked him. I thought it was obvious."

"It probably was, but he's very oblivious." I laugh so hard I have to set the knife down so I don't accidentally hurt myself.

"Something smells good!" Charlie walks in and immediately hugs me from behind. I lean back into him wiping the tears from my eyes and start chopping the broccoli again.

"We're making broccoli cheddar soup!" He kisses my temple smiling wider if possible. "Also, you could've told me that you talked to your mom about me." I smirk up to him.

He starts blushing laughing awkwardly.

"I didn't do that."

"Charles Jeffery Gillespie, don't you dare lie under my roof." I bite my lip giggling.

"Don't lie, Charles." He whines hiding his face in my neck.

"Sorry, mom." I giggle kissing his head.

Now if only I can get through this dinner.