Guilty By Association

Chapter 17 - A Complete Family

Chapter 17 – A Complete Family

 

As Kelsey and Alex arrived in front of a large white house, Kelsey didn’t know what to expect. She just followed Alex like a lost puppy up to the front door. In truth, Alex’s house was beautiful. It wasn’t a mansion by any means, but that didn’t mean it was small.

Kelsey could tell that his family was well-off in money matters. Not incredibly wealthy but not even close to sleeping on the streets.

“Why did you bring me here?” She found herself asking before she had a chance to rethink her words. She was aware of the fact that Alex was most likely still single, but out of all the woman out there, why did he choose her to come with him. Was it possible that he’d already asked someone else, someone like Shay, and they’d refused? Was she the second choice?

Kelsey turned to read Alex’s expression and he seemed hesitant, as if he was asking himself the same thing. But before he had a chance to answer, or Kelsey had a chance to ask him again, the front door flung open. “Alex!” Kelsey jumped at the sudden loudness of the woman’s voice. “Mihijo!” The woman stepped out and wrapped her arms around Alex. Kelsey took the chance to get a good look at her. She could easily tell that this was his mother, and she didn’t even need to recollect the Spanish classes she’d forced herself through to know that.

The woman was beautiful. She had large brown eyes that were nearly identical to Alex’s. Her hair was long and thick, and Kelsey found herself envying it. Hers was thin and flat. And she was short. Kelsey thought she was short but this woman was even shorter than she was.

Suddenly, the woman stopped doting over her son, and abruptly turned to face Kelsey. “¿Quién es ella?” The woman’s eyes looked over Kelsey and Kelsey felt a little self-conscious. She felt like Alex’s mom was checking to see if she was good enough for her son.

“Mama, this is Kelsey.” Alex said, thankfully speaking in English. Kelsey only knew so much Spanish. “Kelsey, this…is my mother.” He said the last part quickly, as if he was hoping that would settle it and frankly, Kelsey was hoping for the same. She wasn’t a social butterfly. She glanced over at Alex’s mom. She definitely was.

“Kelsey…Call me Maria, dear. Come inside. Tell me all about you.” Maria said, leading them both into the house. “How long have you known Alex? Are you dating?”

“Mama!” Alex exclaimed, the horror evident in his voice. “Don’t overwhelm her.”

“I am not!” Maria protested, putting her hands on her hips in a threatening stance. “This is the first time you bring a woman to meet me. I wouldn’t dare scare her away. I am just trying to get to know her. That’s all. So, tell me, how long have you known Alex?”

“Um, about a week.” She responded, honestly. Actually, it was a week and two days but who was counting.

“Are you dating?” She asked.

“We’re…” Kelsey’s voice trailed off, unsure of what to say. Thankfully, they were interrupted.

“Maria,” A man came into the room, affectionately putting his arm around Maria’s waist. Alex’s step-father. “Don’t overwhelm the girl.” He said. “She just arrived. Why don’t you kids come join us in the back? That’s where everyone is. Dana is waiting for you, Alex.”

Kelsey was grateful, but Kelsey could tell that Alex wasn’t quite as pleased. “We were just coming, Jonathan.”

Jonathan just smiled. “Who’s this?”