What He Didn't Know...

Chapter 9: The Cook Out...

Malena woke up Sunday morning to get ready to go to church with her family. It was something they did each Sunday when she lived home and even now living in L.A. she tries to go with Faith in hand and Ryan when he's not out of town.

Once there, she noticed the Kaepernick's sitting on the other side of the sanctuary but Colin was not with them. She figured he had a late night with his girlfriend and couldn't make it that morning.

The service lasted an hour and a half and it was time to go back home to finish setting up for the cook out her mom and Mrs. Kaepernick so happily agreed on having. She still couldn't believe her mom had done that considering Colin was the person she wanted to avoid more than the plague. Guess her mom had other plans. She was so ready to tell Colin everything that had happened that night, she had too...she knew it would be harder later on. Plus, Colin was going to find out regardless of her telling him or not...he said he would.

Back at her parent's house, Malena had changed into comfortable clothes and was helping set up the food outside. She was Praying that Colin wouldn't show up and it would only be his parents and siblings. Just as she was thinking that, she heard the doorbell ring. "Guess they are here." she thought to herself.

Hearing voices inside she decided to just stay outside and continue to set things up. Her nerves were beginning to twist knowing that they will be next to her soon...what would they think once they found out? 

"Malena...where are you mija?" she could hear her mom call her from inside.

Taking a deep breath she called out "Outside mom!"

A minute later her parents and the Kaepernick's were stepping outside with a smile.

"Malena, there you are! Do you remember Teresa and Rick Kaepernick...?" her mom asks.

"Umm, yes hi, how are you?" she extended her hand to shake theirs.

"Good, good. Malena you look amazing...your mom always talks about how well you are doing in L.A. that is great!" Teresa smiles warmly at me.

"Thank you ma'am...and yes L.A. has been good to me." responding back.

"This is my daughter Devon, her husband George and our grandson Ezequiel...and our son Kyle, his wife Lindsey and their daughter Quinn Rose." she introduced.

"Hello, nice to meet you all!" she shook their hands meeting them. They said hello and sat down.

"Colin should be here in a while...he had something to take care off!" Teresa tells them scrunching up her face in disgust. It was funny...Malena knew she was talking about Nessa..."She must not like her." she thought to herself.

"That's quite alright!" her mom responded and continued to talk to her while her dad spoke to Rick and she spoke to Colin's siblings.

Her sister Vicky and younger brother joined them shortly so her dad began cooking on the grill...thank goodness cause she was very hungry.

"So Malena...did you and Colin catch up at the reunion yesterday?" Devon Colin's sister asked.

"Umm...in a way...Colin and I weren't close." Malena admitted.

"Oh...I thought you were...I remember him mentioning you a few times back then." she looked at Kyle which he nodded and said "Yeah he did, I remember!"

Looking at them surprised she wondered why Colin would mention her? They weren't even acquaintances let alone friends. Unless he...?

"Oh...hell no he didn't bring her here?" Devon looked behind the group with a sour face making them all look in the direction she was.