So, I was going to update this yesterday, but I was doing work stuff and working on other writings that needed to get done and I just didn't get around to writing this, so I skipped a day.
On a date
1996 – Chicago
"Isabella, stop pestering your brother and get down here," Antonio heard his mother call from downstairs. The Hispanic male chuckled as he watched his youngest sister bounced off of his bed then rushed downstairs.
After she was gone, Antonio resumed fixing his tie before grabbing the box with the corsage inside and hurrying downstairs, taking them two at a time. "Mama, I'm going to pick up Laura!" he called out before heading out the door, halfway out when his mother's voice called him back. "Ma…"
"Antonio, please be careful out there," his mother said with a stern look, the tone she spoke in matching.
"I will, Ma. You worry too much," he told her, stepping back inside and leaning in to kiss her forehead.
She sighed. "Of course I do, Antonio. You're my oldest and only boy. You have done so much for me and your sisters…" Antonio nodded and hugged her gently.
"And I will keep doing that. But, right now, I'm going to be late picking up Laura," he said before turning and beating a hasty retreat out the door, rushing to his vintage 1977 Ford Mustang. Antonio drove over to the Cartier house, where he brought the car to a stop, putting it in park before he got out and hurried up the steps to the front door of her family's house.
His hand trembled as he lifted it to press the doorbell then he stood back to wait for someone to come to the door. Antonio was nervous. This was his and Laura's first date and he was determined to make a good impression on her father, who was a tough man to get through. The door eventually opened to reveal the said father, who gave Antonio a slight scowl. "Well, well, if it isn't the mysterious Antonio Dawson," he said in a gruff voice.
"Yes, sir," Antonio said with a nod and a brief hint of a smile.
Antonio was then surprised when Laura's father held out his hand for Antonio to shake. "It's nice to finally meet you, son. Please, come in out of the cold," he said, his other hand grasping Antonio's somewhat bony shoulder to guide him into the house. Then, as Antonio watched, the older man turned and yelled up the stairs, "Laura, Antonio is here!"
"I'm coming, Daddy!" Laura called back. Her mother was still fixing her hair and the hair spray was taking forever to settle. After a bit, Laura waved her mother off and walked over to open her bedroom door, stepping out and moving down the stairs in slow, steady steps so she didn't fall in her heels.
That proved to be untrue when she stumbled over the last step on the stairs and Antonio launched himself forward to catch her before she could fall flat on her face. Laura smiled sheepishly at him. "Hi," they said softly, speaking at the same time.
Her cheeks turned a bright red color and Antonio was sure that his did too, but he helped his (hopefully) amour stand upright again before guiding her hand into the crook of his arm to help her down the rest of the stairs. Once she was on solid ground, Antonio then pulled out the corsage he'd brought with him and carefully slid it onto her wrist.
Later…
Antonio walked beside Laura, who had so many thoughts plaguing her mind. What if our relationship goes sour? What if my parents think he's no good for me? She sighed and Antonio took notice of this. "Hey, are you okay?" he asked, stopping their walking to turn her to face him.
"I'm…worried," she replied in a soft, honest tone.
"Worried? Worried about what exactly?" he asked.
"About a lot of things," Laura responded; her head lowering until her chin was against her bare collarbone. "But …mostly about us, Antonio."
"Hey," he said, reaching out to gently bring her chin back up until his eyes met hers. "We're going to be just fine. We just need to take it one date, one step, at a time, okay?"
"One date, one step, at a time," Laura repeated, smiling up at him.
