Lean on Me

Part Two - Chapter Ten: The Family Dinner

“You look amazing,” Andrea said hugging her daughter, she didn’t know what it was but Cassidy had some sort of glow about her and she didn’t know what it was; the brunette pulled back before she moved to hug and greet Fernando.

Cassidy was wearing a green T-shirt with V-neck and indigo skinny jeans paired with green converse all-star mustard ox trainers.

“It’s wonderful to see you again Fernando,” Andrea said smiling at the footballer before she turned her attention to the twins; she cooed at her grandchildren, she hadn’t seen them in a while and she was surprised how big they were getting.

Heading into the house, Andrea showed the couple into the living room where Cassidy’s younger sister, Cassandra, and her brother-in-law, Jason were waiting; Cassandra hugged her sister before allowing her to coo over the twins.

Fernando set down the baby carrier and glanced at Jason and nodded at him, he still didn’t get along with Jason especially after how he had been at the wedding; Fernando knew that the dislike was mutual.

“They’re beautiful,” Cassandra said smiling at her older sister, she loved seeing her niece and nephew, she wished that she could see them more often; she lived on the other side of London and was pretty busy with her job.

Cassidy smiled sitting down next to Fernando, they were going to announce their engagement after dinner and the brunette was a little nervous about how everyone would react.

“So how have things been?” Jason asked looking between the couple, his eyes lingering of Fernando with a smirk before he looked at his sister-in-law.

***

Dinner was a quiet affair and Fernando couldn’t help but smile as he took Cassidy’s hand, his fingers laced with hers before he looked at her; she nodded her head hiding a smile as she looked at her parents.

“Fernando and I have an announcement to make,” Cassidy said as Andrea and Joseph stopped what they were doing and looked at them; they looked curiously at the couple, they could see that it was something big and important had happened.

“I’ve asked Cassidy to marry me… and she said yes,” Fernando said smiling softly, he couldn’t help but be thrilled that everything had worked out for them; he just hoped that her family would be as happy as his had about what was happening.

“Oh my God,” Cassandra said clambering out of her chair and hugged her older sister, she couldn’t believe that this was finally happening; Andrea was quick to join the hug as she thought about gaining another son-in-law.

Cassidy pulled back from her mother and sister to show them the 18ct white gold quarter carat diamond cluster ring that Fernando had given her.

“Welcome to the family,” Joseph said moving to shake Fernando’s hand while Jason glared at Fernando; he didn’t like the footballer and he wasn’t good enough for Cassidy not like Stephan had been.

“So come on tell us all about it,” Andrea demanded smiling at her eldest, she hadn’t thought she would ever see the day where Cassidy would settle down; she had worried that Fernando wouldn’t want to marry again after his divorce from Olalla.

“I proposed while we were in Madrid,” Fernando said as the family moved out of the dining room and headed for the lounge so that they could all relax and talk; the twins were sleeping in Cassidy’s old bedroom and wouldn’t be awake for a while yet.

Andrea smiled as she listened to the couple retelling how Fernando had proposed; she couldn’t believe that both of her daughters were in serious relationships.

“So have you had any ideas about when you’d want to get married?” Joseph asked wrapping his arm around his wife, he knew she was excited and that this was all going well but his main concern was his daughters and his grandchildren; he wouldn’t hesitate to hurt either Fernando or Jason if they hurt them.

“We were actually thinking of maybe next summer,” Cassidy said looking at Fernando, he nodded his head at the thought of what they were planning; they had thought about a long engagement but as they talked about the idea it became clear that it wasn’t what either of them truly wanted.

***

“You know… I never thought Cassidy would lower her standards,” Jason said sipping on his drink, his brown eyes watching Fernando as he tried to get under his skin; he didn’t want the footballer thinking he was going to be completely welcomed into the family.

Fernando looked at the website designer wondering what his problem was, he didn’t know why he had such a dislike for him but Fernando wasn’t going to allow him to upset him in any way.

Jason snorted as he sipped on his drink again before he moved to refill his glass, the women were all in the kitchen happily talking about the wedding while he was stuck with Fernando and the twins.

“You know… they don’t even look like you, I think they look more like Stephan,” Jason said making Fernando stop and glare at him, he didn’t know what the other man was playing at but there was no way that the twins could be Cassidy’s ex-boyfriend’s; she had been loyal since the beginning and he would never doubt her.

“Stop it,” Fernando said trying and failed to keep the edge out of his voice, he turned to look down at the twins and smiled to himself; he could see himself in both of the twins and he had no doubts that they were his.

“I’m sorry am I upsetting you?” Jason asked bitterly as he stared at Fernando, he couldn’t understand why Cassidy had broken up with Stephan who was a big time investor for Fernando who was a footballer.

“No but you are ruining the evening,” Cassandra said annoyed as she walked back into the lounge, she smiled politely at Fernando; she knew her sister had found one hell of a guy when she had met the footballer and she was truly happy for her.

“I think you’ve had enough to drink… besides we are leaving now,” Cassandra said collecting the car keys, she wasn’t going to allow Jason to drive home while he had been drinking; she didn’t want to put up with his manic driving as it was right now.

Jason frowned as he looked at his wife, he didn’t know why she had to ruin his fun, he was only trying to be a good brother-in-law and he knew that Cassidy would be better off with Stephan; he would be able to provide for the twins better than Fernando ever could.

“Congrats again Fernando… I’ve never seen my sister so happy,” Cassandra said hugging her future brother-in-law and kissed his cheek; she pulled back and smiled at him before she turned her attention to her drunk husband so that they could leave.

Cassidy sat down next to Fernando and kissed his lips, she didn’t know what had gotten into Jason but she had a feeling he was listening a little too much to what Stephan thought of her life with the footballer.

“I love you,” Cassidy reassured him, she pulled back and ran her fingers through his blonde hair before Leia and Noah cried for their parents’ attention.