Who Said It Would Be Easy? by Cheryl Faye

Author:Cheryl Faye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Strebor Books
Published: 2011-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

MEET THE PARENTS

Once they had all gone home and changed from their church clothes to more casual attire, Julian and Michele met up with Stefàn and Charisse and followed them to her parents’ home in Springfield Gardens, Queens. It was almost two p.m. when they walked into the spacious backyard of the elder Ellisons. Already in attendance and scattered around the yard were Charisse’s older brothers, David and Johnny and their families, Star and her daughters, Christina and Candice, Myra (who had been picked up by David), her cousin, Jewel with Terry, and several other of her relatives.

John Ellison was at the grill, turning a slab of ribs when Charisse walked up and hugged him from behind. “Hi, Daddy.”

“Hey, baby girl! Happy birthday! I was wondering when you were going to get here.” Putting down the fork he’d been using, he turned and gave her a big hug, lifting her off her feet, and kissed her cheek.

Charisse giggled as she always did when her father gave her one of his bear hugs. “Thanks, Daddy.” She turned to Stefàn then and said, “You remember Stefàn, right? From Jewel’s wedding.”

“Of course, I do. How are you, son?” John asked with a genuine smile as he reached out to shake Stefàn’s hand.

“I’m good, Mr. Ellison. How’ve you been?” Stefàn asked.

“Can’t complain. I knew I’d see you again.”

Stefàn smiled and looked to Charisse for her reaction. She merely blushed.

“Mr. Ellison, these are our friends, Julian and Michele and their son, L’il Jay,” Stefàn stated, making the introductions.

“Hello.” John greeted them cheerfully, shaking Julian’s, Michele’s and L’il Jay’s hands in turn. “Welcome. Make yourselves at home. There’s plenty to eat and drink.”

“We have a case of sodas and Coronas in my trunk,” Julian said. “I’ll run and get them real quick.”

“Thank you, Julian, but you didn’t have to do that,” John said.

Julian shrugged. “No big deal, Mr. Ellison. That’s how we do it.” He turned to start back to his car.

“Listen, you all call me John or Johnny. Except you, little man,” he said, addressing L’il Jay. “You call me Uncle Johnny, okay?”

“Okay,” L’il Jay said with a bashful smile.

“Where’s Mommy?” Charisse asked.

“Inside. She’s putting the finishing touches on the potato salad,” her father answered.

Grabbing Stefàn’s hand, Charisse said, “Come on. I want you to meet my mother. C’mon, Michele. I’ll introduce y’all to everybody else, later.”

Stepping through the back door of the house, Charisse and company came directly into the dining room. Moving immediately to her right and into the kitchen, she found her mother and her maternal grandmother. Both women were steadily working on their respective dishes.

“Granny Nan! Hi!” Charisse called as she hurried over to her grandmother and gave her a big kiss. “How you doin’?”

“Hi, sweetie pie. I’m good. How are you?”

“Fine.”

“Happy birthday.”

“Thank you. Hi, Mommy.”

“Hi. Happy birthday,” Mrs. Ellison said as she reached out to hug her daughter.

“Thank you. Mommy, Granny, this is Stefàn and Michele and L’il Jay.”

Stefàn reached out to shake Mrs. Ellison’s hand first and also leaned in and kissed her cheek.

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