I am on my way to the airport to pick up Aurora. She came to the US to see her monster of a boyfriend. I don t know why she would visit someone like him. I will find out once I see her and we talk. After a few minutes, I arrive at the airport s private plane area. I step out of the car and see Aurora walking out of the plane.
"Andrea, how are you doing?" She says, descending the plane stairs.
"I am good. How are you?" I say, walking closer to the end of the plane stairs.
"I am good too, and how are things with Stefano?"
"Things are amazing between us. I can t wait for him to arrive on Thursday this week. I miss him," I say, smiling as I think about how things have been going great between us. I help her put her stuff into the trunk before walking over to the driver s seat to get going.
"I am happy for you," Aurora says, smiling as she steps into the car.
"Thank you, and why are you coming to see that monster? It s bad enough he is forcing you to marry him. Why is he making you visit him?" I say, starting the car to be on our way to the house. Aurora will be staying with us while she is here.
"He believes the only way my family will not find out something is wrong with our engagement the day he proposes is if we pretend like we are actually dating. I will come and visit once in a while and vice versa."
"Even though I hate him, he is smart. There is no way your family would not have suspected something if you guys got married immediately."
"Yeah, that s why I am here."
"How long are you staying before you fly to Chicago to see him?" Aurora s boyfriend/ husband stays in Chicago. She is just in Miami to see me.
"Three days tops, as much as I love you, I have work I need to get back to as soon as possible, so I only plan to spend a week in the US"
"I understand, and even if it s three days, I am happy you are here," I say, smiling.
"Me too," She says, smiling back.
Friday came sooner than I expected. I am happy to be with Stefano after almost a week apart, but I am nervous about the dinner we are about to have. He is back in Miami this week to have dinner with dad. I am so scared things could turn out bad. I went to the door to get him. We are walking towards the dining room together. We are about to step in when Stefano halts me.
"What s wrong?" I ask, worried.
"Nothing is wrong, you seem more nervous than me, and I am the one who should be nervous."
"I know. I can t stop myself from worrying about what would happen if my dad disapproves of our relationship."
"He will so stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine," He says, giving my hand a warm squeeze and places a soft kiss on my lips.
"I hope so," I say, walking into the dining room with Stefano beside me.
Once we walk in, mom is the first one to speak.
"Finally, I was starting to think the walk from the door was longer than we thought. How are you doing, dear?" Mom asks Stefano.
"I am doing great, Mrs. Lopez and you?"
"You can call me Rosalia, and I am doing fine."
"That s good to hear, and I don t know if I have told you before, but I can see where Andrea gets her beauty from. You look as beautiful as I am sure you looked during your prime days."
"Thank you, dear," Mom says, chuckling.
"I am starting to think it s my wife you want and not my daughter," Dad says, walking into the dining room.
"I wouldn t dare even if I was mad. Good evening Mr. Lopez," Stefano says, putting his hand forward for a handshake. Dad takes his hand and gives him a firm handshake. I can already sense this dinner going bad.
"So you are the one my little angel believes is worthy of her."
"Dad!" I exclaim, surprised by his choice of words.
"Did I say anything wrong, honey?"
I am about to speak when mom beats me to talk.
"Why don t we all sit down for dinner first? We can talk more while eating," Mom says, walking over to her seat by dad s right. He sits at the head of the table.
Once we are all seated, and dinner is served, dad wastes no time to speak.
"So, Stefano, tell me why I should allow you to date, my daughter. The fact that I know your father is not enough reason for me," Dad says,
"Sir, I actually don t have any reason to give you why you should allow me to date your daughter," Stefano says, shocking me with his words. What is he doing? Why would he say that?
"Really, you don t have a single reason to give me," Dad asks, sounding a bit angry with Stefano s words.
"Stefano," I whisper to him, but he does not say anything to me. Instead, he takes my hand under the table and gives it a warm squeeze. He is telling me he knows what he is doing, and I should not worry. How can I not worry? He just gave my dad the wrong answer to the question.
"Yes, sir because, I don t even believe I am good enough for her. So how can I even have a reason why I think I should be allowed to date her? She is the most amazing woman I have ever met." Stefano says, turning away from dad and faces me. "I think if I were to have a reason, it would be that. I won t be able to live if she was not in my life. She is the only light in my dark world," Stefano says with adoration shining in his eyes for me while he talks about me. I can t help the smile that spreads across my face while I hear every word he says. Stefano never ceases to amaze me.
"Hmm, I actually understand what you mean, son. That is the same way I feel about Rosalia." Dad says, smiling, taking mom s hand in his and leaves a small kiss on the back of her hand.
"So, dad, does that mean you are okay with us dating?" I ask, to be sure
"Yes, I am, but don t miss work because of him."
"I won t let it happen again," Stefano says before I can speak.
I am so happy dad accepted Stefano, but now that I think about it, I don t even know what I was worried about. Yes, dad was a little pissed off. I resumed work late, but he knows what kind of man Stefano is. I was just overthinking the whole thing.