Free to Love

Chapter 51

Joanna

Evans and Brooke took our news exactly as expected. They were hurt and mad, but neither seemed that surprised that our friendship had turned into a romance.

I told Evans after school one day. The conversation was brief because he stormed off after saying he knew it all along. Shawn got sucked into a much longer talk with Brooke. She called me that same night just to make it clear she felt betrayed by me. I apologized up and down, but she wasn't hearing it. I hoped our friendship could be repaired after she cooled down.

It was a relief that they both knew before I introduced Shawn to my family. Someone at my big family get-together could put something on social media, which was not how we wanted our exes to find out.

Thanksgiving Day was always nuts at my family home. I was one of five children. My older two siblings were married and had two kids each of their own. My maternal grandmother and paternal grandfather joined us for every holiday, along with an assortment of aunts and uncles and cousins.

My father's side of the family was mostly white, though my great grandmother had been part of the Mohawk tribe. They were from Canada originally. My mother's side of the family was black. My maternal grandmother was from Chicago and had met my grandfather (who passed away before I was born) in the 1960's during a protest. They'd moved to Canada after they married. My parents met in college and as they say, the rest was history.

So thankfully, I had a very open and inclusive family. I knew Shawn and the kids would still be a bit overwhelmed just by the sheer volume of people, though.

We'd just finished eating when I felt my phone vibrate.

Shawn⭐️: we're here

Shawn⭐️: is the doorbell broken?

My family was insanely loud at gatherings like this. I'd hadn't even thought that I might not hear him ring the bell. I jumped up and hurried to the front door.

"Hi!" I said after I opened it. "I hope you're ready for this!"

Shawn smiled. "It'll be great."

He stepped inside followed by Grace and Nolan. They were both dressed up.

"You two look so fancy," I said. "Grace, that's a gorgeous dress! Nolan, did you tie that tie yourself?"

Grace said thank you, and Nolan laughed at my ridiculousness. He told me his dad tied it.

My mom joined us in the foyer.

"Hello!" she said happily. "I'm so glad you could come!"

She gave Shawn a hug, and he then introduced her to the children. Grace had a bouquet of flowers in her hands that she handed to my mother.

"Aren't these lovely! Thank you!" she said as she walked to the kitchen to get a vase.

I took Shawn by the hand and led him into the living room. There were four tables spread out between the kitchen, dining room, living room, and family room. We went to each room where I made introductions four times.

I'd already told my family that Shawn and I were together, and everyone was very happy for me.

Grace and Nolan were shy until we got to the kids' table in the kitchen. My nieces and nephews and younger cousins were close to their ages, and Shawn's pair were happy to see them. The dessert buffet had just been set out on the kitchen island, and the children were served first. Room was made at the table for Shawn's kids, and they sat down with plates full of pie. Shawn and I got some food and went to the table at which I'd been sitting. One of my uncles gave Shawn his seat saying he was waiting to eat dessert later.